Most countries adopt 18 years as the age of criminal responsibility
Among 76 analyzed countries, only eight set the age of criminal responsibility below 18 years. Brazil, which currently uses 18 years, is discussing a reduction to 16 for heinous crimes. The data comes from a survey by Unicef and CRIN, consolidated by g1.
A survey that analyzed legislation from 76 countries in Latin America, Europe and the G20 reveals that only eight nations adopt criminal majority under the age of 18. The data, compiled by the g1 from information from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Network for the Rights of the Child (CRIN), show that the 18-year rule is largely overwhelming. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Congresso Nacional resumes the debate on the reduction of the criminal age in the country.
Majority adopts 18 years as criminal age
Of the 76 countries analyzed, 68 establish 18 years as the minimum age for someone to be judged as an adult. Only eight use lower ages: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Haiti, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. The information is contained in a survey by UNICEF, carried out between August and September 2026, and in a study by CRIN, of 2019, updated by the report of g1.
None of the 19 G20 countries analysed by Unicef are under the age of 18. In Latin America, of the 20 countries surveyed, only Haiti adopts the age of majority at 16. The source did not detail the specific ages of the other countries listed with reduced age.
Brazil debates reduction of the penal age
In Brazil, the penal age is 18, but the responsibility of adolescents begins at 12 years, the age at which they can comply with socio-educational measures for infractions. The Congresso Nacional discusses proposals to lower the penal majority, with parallel discussions in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Last week, the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (Union-AP), decided to wait for the House to vote on the matter first. The opposition advocates a general reduction from 18 to 16 years and to 14 years in cases of heinous crimes, such as murder. President Lula (PT) defended the reduction to 16 years in heinous crimes, in an interview with TV Globo during the second round of the election.
Lula’s proposal and the government’s position
Senator Camilo Santana (PT-EC), the leader of the government, has put forward a proposal to reduce the age of 18 to 16 in the case of heinous crimes. This is the proposal that Lula said he supported. The statement of the petista was the first time that he spoke on the subject in a forceful way, when answering a question of the journalist Renata Lo Prete.
According to UNICEF, all 19 G20 countries analyzed have separate justice systems for adults and adolescents who commit offences. In seven of them, there are exceptions that allow adolescents to be referred to the adult penal system, but the general rule is that they are judged by juvenile justice.
Youth accountability varies between countries
Brazil is among the countries that begin to hold teenagers accountable earlier. At the G20, the age of 12 is also adopted by South Africa, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey. In countries such as Germany, Argentina, Italy and Japan, accountability begins at the age of 14.
In Albania, accountability occurs at 16 for criminal offences, but can be made at 14 if the person commits more serious crimes, such as murder. France has responsibility from the age of 13, but the person can answer before then if the court considers that the perpetrator understood what would be done and, even so, did it.
Latin America and recent changes
In Latin America, Brazil is also among the countries with the lowest age of accountability. In addition, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Panama set a minimum age of 12 years. In Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, for example, the limit is 14 years.
The survey also points to recent changes in the legislation of other countries. In Argentina, an amendment passed in February 2026 reduced the age of criminal liability from 16 to 14. The penalties, however, remained at 18 years.
Experts point to minor recurrence
According to the expert, data from the National Council of Justice (CNJ) show that "the reentry into the prison system among adults is almost twice that observed among adolescents in the Socioeducational System, which reinforces the importance of investing in responses capable of reducing recidivism." The statement was cited in the survey, but the source did not detail the name of the expert.
The debate on the penal majority remains open in Congress, and the decision of Davi Alcolumbre to await the House indicates that the issue should still generate discussions. Meanwhile, international data show that most countries keep 18 years as a reference, with specific systems for adolescents in conflict with the law.
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