Country Overview
Madagascar
At a glance
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To engage in same-sex intimacy without violating the law in Madagascar, the people involved must be at least 21 years old. In contrast, the age of consent for different-sex sexual acts is 14. Under Article 331 of the penal code, acts that are “indecent or against nature” with an individual of the same sex under the age of 21 can be punished with a prison sentence of two to five years and a fine of US$450 to US$4,500.
Madagascar does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. There are no laws restricting the discussion of LGBTIQ topics, but LGBTIQ organizations have told Outright that, due to prevailing social conservatism, challenges to public advocacy remain. During the 2025 Universal Periodic Review, the state rejected three recommendations on the unequal age of consent and on addressing discrimination, violence, and hate speech against LGBTI persons.
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