Euthanasia laws by country

See which places allow euthanasia, which allow only assisted suicide, and which said no. Pick two places to compare their laws side by side.

  • Free
  • 35 places
  • Official sources
  • Checked October 2026

Anyone who looks up these laws soon finds lists that disagree. This tool keeps one list, with an official source for every place.

Some form of assisted dying is legal in 14 countries. In 10 of them, a doctor or nurse may give euthanasia. The other 4 allow only assisted suicide. In the United States, 13 states and Washington, D.C. allow medical aid in dying.

Where the law allows it

  • 14 countries allow some form
  • 10 of them allow a doctor to give the medicine
  • 13 + D.C. US states allow medical aid in dying

14 places:

Compare two places

Netherlands and Oregon compared
QuestionNetherlandsOregon
What the law saysA doctor or nurse may give the medicine.The patient must take the medicine themselves. A doctor giving it is still a crime.
A doctor may give the medicineYesNo
The law covers assisted suicideYesYes
Made byParliamentPublic vote
In use since20021997
NotesThe first country with a euthanasia law. It is still a crime unless a doctor meets strict rules and reports the death.Death with Dignity Act, passed by voters. The first US state law.
Official numbersSee the numbersSee the numbers
SourceGovernment of the Netherlands. As of 25 October 2026.Oregon Health Authority. As of 25 October 2026.

Two kinds of law

Laws on assisted dying come in two main kinds.

  • Euthanasia: a doctor or nurse gives the medicine, when the patient asks.
  • Assisted suicide: a doctor prescribes the medicine, and the patient takes it.

Most places that allow euthanasia also allow assisted suicide. In the United States, every state law allows only assisted suicide. There it is called medical aid in dying.

Who made the law

Most of these laws were passed by a parliament. Some came from a court ruling. In Oregon, Washington and Colorado, voters passed the law in a public vote. In Slovenia, voters rejected one.

A court ruling can open the door without a full law. Then the rules are often unclear for years. Germany and Italy are examples.

What this tool does not show

This tool shows the type of law, its start date and its source. It does not cover the detailed conditions in each law. Those are long, and they change often.

Every law has strict conditions. Most cover only adults with a serious illness. Our legal landscape guide explains the safeguards.

Laws can change in a single vote. So we show the date we last checked each place.

Questions people ask

In how many countries is euthanasia legal?

Some form of assisted dying is legal in 14 countries. In 10 of them, a doctor may give euthanasia. In the other 4, only assisted suicide is allowed. Each count comes from the list in this tool.

Where is euthanasia illegal?

It is illegal in most countries of the world. Even where it is legal, it often stays a crime with a narrow medical exception. In the United States, euthanasia by a doctor is illegal in every state.

Is assisted dying legal in the UK?

No. MPs rejected a bill for England and Wales in September 2026. Scotland rejected its bill in March 2026. Jersey and the Isle of Man have passed laws. They are not in use yet.

Which US states allow medical aid in dying?

As of October 2026, 13 states and Washington, D.C. allow it. In every one, the patient must take the medicine themselves. Pick the US filter in the tool to see the list.

What is the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide?

With euthanasia, a doctor or nurse gives the medicine. With assisted suicide, the patient takes it themselves. Refusing or stopping treatment is different again. It is legal almost everywhere.

Sources

Checked October 2026

This tool gives general information about the law. It is not legal advice. Laws change often.