Government > Suffrage: Countries Compared
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DEFINITION:
The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
COUNTRY |
DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| AfghanistanAfghanistan | 18 years of age; universal |
| AlbaniaAlbania | 18 years of age; universal |
| AlgeriaAlgeria | 18 years of age; universal |
| American SamoaAmerican Samoa | 18 years of age; universal |
| AndorraAndorra | 18 years of age; universal |
| AngolaAngola | 18 years of age; universal |
| AnguillaAnguilla | 18 years of age; universal |
| Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda | 18 years of age; universal |
| ArgentinaArgentina | 18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional |
| ArmeniaArmenia | 18 years of age; universal |
| ArubaAruba | 18 years of age; universal |
| AustraliaAustralia | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| AustriaAustria | 16 years of age; universal |
| AzerbaijanAzerbaijan | 18 years of age; universal |
| BahrainBahrain | 20 years of age; universal |
| BangladeshBangladesh | 18 years of age; universal |
| BarbadosBarbados | 18 years of age; universal |
| BelarusBelarus | 18 years of age; universal |
| BelgiumBelgium | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| BelizeBelize | 18 years of age; universal |
| BeninBenin | 18 years of age; universal |
| BermudaBermuda | 18 years of age; universal |
| BhutanBhutan | 18 years of age; universal |
| BoliviaBolivia | 18 years of age, universal and compulsory |
| Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
| BotswanaBotswana | 18 years of age; universal |
| BrazilBrazil | voluntary between 16 to under 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory 18 to 70 years of age |
| British Virgin IslandsBrit. Virgin Isl. | 18 years of age; universal |
| BruneiBrunei | 18 years of age for village elections; universal |
| BulgariaBulgaria | 18 years of age; universal |
| Burkina FasoBurkina Faso | 18 years of age; universal |
| BurmaBurma | 18 years of age; universal |
| BurundiBurundi | 18 years of age; universal |
| CambodiaCambodia | 18 years of age; universal |
| CameroonCameroon | 20 years of age; universal |
| CanadaCanada | 18 years of age; universal |
| Cape VerdeCape Verde | 18 years of age; universal |
| Cayman IslandsCayman Islands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Central African RepublicCentral Africa | 18 years of age; universal |
| ChadChad | 18 years of age; universal |
| ChileChile | 18 years of age; universal and voluntary |
| ChinaChina | 18 years of age; universal |
| Christmas IslandXmas Island | 18 years of age |
| Cocos (Keeling) IslandsCocos Islands | 18 years of age |
| ColombiaColombia | 18 years of age; universal |
| ComorosComoros | 18 years of age; universal |
| Congo, Republic of theCongo, Republic of the | 18 years of age; universal |
| Cook IslandsCook Islands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Costa RicaCosta Rica | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire | 18 years of age; universal |
| CroatiaCroatia | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
| CubaCuba | 16 years of age; universal |
| CyprusCyprus | 18 years of age; universal |
| Czech RepublicCzech Republic | 18 years of age; universal |
| Democratic Republic of the CongoCongo, DR. | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| DenmarkDenmark | 18 years of age; universal |
| DjiboutiDjibouti | 18 years of age; universal |
| DominicaDominica | 18 years of age; universal |
| Dominican RepublicDominican Rep. | 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote |
| East TimorEast Timor | 17 years of age; universal |
| EcuadorEcuador | 18-65 years of age, universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, optional |
| EgyptEgypt | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| El SalvadorEl Salvador | 18 years of age; universal |
| Equatorial GuineaEqu. Guinea | 18 years of age; universal |
| EritreaEritrea | 18 years of age; universal |
| EstoniaEstonia | 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens |
| EthiopiaEthiopia | 18 years of age; universal |
| European UnionEuropean Union | voting for the European Parliament is permitted in each member state at 18 years of age; universal |
| Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Falklands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Federated States of MicronesiaMicronesia | 18 years of age; universal |
| FijiFiji | 21 years of age; universal |
| FinlandFinland | 18 years of age; universal |
| FranceFrance | 18 years of age; universal |
| French PolynesiaFr. Polynesia | 18 years of age; universal |
| GabonGabon | 18 years of age; universal |
| GeorgiaGeorgia | 18 years of age; universal |
| GermanyGermany | 18 years of age; universal |
| GhanaGhana | 18 years of age; universal |
| GibraltarGibraltar | 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more |
| GreeceGreece | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| GreenlandGreenland | 18 years of age; universal |
| GrenadaGrenada | 18 years of age; universal |
| GuamGuam | 18 years of age; universal |
| GuatemalaGuatemala | 18 years of age; universal |
| GuernseyGuernsey | 16 years of age; universal |
| GuineaGuinea | 18 years of age; universal |
| Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau | 18 years of age; universal |
| GuyanaGuyana | 18 years of age; universal |
| HaitiHaiti | 18 years of age; universal |
| Holy See (Vatican City)Vatican City | election of the pope is limited to cardinals less than 80 years old |
| HondurasHonduras | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Hong KongHong Kong | 18 years of age in direct elections for half the legislature and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years |
| HungaryHungary | 18 years of age, 16 if married; universal |
| IcelandIceland | 18 years of age; universal |
| IndiaIndia | 18 years of age; universal |
| IndonesiaIndonesia | 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age |
| IranIran | 18 years of age; universal |
| IraqIraq | 18 years of age; universal |
| IrelandIreland | 18 years of age; universal |
| Isle of ManIsle of Man | 16 years of age; universal |
| IsraelIsrael | 18 years of age; universal |
| ItalyItaly | 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) |
| JamaicaJamaica | 18 years of age; universal |
| JapanJapan | 20 years of age; universal |
| JerseyJersey | 16 years of age; universal |
| JordanJordan | 18 years of age; universal |
| KazakhstanKazakhstan | 18 years of age; universal |
| KenyaKenya | 18 years of age; universal |
| KiribatiKiribati | 18 years of age; universal |
| KosovoKosovo | 18 years of age; universal |
| KuwaitKuwait | 21 years of age; universal |
| KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan | 18 years of age; universal |
| LaosLaos | 18 years of age; universal |
| LatviaLatvia | 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens |
| LebanonLebanon | 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education; excludes military personnel |
| LesothoLesotho | 18 years of age; universal |
| LiberiaLiberia | 18 years of age; universal |
| LibyaLibya | 18 years of age, universal |
| LiechtensteinLiechtenstein | 18 years of age; universal |
| LithuaniaLithuania | 18 years of age; universal |
| LuxembourgLuxembourg | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| MacauMacau | 18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years(973 were registered in the 2009 legislative elections) and a 300-member Election Committee for the Chief Executive (CE) drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, central government bodies, and elected Macau officials |
| MadagascarMadagascar | 18 years of age; universal |
| MalawiMalawi | 18 years of age; universal |
| MalaysiaMalaysia | 21 years of age; universal |
| MaldivesMaldives | 18 years of age; universal |
| MaliMali | 18 years of age; universal |
| MaltaMalta | 18 years of age; universal |
| Marshall IslandsMarshall Isl. | 18 years of age; universal |
| MauritaniaMauritania | 18 years of age; universal |
| MauritiusMauritius | 18 years of age; universal |
| MayotteMayotte | 18 |
| MexicoMexico | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced) |
| MoldovaMoldova | 18 years of age; universal |
| MonacoMonaco | 18 years of age; universal |
| MongoliaMongolia | 18 years of age; universal |
| MontenegroMontenegro | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
| MontserratMontserrat | 18 years of age; universal |
| MoroccoMorocco | 18 years of age; universal |
| MozambiqueMozambique | 18 years of age; universal |
| NamibiaNamibia | 18 years of age; universal |
| NauruNauru | 20 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| NepalNepal | 18 years of age; universal |
| NetherlandsNetherlands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Netherlands AntillesN. Antilles | 18 years of age; universal |
| New CaledoniaNew Caledonia | 18 years of age; universal |
| New ZealandNew Zealand | 18 years of age; universal |
| NicaraguaNicaragua | 16 years of age; universal |
| NigerNiger | 18 years of age; universal |
| NigeriaNigeria | 18 years of age; universal |
| NiueNiue | 18 years of age; universal |
| Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island | 18 years of age; universal |
| North KoreaNorth Korea | 17 years of age; universal |
| Northern Mariana IslandsN. Mariana | 18 years of age; universal |
| NorwayNorway | 18 years of age; universal |
| OmanOman | 21 years of age; universal |
| PakistanPakistan | 18 years of age; universal |
| PalauPalau | 18 years of age; universal |
| PanamaPanama | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Papua New GuineaPapua NG | 18 years of age; universal |
| ParaguayParaguay | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75 |
| PeruPeru | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70 |
| PhilippinesPhilippines | 18 years of age; universal |
| Pitcairn IslandsPitcarn | 18 years of age; universal with three years residency |
| PolandPoland | 18 years of age; universal |
| PortugalPortugal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | 18 years of age; universal |
| QatarQatar | 18 years of age; universal |
| Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia Rep. | 18 years of age; universal |
| RomaniaRomania | 18 years of age; universal |
| RussiaRussia | 18 years of age; universal |
| RwandaRwanda | 18 years of age; universal |
| Saint BarthelemySt Barthelemy | 18 years of age, universal |
| Saint HelenaSaint Helena | NA years of age |
| Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaSaint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha | 18 years of age |
| Saint Kitts and NevisSt Kitts+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 18 years of age; universal |
| Saint MartinSaint Martin | 18 years of age, universal |
| Saint Pierre and MiquelonSt Pierre+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| SamoaSamoa | 21 years of age; universal |
| San MarinoSan Marino | 18 years of age; universal |
| Sao Tome and PrincipeSoa Tome+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia | 21 years of age; male |
| SenegalSenegal | 18 years of age; universal |
| SerbiaSerbia | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
| Serbia and MontenegroSerbia+ | 18 |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 18 years of age; universal |
| Sierra LeoneSierra Leone | 18 years of age; universal |
| SingaporeSingapore | 21 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| SlovakiaSlovakia | 18 years of age; universal |
| SloveniaSlovenia | 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal |
| Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands | 21 years of age; universal |
| SomaliaSomalia | 18 years of age; universal |
| South AfricaSouth Africa | 18 years of age; universal |
| South KoreaSouth Korea | 19 years of age; universal |
| South SudanSouth Sudan | 18 years of age; universal |
| SpainSpain | 18 years of age; universal |
| Sri LankaSri Lanka | 18 years of age; universal |
| SudanSudan | 17 years of age; universal |
| SurinameSuriname | 18 years of age; universal |
| SwazilandSwaziland | 18 years of age |
| SwedenSweden | 18 years of age; universal |
| SwitzerlandSwitzerland | 18 years of age; universal |
| SyriaSyria | 18 years of age; universal |
| TaiwanTaiwan | 20 years of age; universal |
| TajikistanTajikistan | 18 years of age; universal |
| TanzaniaTanzania | 18 years of age; universal |
| ThailandThailand | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| The BahamasThe Bahamas | 18 years of age; universal |
| The GambiaThe Gambia | 18 years of age; universal |
| TogoTogo | 18 years of age; universal |
| TokelauTokelau | 21 years of age; universal |
| TongaTonga | 21 years of age; universal |
| Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| TunisiaTunisia | 18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months |
| TurkeyTurkey | 18 years of age; universal |
| TurkmenistanTurkmenistan | 18 years of age; universal |
| Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| TuvaluTuvalu | 18 years of age; universal |
| UgandaUganda | 18 years of age; universal |
| UkraineUkraine | 18 years of age; universal |
| United Arab EmiratesUAE | limited(FNC) that together account for about 12 percent of the native Emirati population |
| United KingdomUnited Kingdom | 18 years of age; universal |
| United StatesUnited States | 18 years of age; universal |
| UruguayUruguay | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| UzbekistanUzbekistan | 18 years of age; universal |
| VanuatuVanuatu | 18 years of age; universal |
| VenezuelaVenezuela | 18 years of age; universal |
| VietnamVietnam | 18 years of age; universal |
| Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands | 18 years of age; universal |
| Wallis and FutunaWallis+ | 18 years of age; universal |
| Western SaharaWestern Sahara | none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections) |
| YemenYemen | 18 years of age; universal |
| ZambiaZambia | 18 years of age; universal |
| ZimbabweZimbabwe | 18 years of age; universal |