Suffrage (2005) | Suffrage (2003) | ||
Afghanistan | 18 years of age; universal | NA; previously males 15-50 years of age | |
Albania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Algeria | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
American Samoa | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Andorra | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Angola | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Anguilla | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Antigua and Barbuda | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Argentina | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and mandatory | |
Armenia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Aruba | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Australia | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Austria | 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections | |
Azerbaijan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Bahamas, The | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Bahrain | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Bangladesh | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Barbados | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Belarus | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Belgium | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Belize | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Benin | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Bermuda | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Bhutan | each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law | each family has one vote in village-level elections | |
Bolivia | 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single) | 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single) | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18 years of age, universal | 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal | |
Botswana | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Brazil | voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote | voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age | |
British Virgin Islands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Brunei | none | none | |
Bulgaria | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Burkina Faso | universal | universal | |
Burma | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Burundi | NA years of age; universal adult | NA years of age; universal adult | |
Cambodia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Cameroon | 20 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal | |
Canada | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Cape Verde | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Cayman Islands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Central African Republic | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Chad | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Chile | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
China | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | NA | NA | |
Colombia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Comoros | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Congo, Republic of the | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Cook Islands | NA years of age; universal adult | NA years of age; universal adult | |
Costa Rica | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Cote d'Ivoire | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Croatia | 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) | 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) | |
Cuba | 16 years of age; universal | 16 years of age; universal | |
Cyprus | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Czech Republic | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Denmark | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Djibouti | 18 years of age; universal adult | 18 years of age; universal adult | |
Dominica | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Dominican Republic | 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote |
18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote |
|
East Timor | 17 years of age; universal | 17 years of age; universal | |
Ecuador | 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters | 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters | |
Egypt | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
El Salvador | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Equatorial Guinea | 18 years of age; universal adult | 18 years of age; universal adult | |
Eritrea | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Estonia | 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens | 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens | |
Ethiopia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
European Union | 18 years of age; universal | - | |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Faroe Islands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Fiji | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Finland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
France | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
French Guiana | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
French Polynesia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Gabon | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Gambia, The | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Georgia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Germany | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Ghana | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Gibraltar | 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more | 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more | |
Greece | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Greenland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Grenada | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Guadeloupe | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Guam | 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections | |
Guatemala | 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) | 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) | |
Guernsey | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Guinea | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Guinea-Bissau | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Guyana | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Haiti | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Holy See (Vatican City) | limited to cardinals less than 80 years old | limited to cardinals less than 80 years old | |
Honduras | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Hong Kong | direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies | direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies | |
Hungary | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Iceland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
India | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Indonesia | 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age | 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age | |
Iran | 15 years of age; universal | 15 years of age; universal | |
Iraq | formerly 18 years of age; universal | formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition | |
Ireland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Isle of Man | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Israel | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Italy | 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) | 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25) | |
Jamaica | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Japan | 20 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal | |
Jersey | NA years of age; universal adult | NA years of age; universal adult | |
Jordan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Kazakhstan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Kenya | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Kiribati | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Korea, North | 17 years of age; universal | 17 years of age; universal | |
Korea, South | 20 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal | |
Kuwait | adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time |
adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time |
|
Kyrgyzstan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Laos | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Latvia | 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens | 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens | |
Lebanon | 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education | 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education | |
Lesotho | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Liberia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Libya | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Liechtenstein | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Lithuania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Luxembourg | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Macau | direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies | direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies | |
Macedonia | 18 years of age; universal | - | |
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of | - | 18 years of age; universal | |
Madagascar | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Malawi | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Malaysia | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Maldives | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Mali | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Malta | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Marshall Islands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Martinique | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Mauritania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Mauritius | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Mayotte | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Mexico | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced) | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced) | |
Micronesia, Federated States of | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Moldova | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Monaco | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Mongolia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Montserrat | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Morocco | 18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003) | 18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003) | |
Mozambique | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Namibia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Nauru | 20 years of age; universal and compulsory | 20 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Nepal | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Netherlands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Netherlands Antilles | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
New Caledonia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
New Zealand | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Nicaragua | 16 years of age; universal | 16 years of age; universal | |
Niger | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Nigeria | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Niue | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Norfolk Island | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | |
Norway | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Oman | in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage was universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the military and security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled for 2007 | in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis al-Shura | |
Pakistan | 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims | 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims | |
Palau | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Panama | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Papua New Guinea | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Paraguay | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75 | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75 | |
Peru | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military and national police may not vote | 18 years of age; universal | |
Philippines | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Pitcairn Islands | 18 years of age; universal with three years residency | 18 years of age; universal with three years residency | |
Poland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Portugal | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Puerto Rico | 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | |
Qatar | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Reunion | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Romania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Russia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Rwanda | 18 years of age; universal adult | 18 years of age; universal adult | |
Saint Helena | NA years of age | NA years of age | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Saint Lucia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Samoa | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
San Marino | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Sao Tome and Principe | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Saudi Arabia | adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005 |
none | |
Senegal | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Serbia and Montenegro | 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal | 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal | |
Seychelles | 17 years of age; universal | 17 years of age; universal | |
Sierra Leone | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Singapore | 21 years of age; universal and compulsory | 21 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Slovakia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Slovenia | 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) | 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) | |
Solomon Islands | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Somalia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
South Africa | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Spain | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Sri Lanka | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Sudan | 17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory | 17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory | |
Suriname | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Swaziland | 18 years of age | 18 years of age | |
Sweden | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Switzerland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Syria | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Taiwan | 20 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal | |
Tajikistan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Tanzania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Thailand | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Togo | NA years of age; universal adult | NA years of age; universal adult | |
Tokelau | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Tonga | 21 years of age; universal | 21 years of age; universal | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Tunisia | 20 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal | |
Turkey | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Turkmenistan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Turks and Caicos Islands | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Tuvalu | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Uganda | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Ukraine | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
United Arab Emirates | none | none | |
United Kingdom | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
United States | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Uruguay | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | |
Uzbekistan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Vanuatu | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Venezuela | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Vietnam | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Virgin Islands | 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | |
Wallis and Futuna | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Western Sahara | none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed | none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed | |
Yemen | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Zambia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal | |
Zimbabwe | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |