Suffrage (2006) | Suffrage (2006) | ||
![]() |
Afghanistan | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Albania | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
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 compulsory |
![]() |
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 | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
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; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law |
![]() |
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 | 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; note - military conscripts do not vote |
![]() |
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 national 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 | 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 British citizens who have been residents six months or more | 18 years of age; universal, plus other British citizens 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 200,000 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 |
![]() |
Ireland | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Isle of Man | 16 years of age; universal | 16 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 | 19 years of age; universal | 19 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Kuwait | adult males who are not in the military forces, and adult females (as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years | adult males who are not in the military forces, and adult females (as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years |
![]() |
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 | 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 | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Mongolia | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Montenegro | 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 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 |
![]() |
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 and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military and national police may not vote |
![]() |
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; island residents 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 held nationwide from February through April 2005 |
adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005 |
![]() |
Senegal | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
![]() |
Serbia | 18 universal | 18 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; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections | 18 years of age; universal; island residents 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 |