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Minimum voting age

What this indicator measures

Age from which a citizen has the right to vote in national elections, according to the CIA World Factbook. When the source text gives several different ages or an ambiguous rule, the country is left out.

How to read this?

The number is the age in years from which one can vote; a lower number means that one can vote younger.

Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest

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222countries with data
21 yrsmaximum · Kuwait
18 yrsmedian
16 yrsminimum · Nicaragua
2026data year(s)

In brief

The "Minimum voting age" ranking covers 222 countries and territories. Lowest value: Nicaragua (16 yrs). Highest value: Kuwait (21 yrs). Median: 18 yrs (data: 2026). The top 10% of countries exceed 18 yrs, while the bottom 10% stay below 18 yrs. By continent, the median is highest in Asia (18 yrs) and lowest in South America (18 yrs).

Median by continent

Lower Higher
  • Asia 18 yrs (47)
  • Oceania 18 yrs (24)
  • Africa 18 yrs (51)
  • North America 18 yrs (38)
  • Europe 18 yrs (48)
  • South America 18 yrs (10)

Why this indicator matters

The voting age sets the point from which a citizen can take part in national elections. Comparing this threshold shows when the law considers a person ready to choose their representatives.

What makes this indicator vary

This threshold depends on the history of suffrage and the age of civil majority. Many countries have lowered it over the course of reforms, often after debates about the place of young people in political life.

Reading precautions

Sources sometimes mention different ages depending on the election or the situation (marriage, military service). In that case, the country is left out. Having the right to vote does not guarantee that elections are free.

Full ranking

ranked from highest to lowest

RankCountryValueYear
1er🇰🇼 Kuwait21 yrs2026
1er🇱🇧 Lebanon21 yrs2026
1er🇴🇲 Oman21 yrs2026
1er🇸🇬 Singapore21 yrs2026
1er🇸🇧 Solomon Islands21 yrs2026
1er🇹🇴 Tonga21 yrs2026
1er🇼🇸 Samoa21 yrs2026
8e🇧🇭 Bahrain20 yrs2026
8e🇨🇲 Cameroon20 yrs2026
8e🇳🇷 Nauru20 yrs2026
8e🇹🇼 Taiwan20 yrs2026
12e🇦🇼 Aruba18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇫 Afghanistan18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇴 Angola18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇮 Anguilla18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇱 Albania18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇩 Andorra18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇲 Armenia18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇸 American Samoa18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇺 Australia18 yrs2026
12e🇦🇿 Azerbaijan18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇮 Burundi18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇪 Belgium18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇯 Benin18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇫 Burkina Faso18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇩 Bangladesh18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇬 Bulgaria18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇸 Bahamas18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇱 St. Barthélemy18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇾 Belarus18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇿 Belize18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇲 Bermuda18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇴 Bolivia18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇧 Barbados18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇳 Brunei18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇹 Bhutan18 yrs2026
12e🇧🇼 Botswana18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇫 Central African Republic18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇦 Canada18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇭 Switzerland18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇱 Chile18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇳 China18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇰 Cook Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇴 Colombia18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇲 Comoros18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇻 Cape Verde18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇷 Costa Rica18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇼 Curaçao18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇾 Cayman Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇾 Cyprus18 yrs2026
12e🇨🇿 Czechia18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇪 Germany18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇯 Djibouti18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇲 Dominica18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇰 Denmark18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇴 Dominican Republic18 yrs2026
12e🇩🇿 Algeria18 yrs2026
12e🇪🇬 Egypt18 yrs2026
12e🇪🇷 Eritrea18 yrs2026
12e🇪🇸 Spain18 yrs2026
12e🇪🇪 Estonia18 yrs2026
12e🇪🇹 Ethiopia18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇮 Finland18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇯 Fiji18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇰 Falkland Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇷 France18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇴 Faroe Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇫🇲 Micronesia18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇦 Gabon18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇧 United Kingdom18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇪 Georgia18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇭 Ghana18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇳 Guinea18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇲 Gambia18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇩 Grenada18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇱 Greenland18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇹 Guatemala18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇺 Guam18 yrs2026
12e🇬🇾 Guyana18 yrs2026
12e🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China18 yrs2026
12e🇭🇳 Honduras18 yrs2026
12e🇭🇷 Croatia18 yrs2026
12e🇭🇹 Haiti18 yrs2026
12e🇭🇺 Hungary18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇳 India18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇪 Ireland18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇷 Iran18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇶 Iraq18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇸 Iceland18 yrs2026
12e🇮🇹 Italy18 yrs2026
12e🇯🇲 Jamaica18 yrs2026
12e🇯🇴 Jordan18 yrs2026
12e🇯🇵 Japan18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇿 Kazakhstan18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇪 Kenya18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇭 Cambodia18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇮 Kiribati18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis18 yrs2026
12e🇰🇷 South Korea18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇦 Laos18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇷 Liberia18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇾 Libya18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇨 St. Lucia18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇮 Liechtenstein18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇰 Sri Lanka18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇸 Lesotho18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇹 Lithuania18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇺 Luxembourg18 yrs2026
12e🇱🇻 Latvia18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇴 Macao SAR China18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇫 St. Martin18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇦 Morocco18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇨 Monaco18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇩 Moldova18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇬 Madagascar18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇻 Maldives18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇽 Mexico18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇭 Marshall Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇰 North Macedonia18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇱 Mali18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇹 Malta18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma)18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇪 Montenegro18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇳 Mongolia18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇿 Mozambique18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇷 Mauritania18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇸 Montserrat18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇺 Mauritius18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇼 Malawi18 yrs2026
12e🇲🇾 Malaysia18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇦 Namibia18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇨 New Caledonia18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇪 Niger18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇫 Norfolk Island18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇬 Nigeria18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇺 Niue18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇱 Netherlands18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇴 Norway18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇵 Nepal18 yrs2026
12e🇳🇿 New Zealand18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇰 Pakistan18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇦 Panama18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇪 Peru18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇭 Philippines18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇼 Palau18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇱 Poland18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇷 Puerto Rico18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇹 Portugal18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇾 Paraguay18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇫 French Polynesia18 yrs2026
12e🇶🇦 Qatar18 yrs2026
12e🇷🇴 Romania18 yrs2026
12e🇷🇺 Russia18 yrs2026
12e🇷🇼 Rwanda18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇳 Senegal18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇭 St. Helena18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇱 Sierra Leone18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇻 El Salvador18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇲 San Marino18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇴 Somalia18 yrs2026
12e🇵🇲 St. Pierre & Miquelon18 yrs2026
12e🇷🇸 Serbia18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇷 Suriname18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇰 Slovakia18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇮 Slovenia18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇪 Sweden18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇿 Eswatini18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇽 Sint Maarten18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇨 Seychelles18 yrs2026
12e🇸🇾 Syria18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇩 Chad18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇬 Togo18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇭 Thailand18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇯 Tajikistan18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇲 Turkmenistan18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇳 Tunisia18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇷 Türkiye18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇻 Tuvalu18 yrs2026
12e🇹🇿 Tanzania18 yrs2026
12e🇺🇬 Uganda18 yrs2026
12e🇺🇦 Ukraine18 yrs2026
12e🇺🇾 Uruguay18 yrs2026
12e🇺🇸 United States18 yrs2026
12e🇺🇿 Uzbekistan18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇪 Venezuela18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇳 Vietnam18 yrs2026
12e🇻🇺 Vanuatu18 yrs2026
12e🇼🇫 Wallis & Futuna18 yrs2026
12e🇽🇰 Kosovo18 yrs2026
12e🇾🇪 Yemen18 yrs2026
12e🇿🇦 South Africa18 yrs2026
12e🇿🇲 Zambia18 yrs2026
12e🇿🇼 Zimbabwe18 yrs2026
212e🇬🇷 Greece17 yrs2026
212e🇮🇩 Indonesia17 yrs2026
212e🇰🇵 North Korea17 yrs2026
212e🇸🇩 Sudan17 yrs2026
212e🇹🇱 Timor-Leste17 yrs2026
217e🇦🇹 Austria16 yrs2026
217e🇨🇺 Cuba16 yrs2026
217e🇬🇬 Guernsey16 yrs2026
217e🇮🇲 Isle of Man16 yrs2026
217e🇯🇪 Jersey16 yrs2026
217e🇳🇮 Nicaragua16 yrs2026

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest value for "Minimum voting age"?

The highest value is in Kuwait, at 21 yrs (2026).

Which country has the lowest value for "Minimum voting age"?

The lowest value is in Nicaragua, at 16 yrs (2026).

What is the world median value of "Minimum voting age"?

The world median is 18 yrs, calculated across 222 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.

What is the value of "Minimum voting age" for France?

France scores 18 yrs (2026), ranking 12 out of 222 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).

Where does the "Minimum voting age" data come from?

It comes from CIA World Factbook – Government : Suffrage. Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does the minimum voting age measure?

It is the age from which a citizen can vote in national elections according to the law. The lower the age, the earlier young people gain access to voting.

Why do some countries have no value?

When the source gives several ages or an ambiguous rule, the country is deliberately left out to avoid inaccurate information.

Source and update

Source : CIA World Factbook – Government : Suffrage. Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Democracy & Elections