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Women's right to vote

What this indicator measures

This indicator says whether all women in the country have the right to vote in national elections. It concerns the right to vote in national elections: the index ignores informal restrictions, those related to age, convictions, disability or residence, and whether or not elections are held. For former federated states (USSR, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia), the database producer carries over the value of the former state before independence.

How to read this?

“Right to vote granted” means the law allows all women to vote in national elections.

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194countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Women's right to vote: 194 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Right to vote granted to all women : 189 ; Right to vote not granted to all women : 5.

Why this indicator matters

The right to vote is a pillar of citizenship. Knowing whether all women can vote in national elections helps show the basic political equality written into law.

What makes this indicator vary

Women's suffrage expanded gradually, often after long struggles and constitutional reforms. Its timing depends on political history, regime changes and independence.

Reading precautions

The indicator looks only at national law, not practical obstacles. It ignores limits based on age, convictions or residence, and does not say whether elections take place. Some values are carried over from former states.

Women's right to vote

Right to vote granted to all women (189)

Right to vote not granted to all women (5)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Women's right to vote" data come from?

It comes from Lexical Index of Electoral Democracy (LIED v6.9), via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

Does this indicator say whether women actually vote?

No. It only indicates whether the law allows them to vote in national elections. Actual turnout and practical obstacles are not measured.

Are age restrictions taken into account?

No. Conditions of age, conviction, disability or residence are ignored. The only question is whether women, as a group, have the right to vote.

Source and update

Source : Lexical Index of Electoral Democracy (LIED v6.9), via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Women's rights