A global consensus has established 18 as the standard voting age across approximately 85% of the world’s countries, though a small number of nations maintain higher or lower thresholds for electoral participation.
- Global Standard: More than 180 nations currently set the legal voting age at 18.
- Lower Thresholds: A handful of countries, including Austria and Brazil, allow citizens to vote at 16.
- Higher Thresholds: A small group of nations maintain voting ages of 20 or 21, with the UAE citing 25 for a limited advisory body.
The Rise of the Global Voting Age Standard
For much of the 20th century, the voting age in democratic nations was typically 21. This changed rapidly between 1965 and 1975 as countries began lowering the threshold.
The United Kingdom lowered its age to 18 in 1969, followed by Canada in 1970. The United States ratified the 26th Amendment in 1971, largely due to arguments that 18-year-olds drafted for the Vietnam War should have a voice in the political process.
Some nations adopted the standard much later. Japan lowered its age from 20 to 18 in 2016, South Korea dropped from 19 to 18 in 2020, and Malaysia moved from 21 to 18 in 2021.
Nations With Lower Voting Thresholds
Citizens can vote at 16 in at least some national-level elections in Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Malta. Wales also allows voting at 16 for Welsh elections.
Scotland serves as a prominent case study; following high turnout and engagement during the 2014 independence referendum, the country lowered the voting age to 16 for local and Scottish Parliament elections in 2015. Austria became the first EU nation to lower its national voting age to 16 in 2007.
In Argentina, the legal age is 18, but voting is optional for those aged 16 to 18. In Indonesia, the formal age is 17, though married citizens may vote regardless of age.
Other countries with a voting age of 17 include Timor-Leste, Greece, North Korea, Sudan, and South Sudan.
Higher Voting Ages and Special Cases
A small number of countries maintain thresholds above 18. The voting age is 20 in Nauru, Bahrain, and Taiwan. Taiwan attempted to lower the age to 18 via a 2022 referendum, but the proposal failed to meet the required turnout threshold.
The voting age is 21 in Cameroon, Kuwait, Oman, Samoa, Singapore, Tokelau, and Tonga. Kuwait notably did not extend voting rights to women until 2005.
While the United Arab Emirates is often cited as having the highest voting age at 25, this applies only to a limited electorate for the Federal National Council, an advisory body. The UAE does not have universal suffrage for national leadership.
Compulsory Versus Optional Voting
While voting age determines eligibility, compulsory voting laws determine obligation. Roughly two dozen countries have compulsory voting on their books.
Strict enforcement, including fines, is found in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Uruguay, and Luxembourg. Other nations, such as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, and Mexico, have compulsory laws that are weakly enforced or ignored.
The Debate Over Youth Suffrage
Proponents of lowering the voting age to 16 argue that individuals in this age group often work, pay income tax, and drive, justifying their right to vote. Data from the Scottish referendum is often cited to suggest that voting at 16 encourages lifelong civic participation.
Critics argue that 16-year-olds lack sufficient life experience, typically still live with parents, and have limited exposure to complex policy and financial questions. Scientific data on brain development remains mixed and does not definitively support either side.
Historically, once a country has lowered its voting age to 16, the change has remained permanent; no country has subsequently raised the age back to 18.
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