Age of majority
The age of majority is the age when a person becomes an adult by law. This means that they are legally in control over their own actions and decisions, and their parents are no longer responsible for them. When used this way, the word majority means having the full number of years to be an adult. The opposite is minority, which means being a minor or child. The law in a given place may never actually use the words "age of majority" when deciding when people become adults. The age of majority is a legally fixed age and idea of adulthood which is different in different places. It may not match the actual maturity of a person's body or mind. The age of majority is 18 in the vast majority of jurisdictions, but ages as low as 15 and as high as 21 exist in some.
Overview[change | change source]
Once a person reaches the age of majority, there are some things they can do that they could not do before. These may include to vote being legally an adult and marrying without having to ask for permission. The ages that these things can be done are different depending on where the person lives.
Even after a person reaches the age of majority, there may be other age-based rules that they still have to follow, such as the right to stand for office in elections or become a judge. For example, the youngest a person is allowed to purchase alcohol is 21 in all U.S. states even though the age of majority is 18 in most states. The age of majority in the Republic of Ireland is 17, but a person must be over 21 years old to stand for election.
Emancipation is when a child is freed from the responsibility and care of their parents or legal guardians before they reach the age of majority.
In almost all places, minors who are married are automatically emancipated. Some places also do the same for minors who are in the armed forces or who have a certain degree or diploma.[1]
Countries and subdivisions[change | change source]
This is a list of the age of majority in various countries (or administrative divisions):
Age 17
Age 18
- All countries of the European Union (with exceptions as listed)[7]
- Albania [8]
- Afghanistan
- American Samoa, United States
- Andorra [9]
- Argentina [10]
- Armenia[11]
- Angola
- Australia[12]
- Azerbaijan [13]
- Bahamas[14]
- Barbados[15]
- Belarus[16]
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina[17]
- Brazil (though one may vote at the age of 16)
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Canada (provinces of Nova Scotia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan)[18]
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia (16 if minor marries or has a child)
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Djibouti [19]
- Dominican Republic
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador[20]
- Estonia
- Fiji
- France
- Gabon
- Germany
- Greece
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iran
- India [21]
- Indonesia (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
- Ireland
- Italy
- Israel
- Isle of Man
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- Kenya
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- North Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
- Peru
- Philippines[22]
- Poland (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland (14 if parents agree)
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Kingdom, (except Scotland)
- United States, (Exceptions: AL, IN, NE, NJ, 19; CO, MS, NY, PR, 21)
Age 19
- Canada (provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon)[18]
- South Korea
- United States, (Exceptions)
* Alabama, * Indiana, * Nebraska, * New Jersey
Age 20
- Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands and Greenland, minors are emancipated at 18)
- Finland (minors are emancipated at 18)
- Iceland (minors are emancipated at 18)
- Japan
- New Zealand[24]
- Norway (minors are emancipated at 18)
- Taiwan
- Thailand (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
Age 21
- Bahrain [25]
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Egypt
- Eswatini
- Honduras
- Lesotho
- Madagascar [26] (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
- Namibia
- Singapore
- United States, (Exceptions)
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Statutory and Judicial Emancipation of Minors in the United States, 2001-2002 analysis by law students of Northeastern University
- ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of Cuba 1992". Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ Culture of Cuba - traditional, history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, marriage, men, life, population, religion, rituals, Cultural name
- ↑ "Interpol report on Kyrgyzstan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Uzbekistan law" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/50/section/1
- ↑ "Interpol report on Austria". Archived from the original on 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4c7e7eea2.pdf/
- ↑ "Interpol report on Andorra law" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Telam: Política - El Senado aprobó la ley de la mayoría de edad a los 18 años". Archived from the original on 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Armenia". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "The Age of Majority". Website of the Tangled Moon Coven. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Azerbaijan". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Bahamas". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Barbados". Archived from the original on 2001-09-27. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Belarus". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Bosnia and Herzegovina". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Susan Munroe. "Age of majority". About.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
The age of majority in Canada is determined by each province and territory in Canada.
- ↑ Interpol report on Djibouti Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- ↑ "El Salvador". U.S. Department of State. 23 Feb 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ↑ Indian Majority Act
- ↑ Republic Act No. 6809, December 13, 1989, Chan Robles Law library
- ↑ Missouri Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors
- ↑ "Age of Majority Act 1970" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Interpol report on Bahrain". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ "Ordonnance 62-041 du 19 septembre 1962 relative aux dispositions générales de droit interne et de droit international privé". Archived from the original on 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ↑ Mississippi Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors