Global South World - age https://www.globalsouthworld.com en-US How old do you have to be to vote? https://www.globalsouthworld.com/article/how-old-do-you-have-to-be-to-vote https://www.globalsouthworld.com/article/how-old-do-you-have-to-be-to-vote?feed=age Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:14:09 Z While 18 years old remains the most common minimum voting age, there is significant variation across countries, from 16 to 21, and even 25 in rare cases.

According to WorldAtlas's overview of voting ages, most nations use 18 as the legal voting threshold. A handful lower it to 16 or 17, and the United Arab Emirates remains an outlier with a voting age of 25. That data is echoed in broader surveys: nearly 202 countries hold 18 as their standard voting age, while only 10 use 16, and 4 use 17.

In recent decades, some democracies have experimented with earlier enfranchisement, either nationally or for specific elections. For example:

A landmark move: United Kingdom to lower voting age to 16

In 2025, the U.K. announced sweeping electoral reforms that include lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 in all national elections, a move expected to take effect ahead of the next general election.

This change will bring England and Northern Ireland in line with Scotland and Wales, where 16- and 17-year-olds already vote in devolved elections.

Analysts cited by the House of Commons project that lowering the age is unlikely to alter election outcomes, and in some cases, 16-year-olds have shown a higher propensity to vote than those just reaching 18.

The reform also comes alongside measures to simplify voter ID rules and strengthen campaign finance oversight to guard against foreign interference.

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