Title: Age of majority Content: 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 == Once a person reaches the age of majority, there are some things they can do that they could not do before. These may include buying stocks 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.Statutory and Judicial Emancipation of Minors in the United States, 2001-2002 analysis by law students of Northeastern University ==Countries and subdivisions== This is a list of the age of majority in various countries (or administrative divisions): Age 15 * Iran Age 16 * CubaCulture of Cuba - traditional, history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, marriage, men, life, population, religion, rituals, Cultural name * Kyrgyzstan * Turkmenistan * Uzbekistan * Scotland http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/50/section/1 Age 17 * Korea, North * Tajikistan * All countries of the European Union (with exceptions as listed) * Albania http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4c7e7eea2.pdf/ * Afghanistan * American Samoa, United States * Andorra * Argentina * Armenia * Angola * Australia * Azerbaijan * Bahamas * Barbados * Belarus * Bhutan * Bolivia * Bosnia and Herzegovina * 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) * Chile * China * Colombia * Costa Rica * Côte d'Ivoire * Croatia (16 if minor marries or has a child) * Cyprus * Czech Republic * Djibouti Interpol report on Djibouti (in French) * Dominican Republic * Dominica * Ecuador * El Salvador * Estonia * Fiji * France * Gabon * Germany * Greece * Ghana * Gibraltar * Guatemala * Guernsey * Guinea (minors are emancipated upon marriage) * Guyana * Haiti * Hong Kong * Hungary * Iran * India Indian Majority Act * 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 * PhilippinesRepublic Act No. 6809, December 13, 1989, Chan Robles Law library * 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 * Tanzania * Trinidad and Tobago * Tunisia * Turkey * United Kingdom, (except Scotland) * United States, (with these exceptions: Alabama, Indiana, Nebraska and New Jersey, 19; Colorado, Mississippi, New York and Puerto Rico, 21)Missouri Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors * Ukraine * Uruguay * Venezuela * Vietnam * Yemen * Zimbabwe Age 19 * Alabama, United States * Canada (provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon) * Indiana, United States * Nebraska, United States * New Jersey, United States * Korea, South 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 * Norway (minors are emancipated at 18) * Taiwan * Thailand (minors are emancipated upon marriage) Age 21 * Bahrain * Cameroon * Chad * Colorado, United States * Egypt * Honduras * Lesotho * Madagascar (minors are emancipated upon marriage) * Mississippi, United StatesMississippi Age of Majority Law - Age of Majority - Minors * Namibia * New York, United States * Puerto Rico, United States * Singapore * Swaziland