Age of majority

The age of majority is the age that children become adults 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, voting, buying or drinking alcohol, driving cars on public roads, 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.

Countries and subdivisions
This is a list of the age of majority in various countries (or administrative divisions):

Age 15
 Iran

Age 16
 Cuba
 Kyrgyzstan 
 Turkmenistan
 Uzbekistan 
 Scotland 
Age 17
 Korea, North
 Tajikistan
 All countries of the European Union (with exceptions as listed)
 Albania 
 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 
 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 
 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
 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, Massachusetts and Nebraska, 19; Colorado, Mississippi and Puerto Rico, 21)
 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)
 Nebraska, 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 States
 Namibia
 Puerto Rico, United States
 Singapore
 Swaziland

References

Related pages
 Age of consent

Legal terms