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
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.
Countries and subdivisions
This is a list of the age of majority in various countries (or administrative divisions):
Age 16
Cuba
Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Scotland
Age 17
North Korea
Age 18
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
Cote 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
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
United Kingdom, (except Scotland)
United States, (Exceptions: AL, IN, NE, NJ, 19; CO, MS, NY, PR, 21)
Ukraine
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Age 19
Canada (provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon)
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
Norway (minors are emancipated at 18)
Taiwan
Thailand (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
Age 21
Bahrain
Cameroon
Chad
Egypt
Eswatini
Honduras
Lesotho
Madagascar (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
Namibia
Singapore
United States, (Exceptions)
* Colorado, * Mississippi, * New York, * Puerto Rico
References
Related pages
Age of consent
Legal terms