Universal suffrage

The table below lists the year that universal male and universal female suffrage were introduced into various nations. The list is non-exhaustive. In general nations that became independent during the 20th or 21st centuries granted universal suffrage to men and women at the same time. In nations that became independent during the 19th century men often led women by a few years or decades in obtaining suffrage. Greece and Switzerland are notable exceptions to this general trend.

The following definitions are used in the table below:

Universal Male Suffrage: Men of the majority ethnic group are permitted to vote irrespective of possession of land, wealth, education levels or literacy levels where the minimum age is no higher than 21.

This differs from the definition used in the English Wikipedia as it considers universal male suffrage to begin when men of the majority ethnic group of any age received the franchise without further qualification. This definition would mean that in reality only a minority of men would have the franchise and make it appear that universal male suffrage was enacted earlier than it really was.

Universal Female Suffrage: Women are permitted to vote on the same basis as men.

It is universally accepted within psephology that some citizens may be deprived of suffrage while a jurisdiction can still be considered to have Universal Suffrage. Examples of citizens so deprived include military officers, citizens who are non-resident, citizens serving a term of imprisonment and citizens with serious criminal records.

Jurisdiction	Universal Male Suffrage	Universal Female Suffrage	Difference (years)	Notes
Afganistan	1977	1977	0
Algeria	1962	1962	0
Argentina	1853	1952	99
Armenia	1919	1921	2
Azerbaijan	1919	1919	0
Australia	1901	1902	1	During the 1901 (inaugural) federal election women were eligible to vote if they were eligible to vote in their home state elections. As a result women in South Australia and Western Australia voted in the 1901 election. For Australian states see this article.
Austria	1896	1918	22
Bahamas	1958	1961	3
Belgium	1893	1948	55	Universal census suffrage for all men aged 25 and above since 1893. Depending on education and amount of taxes paid, males could cast between 1 and 3 votes. Widows were also allowed to vote but lost their voting rights after remarrying. Universal single suffrage for males since 1918. Universal suffrage for women was finally introduced in 1948.
Bahrain	1975	1975	0
Bhutan	2008	2008	0
Bolivia	1956	1956	0
Brazil	1988	1988	0
Brunei	-	-	-	Brunei is an absolute monarchy and its citizens have never had the franchise.
Bulgaria	1945	1945	0
Burma/Myanmar	1990	1990	0
Canada	1920	1920	0	Chinese and aborigines were initially excluded regardless of gender. For Canadian provinces see this article.
Chile	1970	1970	0
Colombia	1936	1954	18
Czechia	1896	1918	22	As the First Czechoslovak Republic.
Denmark	1915	1915	0	Information in Wikipedia differs from that presented here due to a different definition for Universal Male Suffrage.
Domican Republic	?	?	?
Estonia	1917	1918	0
European Union	1979	1979	0
Finland	1906	1906	0
Greece	1830	1952	122
Israel	1948	1948	0
Italy	1918	1945	27	Information in Wikipedia differs from that presented here due to a different definition for Universal Male Suffrage.
Jamaica	1944	1944	0	The House of Representatives was established in 1944. Jamaica then gained increasing autonomy and finally became fully independent in 1962, with universal suffrage throughout.
Japan	1947	1947	0	Information in Wikipedia differs from that presented here due to a different definition for Universal Male Suffrage.
New Zealand	1879	1893	14
Pakistan	1947	1947	0
Slovakia	1896	1918	22	As the First Czechoslovak Republic.
Sweden	1945	1945	0	Information in Wikipedia differs from that presented here due to a different definition for Universal Male Suffrage.
Switzerland	1848	1971	123	Switzerland is a federal state made up of Cantons. At a Canton level universal male and female suffrage was achieved at different times.
Taiwan	1992	1992	0
Thailand	1933	1933	0
United Kingdom	1918	1928	10	Women 30 or older gained the franchise in 1918 if they lived in a house, had a husband who did or owned property worth a certain amount.
Zimbabwe	?	1919	?

See Also

• Suffrage
• Suffrage in Australia
• Suffrage in Canada

External Links

• Good summary for Australia
• A Brief History of Voting
• Wikipedia contains a similar list
• Universal male suffrage in New Zealand
• Discussion of suffrage Elections Canada