Universal suffrage

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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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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 ?

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