Age of Majority

The age of majority is the threshold of legal adulthood as recognized or declared in law. It is the moment when minors cease to be considered such and assume legal control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thus terminating the control and legal responsibilities of their parents or guardian over them. Most countries set the age of majority at 18, but some jurisdictions have a higher age and others lower. The word ''majority'' here refers to having greater years and being of full age as opposed to ''minority'', the state of being a minor. The law in a given jurisdiction may not actually use the term "age of majority". The term typically refers to a collection of laws bestowing the status of adulthood. Those under the age of majority are referred to as minors and may be legally denied certain privileges or rights (e.g. the right to vote, buy alcohol, marry, sign a binding contract).

Age of majority should not be confused with the age of maturity, age of sexual consent, marriageable age, school-leaving age, drinking age, driving age, voting age, smoking age, gambling age, etc., which each may be independent of and set at a different age from the age of majority.

Explanation

The term ''"age of majority"'' can be confused with the similar concept of the age of license, which also pertains to the threshold of adulthood but in a much broader and more abstract manner. As a legal term of art, "license" means "permission", which leads to implications of a legally enforceable right or privilege. Thus, an age of license is an age at which one has legal permission from a given government to participate in certain activities or rituals. The age of majority, on the other hand, is a legal ''recognition'' that one is gradually becoming an adult, not necessarily stating that one is legally allowed to partake in any or all activities specified for adults.

Many ages of license are correlated to the age of majority to recognize the transition to legal adulthood, but they are nonetheless legally distinct concepts. One need not have attained the age of majority to have permission to exercise certain rights and responsibilities. Some ages of license may be higher, lower, or match the age of majority. For example, to purchase alcoholic beverages, the age of license is 21 in all U.S. states. Another example is the voting age, which prior to 1971 was 21 in the US, as was the age of majority in all or most states. After the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, the age of majority was lowered to 18 in most states. In most US states, one may obtain a driver's license, consent to sexual activity, and gain full-time employment at age 16 even though the current age of majority is 18 in most states. In the Republic of Ireland the age of majority is 18, but one must be over 21 to stand for election to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Also, in Portugal the age of majority is 18, but one must be at least 25 years of age to run for public office and 35 to run for president. A child who is legally emancipated by a court of competent jurisdiction automatically attains to their maturity upon the signing of the court order. Only emancipation confers the status of maturity before a person has actually reached the age of majority.

In almost all places, minors who marry 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. Minors who are emancipated may be able to choose where they live, sign contracts, and have control over their financial and medical decisions and generally make decisions free from parental control but are not exempt from age requirements set forth in law for other rights. For example, a minor can emancipate at 16 in the US (or younger depending on the state) but must still wait until 18 to vote or buy a firearm, and 21 to buy alcohol or tobacco.

The age 18 is identified as the age of adulthood in the Jewish Talmud relative to having sound judgement to make monetary decisions as a judge. Here, the Talmud says that every judgment Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah (–609), issued from his coronation until the age of eighteen was reversed and he returned the money to the parties whom he judged liable, due to concern that in his youth he may not have judged the cases correctly. Other Jewish commentators have discussed whether age 13 or 18 is the age to make decisions in a Jewish Court.

The highest known age of majority historically was around age 30, during Roman times, where young males were placed under the guardianship of adults known as "''Curatores''" whose permission was needed to engage in formal acts and sign contracts until the youth reached turned 30. This was later lowered down to 25, and eventually 21 became the common age of majority. In some places historically, 23 or 27 could have also been this age. It has also gone down to as low as 14 or 15 years of age. They are somewhat arbitrarily chosen, but have rarely been designated outside of this approximate age range. It has not always been 18 or 21 but rather a variety of ages. In Medieval England, the age of majority was 15 but further raised to 21.

Since 2015, some countries have started to lower the voting age to 16.
Some countries, like England and Wales, are even considering lowering the age of majority to 16, similar to how it already is in Cuba. The main arguments for lowering is that, on average, young people are much more educated currently (both because of better individual educational outcomes and being raised by more educated parents) than in the past (the same argument made in the 1970s when most countries lowered the age of majority from 21 to 18, which is the age still used presently for most countries). In addition, compared to the past, nowadays information is much more easily accessible as a result of the invention of the Internet, which can now be accessed through both a computer and also a smartphone.

Civil law

In many countries minors can be emancipated: depending on jurisdiction, this may happen through acts such as marriage, attaining economic self-sufficiency, obtaining an educational degree or diploma, or participating in a form of military service. In the United States, all states have some form of emancipation of minors.

The following list the age of majority in countries (or administrative divisions) in the order of lowest to highest:

Up to age 15

* Iran

* Indonesia

* Yemen

Age 16

* Cambodia
* Cuba
* Kyrgyzstan
* Myanmar
*
** Scotland
* Vietnam

Age 17

* North Korea
* Timor-Leste

Age 18

{{columns-list, colwidth=18em,
*{{flagicon, Afghanistan Afghanistan
*{{flagicon, Albania Albania
*{{flagicon, Andorra Andorra
*{{flagicon, Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda
*{{flagicon, Argentina Argentina{{efn, group=note, Article 25. Minor and adolescent: minor is the person who has not turned eighteen. This Code refers to the adolescent as the minor who turned thirteen years of age., name=
*{{flagicon, Angola Angola{{efn, group=note, Article 24. The age of majority shall be 18., name=
*{{flagicon, Armenia Armenia
*{{flagicon, Australia Australia
*{{flagicon, Austria Austria
*{{flagicon, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
*{{flagicon, Bahamas Bahamas
*{{flagicon, Bangladesh Bangladesh
*{{flagicon, Barbados Barbados
*{{flagicon, Belarus Belarus
*{{flagicon, Belgium Belgium
*{{flagicon, Belize Belize
*{{flagicon, Bhutan Bhutan
*{{flagicon, Bolivia Bolivia
*{{flagicon, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
*{{flagicon, Botswana Botswana
*{{flagicon, Brazil Brazil{{efn, group=note, name=nbrazil, Those aged 16 or older can be emancipated upon marriage, by being approved for civil service, by graduating in college or for being economically independent
*{{flagicon, Brunei Brunei
*{{flagicon, Bulgaria Bulgaria
*{{flagicon, Burundi Burundi
*{{flagicon, Canada Canada{{cite book , url=http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/llglrd/2018298966/2018298966.pdf , chapter=Canada , title=Children's Rights , first=Stephen , last=Clarke , date=August 2007 , publisher=The Law Library of Congress , location=Washington, D.C. , pages=51–60
**{{flagicon, Alberta Alberta
**{{flagicon, Manitoba Manitoba
**{{flagicon, Ontario Ontario
**{{flagicon, Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island
**{{flagicon, Quebec Quebec
**{{flagicon, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan
*{{flagicon, Chile Chile
*{{flagicon, China China
**{{flagicon, China Mainland China
**{{flagicon, Hong Kong Hong Kong
**{{flagicon, Macau Macau
*{{flagicon, Colombia Colombia
*{{flagicon, Comoros Comoros
*{{flagicon, Costa Rica Costa Rica
*{{flagicon, Croatia Croatia
*{{flagicon, Cyprus Cyprus
*{{flagicon, Czech Republic Czech Republic{{efn, group=note, §30 Majority. An individual acquires full legal capacity upon reaching the age of majority. The age of majority is reached upon reaching eighteen years of age. Before reaching the age of majority, full legal capacity is acquired by being granted legal capacity or by entering into marriage. Legal capacity acquired by entering into marriage is not terminated upon termination or invalidation of marriage., name=
*{{flagicon, Denmark Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands and Greenland)
*{{flagicon, Djibouti Djibouti
*{{flagicon, Dominica Dominica
*{{flagicon, Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
*{{flagicon, Ecuador Ecuador
*{{flagicon, Egypt Egypt
*{{flagicon, El Salvador El Salvador
*{{flagicon, Estonia Estonia
*{{flagicon, Fiji Fiji
*{{flagicon, Finland Finland
*{{flagicon, France France{{efn, group=note, A minor is an individual of either sex who is not yet eighteen years old., name=
*{{flagicon, Germany Germany
*{{flagicon, Georgia Georgia
*{{flagicon, Ghana Ghana
*{{flagicon, Greece Greece
*{{flagicon, Guatemala Guatemala
*{{flagicon, Guinea Guinea
*{{flagicon, Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau
*{{flagicon, Guyana Guyana
*{{flagicon, Haiti Haiti
*{{flagicon, Hungary Hungary
*{{flagicon, Iceland Iceland
*{{flagicon, India India
*{{flagicon, Iraq Iraq{{efn, group=note, name=note02, Iraq's Civil Code defines the age of majority as 18; however, due to the Iraqi constitution and instability, Note 1 (above) may apply as courts choose between Shari'ah law and the Civil Code
*{{IRL
*{{flagicon, Israel Israel
*{{flagicon, Italy Italy
*{{flagicon, Jamaica Jamaica
*{{flagicon, Japan Japan{{cite news , last=Jozuka , first=Emiko , work=CNN , url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/asia/japan-age-adulthood-bill/index.html , title=Japan lowers its age of adulthood to 18 , date=15 June 2018 , access-date=2019-09-14
*{{flagicon, Jordan Jordan
*{{flagicon, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
*{{flagicon, Kenya Kenya{{efn, group=note, Constitution of Kenya. Article 260. "Adult" means an individual who has attained the age of eighteen years, "child" means an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years. Age of Majority Act, 1977. Section 2 Age of majority. A person shall be of full age and cease to be under any disability by reason of age on attaining the age of eighteen years., name=
*{{flagicon, Laos Laos
*{{flagicon, Latvia Latvia
*{{flagicon, Lebanon Lebanon
*{{flagicon, Libya Libya
*{{flagicon, Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
*{{flagicon, Lithuania Lithuania
*{{flagicon, Luxembourg Luxembourg
*{{flagicon, Malawi Malawi{{cite web , last1=Chigunta , first1=Francis , last2=Schnurr , first2=Jamie , last3=James-Wilson , first3=David , last4=Torres , first4=Veronica , title=Being "Real" about Youth Entrepreneurship in Eastern and Southern Africa: Implications for Adults, Institutions and Sector Structures , url=https://www.ilo.org/youthmakingithappen/PDF/WP72-2005.pdf , website=International Labour Office , access-date=2 March 2012 , page=3, Table 1.1 , year=2005
*{{flagicon, Malaysia Malaysia
*{{flagicon, Maldives Maldives
*{{flagicon, Malta Malta
*{{flagicon, Mauritania Mauritania
*{{flagicon, Mauritius Mauritius
*{{flagicon, Mexico Mexico
*{{flagicon, Moldova Moldova
*{{flagicon, Monaco Monaco
*{{flagicon, Mongolia Mongolia
*{{flagicon, Montenegro Montenegro
*{{flagicon, Namibia Namibia
*{{flagicon, Nepal Nepal
*{{flagicon, Netherlands Netherlands{{efn, group=note, (Netherlands) Or earlier upon marriage, name=
*{{flagicon, Nicaragua Nicaragua emale only*{{flagicon, Nigeria Nigeria
*{{flagicon, North Macedonia North Macedonia
*{{flagicon, Norway Norway
*{{flagicon, Oman Oman
*{{flagicon, Pakistan Pakistan emale only
*{{flagicon, Palau Palau
*{{flagicon, Palestine Palestine
*{{flagicon, Panama Panama
*{{flagicon, Paraguay Paraguay
*{{flagicon, Peru Peru
*{{flagicon, Philippines Philippines
*{{flagicon, Poland Poland{{efn, group=note, (Poland) Or upon marriage which for women can happen at 16 the earliest, voting age is 18 always, name=
*{{flagicon, Portugal Portugal
*{{flagicon, Qatar Qatar
*{{flagicon, Romania Romania (" Minimum legal age in Romania")
*{{flagicon, Russia Russia{{efn, group=note, Minors are emancipated upon marriage or in case of working on a labour agreement or being engaged in business activities., name=
*{{flagicon, Rwanda Rwanda
*{{flagicon, Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis
*{{Flagicon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
*{{flagicon, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
*{{flagicon, Senegal Senegal
*{{flagicon, Seychelles Seychelles
*{{flagicon, Slovakia Slovakia
*{{flagicon, Slovenia Slovenia
*{{flagicon, Somalia Somalia
*{{flagicon, South Africa South Africa{{efn, group=note, Children's Act, 2005 Article 1. "child" means a person under the age of 18 years, article 17. Age of majority – A child, whether male or female, becomes a major upon reaching the age of 18 years., name=
*{{flagicon, Spain Spain{{efn, group=note, Constitution article 12. Spaniards come legally of age at eighteen years. Civil Code article 315. Legal age begins upon turning eighteen. The date of birth shall be included in full for the calculation of legal age., name=
*{{flagicon, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
*{{flagicon, Sudan Sudan
*{{flagicon, Sweden Sweden
*{{flagicon, Switzerland Switzerland
*{{flagicon, Syria Syria
*{{flagicon, Serbia Serbia
*{{flagicon, Taiwan Taiwan
*{{flagicon, Tajikistan Tajikistan
*{{flagicon, Tanzania Tanzania
*{{flagicon, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago
*{{flagicon, Tunisia Tunisia
*{{flagicon, Turkey Turkey
*{{flagicon, Uganda Uganda
*{{flagicon, Ukraine Ukraine
*{{GBR{{cite web , url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/46/contents , title=Family Law Reform Act 1969 , website=Gov.uk , date=25 July 1969 , access-date=9 January 2015
**{{flagicon, England England
**{{flagicon, Wales Wales
**{{flagicon, Northern Ireland, union Northern Ireland{{cite web , url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1969/28 , title=Age of Majority Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 , website=Legislation.gov.uk , date=26 May 2011 , access-date=29 September 2011
*{{flagicon, United Kingdom Crown dependencies
**{{flagicon, Isle of Man Isle of Man
**{{flagicon, Jersey Jersey
**{{flagicon, Guernsey Guernsey
*{{Flagicon, United Kingdom British Overseas Territories
**{{Flagicon, Gibraltar Gibraltar
*{{USA:{{cite web , url=http://minors.uslegal.com/age-of-majority , title=Age of Majority , website=US Legal , access-date=16 February 2012 all states, territories, and Washington, D.C. except for those listed below{{efn, group=note, In Mississippi, 18 is the age of majority for executors and administrators. However, "in case letters testamentary or of administration shall be granted to any one under twenty-one (21) years, the bond executed by such person for the performance of the duties shall be as valid and binding as if such person were of full age." By contrast, any person between the ages of 18 and 20 is defined as a minor for trusts and estates, and transfers to that person. In all states, the legal drinking and smoking age is 21.
*{{flagicon, Uruguay Uruguay
*{{flagicon, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan
*{{flagicon, Vatican City Vatican City
*{{flagicon, Venezuela Venezuela
*{{flagicon, Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

Age 19

{{div col, colwidth=20em
*{{flagicon, Algeria Algeria{{cite web , url=http://www.dgsn.dz/fr/guide_pour_le_passager.php , title=Guide du passager , date=2006 , website= Direction Générale de Surêté Nationale , language=fr , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312170627/http://www.dgsn.dz/fr/guide_pour_le_passager.php , archive-date=12 March 2012
*{{flagicon, Canada Canada
**{{flagicon, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia
**{{flagicon, New Brunswick New Brunswick
**{{flagicon, British Columbia British Columbia
**{{flagicon, Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador
**{{flagicon, Northwest Territories Northwest Territories
**{{flagicon, Yukon Yukon
**{{flagicon, Nunavut Nunavut
*{{flagicon, South Korea South Korea
*{{flagicon, United States United States
**{{flagicon, Alabama Alabama{{cite web , url=http://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/19865/26-1-1.html , title=Alabama Code: Title 26, Chapter 1, Section 26-1-1 , website= Justia , date=22 July 1975 , access-date=29 September 2011
**{{flagicon, Nebraska Nebraska{{cite web , url=http://minors.uslegal.com/age-of-majority/nebraska-age-of-majority-law/ , title=Nebraska Age of Majority Law , website=US Legal , access-date=16 February 2012
{{div col end

Age 20

*{{flagicon, New Zealand New Zealand
*{{flagicon, Taiwan Taiwan
*{{flagicon, Thailand Thailand

Age 21

{{columns-list, colwidth=20em,
*{{flagicon, Bahrain Bahrain{{cite web , url=http://www.interpol.int/public/children/sexualabuse/nationallaws/default.asp , title=Legislation of Interpol member states on sexual offences against children , date=31 January 2011 , website=Interpol , access-date=11 April 2012 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011001002038/http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/Default.asp , archive-date=2001-10-01
*{{flagicon, Cameroon Cameroon
*{{flagicon, Chad Chad
*{{flagicon, Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire
*{{flagicon, Eswatini Eswatini
*{{flagicon, Gabon Gabon
*{{flagicon, Grenada Grenada
*{{flagicon, Honduras Honduras{{efn, group=note, In the light of article 16 of the Family Code, which provides that majority is attained at the age of 21 years, it may be inferred that the status of minor is retained in Honduras until the age of 21. According, however, to article 36 of the Constitution of Honduras, all Hondurans over 18 years of age are citizens. This means that the quality of citizen is attained while a person is still a minor, thus involving the assumption of the status of minor adult. The latter contracts all the obligations of persons of full age and acquires the specific rights that are reserved for such persons, with a few exceptions., name=
*{{flagicon, Kuwait Kuwait
*{{flagicon, Lesotho Lesotho
*{{flagicon, Madagascar Madagascar
*{{flagicon, Nicaragua Nicaragua (male only)
*{{flagicon, Niger Niger
*{{flagicon, Samoa Samoa
*{{flagicon, Singapore Singapore
*{{flagicon, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
*{{flagicon, United States United States
**{{flagicon, Mississippi Mississippi
**{{flagicon, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
*{{flagicon, Zambia Zambia

Religious law

Religions have their own rules as to the age of maturity, when a child is regarded to be an adult, at least for ritual purposes:
*Islam: Males at 15 years old are considered adults, while females are considered adults when they have their menstruation. Both require a "mental maturity" to be attained for other rituals such as marriage (بلوغ النكاح).
* Judaism: the age of majority is 13 years for boys ( bar mitzvah) and 12 years for girls ( bat mitzvah) for religious purposes. However, Jewish law follows the law of the land if there is a difference, such as in marriage age.
* Christianity (only Roman Catholic Church): 18 years.
*Baha'i Faith: The spiritual age of maturity for every person born into a Baha'i family is 15. At 15, the person is old enough to decide for themselves what religion they want to be, so they could decide to stay a Baha'i or choose a different path. At this age, Baha'is are considered youth (as opposed to children before 15). Baha'i youth are 15–21 years old. Once a Baha'i turns 15, if they declare themselves a Baha'i, they are expected to recite a daily obligatory prayer and participate in the Fast. Baha'is can vote in Baha'i elections once they turn 18 (recently changed from 21).

Effects

* End of the parental authority and guardianship (in some legal systems it causes the pre-end of said institutions).
* Right to be considered legally capable.
* Right to freely manage and dispose of their goods, buy and sell properties and sign rental contracts.
* Right to inherit, manage the inheritance and, in countries where testaments exist, the possibility of testament.
* Right to receive bank credits and have bank accounts.
* Right to demand public authority.
* Possibility of being sued for not paying debts or other contracts.
* Possibility of being a member of the jury (in countries where trials use a jury).
* Possibility of being sued for child support and medical bills due to the birth of a child.

In some countries, reaching the age of majority carries other rights and obligations, although in other countries, these rights and obligations may be had before or after reaching the aforementioned age.
* Right to vote and to run for government office: although in some countries the minimum voting age may be lower and in other countries there are age restrictions to be elected to certain public offices.
* Right to drive a car: it may vary in some countries with respect to the age of majority.
* Right to drink alcoholic drinks, use drugs, like cocaine, heroin or marijuana and to smoke: In some countries, the legal drinking age and the smoking age differ from the age of adulthood.
* Right to buy and possess firearms or guns.
* Right to work, pursue trade, profession or industry: may vary in some countries with respect to the age of majority.
* Right to freely leave the country (in some European countries like Italy, minors can leave the country unimpeded).{{cite web , url = https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/travel-documents-minors/italy/index_en.htm, title=Travel documents for minors , access-date = January 14, 2020 , website = Your Europe - Citizens , language = en
* In trials, the possibility of being treated as an adult, found guilty and sentenced to prison: It may vary in some countries with respect to the age of majority.

See also

{{Div col, colwidth=30em
* Adultism
* Adolescence
* Age of candidacy
* Age of consent
* Age of criminal responsibility
* Capacity (law)
* Emancipation of minors
* Legal drinking age
* Legal smoking age
* Marriageable age
* Mature minor doctrine
* Secular coming-of-age ceremony
* Voting age
* Youth rights
* Youth suffrage
* Youth
{{div col end

Notes

{{notelist, group=note

References

{{Reflist"Age of Majority by State as of 2021." Policygenius
Age of Majority by State in 2022

{{Law country lists
{{Human development
{{Authority control

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Adulthood
Legal fictions