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The age of majority is the threshold of legal
adult An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of major ...
hood as recognized or declared in law. It is the moment when
minor Minor may refer to: * Minor (law), a person under the age of certain legal activities. ** A person who has not reached the age of majority * Academic minor, a secondary field of study in undergraduate education Music theory *Minor chord ** Barb ...
s 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 Age or AGE may refer to: Time and its effects * Age, the amount of time someone or something has been alive or has existed ** East Asian age reckoning, an Asian system of marking age starting at 1 * Ageing or aging, the process of becoming older * ...
,
marriageable age Marriageable age (or marriage age) is the general age, as a legal age or as the minimum age subject to parental, religious or other forms of social approval, at which a person is legitimately allowed for marriage. Age and other prerequisites to ...
, 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 A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...
, 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 The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of: *The President of Ireland *The bicameralism, two 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 Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchis ...
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 Josiah ( or ) or Yoshiyahu; la, Iosias was the 16th king of Judah (–609 BCE) who, according to the Hebrew Bible, instituted major religious reforms by removing official worship of gods other than Yahweh. Josiah is credited by most biblical s ...
, 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 A computer is a machine that can be programmed to Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation) automatically. Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as C ...
and also a smartphone.


Civil law

In many countries minors can be
emancipated Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchis ...
: depending on jurisdiction, this may happen through acts such as marriage, attaining economic self-sufficiency, obtaining an educational
degree Degree may refer to: As a unit of measurement * Degree (angle), a unit of angle measurement ** Degree of geographical latitude ** Degree of geographical longitude * Degree symbol (°), a notation used in science, engineering, and mathematics ...
or
diploma A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offici ...
, 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 Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
* ** 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 Antigua and Barbuda (, ) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two maj ...
*{{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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
*{{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 , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
*{{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 Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...
*{{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 The Law Library of Congress is the law library of the United States Congress. The Law Library of Congress holds the single most comprehensive and authoritative collection of domestic, foreign, and international legal materials in the world. Est ...
, 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 China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
**{{flagicon, China Mainland China **{{flagicon, Hong Kong Hong Kong **{{flagicon, Macau Macau *{{flagicon, Colombia
Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
*{{flagicon, Comoros
Comoros The Comoros,, ' officially the Union of the Comoros,; ar, الاتحاد القمري ' is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It ...
*{{flagicon, Costa Rica
Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...
*{{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 Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
*{{flagicon, Dominican Republic Dominican Republic *{{flagicon, Ecuador Ecuador *{{flagicon, Egypt Egypt *{{flagicon, El Salvador
El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
*{{flagicon, Estonia Estonia *{{flagicon, Fiji
Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
*{{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 Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
*{{flagicon, Guinea
Guinea Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...
*{{flagicon, Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau *{{flagicon, Guyana
Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...
*{{flagicon, Haiti
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
*{{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 Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
{{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 Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
*{{flagicon, Latvia
Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
*{{flagicon, Lebanon Lebanon *{{flagicon, Libya Libya *{{flagicon, Liechtenstein Liechtenstein *{{flagicon, Lithuania
Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. 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 Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
*{{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 __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
*{{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 Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
*{{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 Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
*{{flagicon, Sudan
Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
*{{flagicon, Sweden
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
*{{flagicon, Switzerland
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
*{{flagicon, Syria
Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
*{{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 Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...
*{{Flagicon, United Kingdom
British Overseas Territories The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remna ...
**{{Flagicon, Gibraltar
Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...
*{{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 The Northwest Territories (abbreviated ''NT'' or ''NWT''; french: Territoires du Nord-Ouest, formerly ''North-Western Territory'' and ''North-West Territories'' and namely shortened as ''Northwest Territory'') is a federal territory of Canada. ...
**{{flagicon, Yukon Yukon **{{flagicon, Nunavut
Nunavut Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' ...
*{{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 Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
*{{flagicon, Ivory Coast
Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
*{{flagicon, Eswatini
Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
*{{flagicon, Gabon Gabon *{{flagicon, Grenada
Grenada Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...
*{{flagicon, Honduras
Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...
{{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 Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...
*{{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 Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
: Males at 15 years old are considered adults, while females are considered adults when they have their
menstruation Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hor ...
. 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 Baha (also transliterated as Bahaa, ar, بهاء) may refer to: People * Baha (name) Places *Al Bahah, a city in Saudi Arabia Trademark * Cochlear Baha, a hearing aid manufactured by Cochlear Title * Al-Muqtana Baha'uddin (979–1043), Druze ...
: 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 Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...
or
marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...
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 Adultism is "the power adults have over children". More narrowly, adultism is defined as "prejudice and accompanying systematic discrimination against young people". On a more philosophical basis, the term has also been defined as "bias towards ad ...
*
Adolescence Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the t ...
* Age of candidacy *
Age of consent The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. Consequently, an adult who engages in sexual activity with a person younger than the age of consent is unable to legally claim ...
*
Age of criminal responsibility The age of criminal responsibility is the age below which a child is deemed incapable of having committed a criminal offence. In legal terms, it is referred to as a defence/defense of infancy, which is a form of defense known as an excuse so tha ...
*
Capacity (law) Legal capacity is a quality denoting either the legal aptitude of a person to have rights and liabilities (in this sense also called transaction capacity), or altogether the personhood itself in regard to an entity other than a natural person ( ...
* Emancipation of minors * Legal drinking age *
Legal smoking age The smoking age is the minimum legal age required to purchase or use tobacco products. Most countries have laws that forbid sale of tobacco products to persons younger than certain ages, usually the age of majority. This article does not discus ...
*
Marriageable age Marriageable age (or marriage age) is the general age, as a legal age or as the minimum age subject to parental, religious or other forms of social approval, at which a person is legitimately allowed for marriage. Age and other prerequisites to ...
* 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 {{DEFAULTSORT:Age of Majority * Adulthood Legal fictions