Talk:Age of majority/Archive 1

Table and more citations
I am working on a sortable table for this article (so people can search/sort by age or by country). I'll also look for ages for missing countries and citations for 'citationless' countries.

Columns will be Country, Age of majority (males), Age of majority (females), and Notes. Suggestions welcome.

May I suggest this article be semi-protected due to vandalism? How do I go about getting it protected? Prolinol (talk) 12:39, 22 November 2009 (UTC)

Australia
Isn't the age of majority in Australia 18? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.170.33.87 (talk) 06:29, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Iran
In 2002 the age of sexual consent was lifted to 13 in iran for women and lowered to 14 for men. Currently it says 9 for women. http://www.ageofconsent.com/iran.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.102.158.15 (talk) 03:32, 19 February 2010 (UTC)

What the hell is Cuchilandia???
Cuchilandia - 35 ????? All I can google is some restaurant in the U.S...

List of legal drinking ages?
Should we have a list here as on legal drinking age of the laws in various countries? --NormalAsylum 16:00, 19 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Enlisting is adulthood?
I enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 with my parent's written consent. When I raised my right hand to be sworn in I was an emancipated minor and considered to be an adult in many ways. I still could not buy alcohol off base but could do so on-base. Though enlisting does not give all the rights of an adult I was in many ways an "official" adult. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.13.191.153 (talk • contribs) 22:22, 29 December 2006


 * In uganda 13 yearolds can join the millitary. Are they adults?


 * —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.123.72.66 (talk • contribs) 12:38, 21 October 2007

rights in high school
many United States public high school state that a 18 year old being supported by there parents does not have the right to make there own educational decisions and still require parents to sign notes for absences etc. Does anyone have any hard data on this and its legality? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Tjb891 (talk • contribs) 23:32, 5 March 2007 (UTC).

Iran
Iran isn't listed here, isn't the age of majority there 15????

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.93.220.68 (talk • contribs) 15:13, 25 March 2007

Age of majority for countries around the world
http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/

Got a ton of crap there.

But need confirmation on the Philippines:

This page says 18 http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/csaPhilippines.pdf

This one says 21 http://www.weddingsatwork.com/culture_laws_familycode10.shtml

—Preceding unsigned comment added by FartyFartyPoopyPants (talk • contribs) 08:31, 5 April 2007

Taiwan
The age of majority in Taiwan is 20, not 18. 218.171.249.157 11:25, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Source for the US
There's this eight-year-old PDF from the Defense Department, and this HTML version courtesy of Google. --Smack (talk) 05:28, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Venezuela
47? Is that a mistype. Should it be 14 instead (one row lower on the keypad)?

—Preceding unsigned comment added by SeaFox (talk • contribs) 18:29, 16 May 2007

Age of Majority: 14 in Wales??
For a start, Wales goes by English law, English law states 18, which England on here goes by. 14 is not the age of Majority in Wales and never was. 18 is the age of majority in Wales since January 1970, before that it was 21. Maybe in the future this might change with the new legal system put in place in Wales, but for the time being this is incorrect. 82.11.221.164 13:55, 20 June 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm not sure about that - I went to school in England and I'm sure I remember a talk from a policeman at about age 12 about approaching the age of criminal responsibility - i.e. majority - so 14 sounds about right, and E&W is the same legal system.  —  superbfc  [  talk  |  cont  ] — 21:38, 26 June 2007 (UTC)


 * In Wales, like in England, the age of Majority is 18 since the Family Reform Act 1970. To add more, the age of Criminal responsibility in Wales, according to Welsh police, is 10. 82.11.221.164 01:59, 1 July 2007 (UTC)


 * In wales the age of majority is 14.


 * —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.123.72.66 (talk • contribs) 12:40, 21 October 2007

Here is an official source which states that the age of majority in England and Wales is 18. Robina Fox (talk) 12:55, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Errors on this page
Hi, I just want to point out that there is some silly errors/vandalism in this list. Several US states are listed with age of majority of 13 years old. This is contrary to what is written in the "explanation" at the top, and is totally ridiculous.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.167.1.164 (talk • contribs) 00:15, 15 July 2007

Graduating early?
What if a kid graduates early (right after sophomore year, so it'd be 16)? Could they move out and live on their own, or with someone else (let's say the someone else is, 19)? ― LADY GALAXY ★彡 Refill/lol 21:02, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Typically no, (at least in New York) unless emancipated by a court. As a resident assistant, I've had to deal with check in procedures in the past for 16 and 17 year old college freshmen, and since they are under 18, they requrie a parent or guardian's signature on all college housing paperwork (I believe the same is true for other college forms as well) Mr Senseless (talk) 22:48, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

Voting Age
Perhaps it is a mistake to include the voting age years here because the voting age and the age of adulthood are separate issues, just as other things such as the age of consent for sex, the drinking age, and the smoking are legally distinct and often are higher or lower than the age of adulthood, e.g., in all USA states the drinking age is 21 even in ones where the age of adulthood is as low as 18, in Indiana the age of adulthood is 21 but the age of consent is 16, in France the age of adulthood is 18 but the smoking age is 16. --75.51.234.34 16:12, 17 August 2007 (UTC)
 * You're right, this article only has to do with the age of majority (i.e. the age at which one is legally considered an adult). In the United States you are always considered an adult at 18, but this doesn't necessarily correlate to the smoking/ drinking/ gambling or voting age, and these issues are covered on other articles. Mister Senseless&trade; (Speak - Contributions) 21:33, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is listed as considering people as adults at 18 once and the second time at 14, which is it. --76.214.138.110 18:58, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Indiana
For some reason, the edit summary showing my reversal of an edit to Indiana is lost. I doubted the statement that Indiana's age of majority is 21, and http://www.indianajustice.org/Data/DocumentLibrary/Documents/1069099436.39/view_article_publicweb?topic_id=000000 indicates that people of 18 are adults in that state.--orlady 02:18, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

Wales
On what authority has 14 been listed here? I can't see why it should be different from England's 18. 86.136.251.18 18:32, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

There's a similar situation in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth constitution defines an adult as someone who has reached the age of 14 (which was in colonial and post-colonial times, the age at which one could marry and was expected to serve in the local militia.) Today, for all practical purposes, however, (through other laws) 18 is the age of majority for voting, purchasing cigarettes, signing contracts, obtaining a driver's license without parental conscent, marriage, joining the military, owning property, etc... everything except for purchasing alcohol (which is 21) Mr Senseless (talk) 22:54, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

South Carolina
When I was in South Carolina a month ago, the police told me the age of majority was 17, not 18. Why is it listed as 18 here? Everybody I've talked to who's been there and talked to the police says it's 17 as well. DanielBrodzik 06:22, 14 November 2007 (UTC)


 * S.C. Code § 15-1-320(a) states "All references to minors in the law of this State shall after February 6, 1975, be deemed to mean persons under the age of eighteen years [...]" This is confirmed by and . -- Saaga (talk) 14:51, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

History/origins
I am interested in the origins of the whole 'Age of majority' concept--is there an article on here that discusses it, or does anyone have a link to where that information could be found? -- Quetzilla (talk) 19:52, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

Delaware
I removed Delaware per and, for confirmation,. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Saaga (talk • contribs) 14:39, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

District of Columbia
I removed District of Columbia per and, for confirmation,. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Saaga (talk • contribs) 15:00, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

Wyoming
I removed Wyoming per and, for verification,. -- Saaga (talk) 15:26, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

IRAN is 15
Irani living in Argentina. In Iran the age of majority is 15! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.49.116.210 (talk) 17:15, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Obtaining driver license is only possible after 18 and signing contracts, having current bank accounts, ... is normally possible after 18, although in very rare cases, a family-court judge can rule that someone reached the required maturity and the age limitation will be eliminated (althougth it is absolutely hard and as a result very rare too) I am not very sure about marriage, but I think it is possible before 18 (maybe 15) [and maybe with confirmation of a court] but as I understood, that doesn't count as "Age of majority" By the way, I am Iraninan living IN Iran ! 213.207.219.125 (talk) 23:57, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

netherlands
The article currently states:

Netherlands - 18 (all adult rights granted at 16)

I feel that this not true. The formal age of majority is 18, and certain rights (entering contracts and mortgages; voting; driving; buying spirits) are granted at this age. Before age 18, a person is 'handelingsonbekwaam', and the parents/guardians act on the persons behalf. However, certain rights ARE granted at age 16, the most important probably being the right tot seek medical treatment.

(this is my first contribution on wikipedia anywhere; I tried to comply with the guidelines; if I did not, please tell me)

Tinusthevague (talk) 13:21, 1 April 2008 (UTC)

Folk etymology
I've removed the spurious etymology that suggests majority here refers to having control over a certain percentage of one's decisions. The term in this sense refers to being of greater years, of no longer being a minor. Thus one can refer to the majority of non-persons, e.g. F.M. Ford in 1939, quoted in the OED entry for majority: "If [the book] did not see the light until its majority it will become almost a historical novel". Of minority, the OED notes that, the classical Latin phrase minor annis (lit. 'lesser or younger in years', hence 'below the age of majority') occurs earlier in English contexts in Scots sources from the beginning of the sixteenth cent. If minor and minority refer to paucity years, it's silly to think that majority somehow refers to responsibilities and not simply age as well. --24.19.59.78 (talk) 22:11, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

Driving Age, Drinking Age, Voting age, Age of consent?
In several countries the age of those vary. For example in Thailand, Age of majority is 20, but someone can go for election at the age of 18(Also driving and drinking age). The age of consent is 15, but de jure, someone can get married at the age of 17 with parental permission, and those minors turn into majors automatically. The example maybe when the King and the Queen of Thailand got married, the queen was under 20 but over 17. They could get married legally when the Queen's parents allowed, and the Queen turned into a major immediately. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.25.76.142 (talk) 14:07, 25 May 2008 (UTC) None of these are relevant to age of majority. The age of consent is in the vast majority of cases lower than the age of majority. The voting age is often lower or higher than the majority age. --99.50.131.225 (talk) 02:16, 18 August 2011 (UTC)

Urgent need for references
I'm sure this has been brought up elsewhere on this discussion page, but if Wikipedia is to aspire to anything, it needs to be extra careful with this kind of article, open as it is to random/willful vandalism. I propose that an inline citation - which can be accessed for verifcation - accompany each country in the list, and that any country which does not adequately referenced gets removed.--Technopat (talk) 18:47, 1 December 2008 (UTC)

These references need to be checked. The one for australia, for example, leads to some cult site which hasn't been updated since 2008 and is web 1.0ish. It is correct, but really, is that the kind of reference we want for something legal? 58.169.71.106 (talk) 09:31, 4 April 2012 (UTC)


 * I've cited a better supporting source re Australia. That's all I had time to do. Wtmitchell (talk) (earlier Boracay Bill) 03:53, 5 April 2012 (UTC)

history
where do I find the historical changes of these ages? especially for UK? --95.119.100.30 (talk) 10:34, 17 May 2009 (UTC)

Cuba
The age is listed currently as 18 with no citation.

The Cuban Constitution stipulates voting and full political rights at 16 with the exception of election to the National Assembly of People's Power which is restricted to Cubans over 18 years old.

http://www.cubanet.org/ref/dis/const_92_e.htm

Given that the US federal age of majority is generally understood to be 18, where 18 is the age to vote and 25 is the age to stand for election (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section4, http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxxvi.html ) the absence of the right to stand for election in Cuba between 16 and 18 years would not seem to suggest that 18 should be considered the age of majority given 16 is the voting age.

The Countries and Their Cultures page on Cuba http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Cuba.html Describes Cuba's age of majority as sixteen (noting that abortion is available on demand "for any woman who has reached the age of majority (sixteen years)."

Avert (aids prevention group) notes the age of sexual consent in Cuba as 16: http://www.avert.org/age-of-consent.htm

UN Convention of Rights of Child has contradictory testimony delivered in the same session:

(UN CRC committee member) 'Mrs. KARP' requests clarification from the Cuban Delegation as to whether the age of majority for 'full exercise of civic rights' is 18 Says 'she understood' that the age of criminal responsibility is 16.

(Cuban Delegate) Ms. FLÓREZ PRIDA says: "majority was attained earlier under its legislation for certain purposes, including marriage, concluding work contracts and voting in elections. The Family Code set the minimum age for marriage at 14 years for girls and 16 years for boys" to explain how the Cuban government was making use of an exception in the Convention of the Rights of Child for countries with ages of majority below 18

Another Cuban Delegate Ms. DE PUZO however later states "Offences committed by children under the age of 16 were not regarded as crimes. Juvenile offenders between the ages of 16 and 18 benefited from special treatment: they were not imprisoned together with adults, and were dealt with according to their age"

Mr. KOLOSOV, another UN CRC committee member later says that he considers, based on the Cuban report, the age of majority in Cuba to be 18, but he gives no justification for this.

http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/fd91092b973aee55802564c0003dfa97?Opendocument (this was 1997 it may have changed by now)

Currently, the age required to volunteer to join the military in Cuba is 16 and Cubans 17 and older are conscripted. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/CU.html

The age of conscription however was only recently raised from 16 to 17 when the years of compulsory military service was reduced from 3 to 2: http://www.wri-irg.org/co/rtba/cuba.htm

It seems clear that 1. there is no statutory definition for 'age of majority' in Cuba (at least as of 1997), 2. Most rights said to signify adulthood, such as a. voting b. criminal responsibility c. military service and conscription e. marriage and sexual consent f. abortion on demand g. holding most elected offices, are conferred at age sixteen 3. a very few rights and responsibilities a. running for the national legislature b. serving time in general population prisons, are conferred at 18.

Given this, I think it makes the most sense to say that in the absence of a de jure age of majority in Cuba the nearest de facto age of majority would be sixteen and not eighteen. Would anyone object to changing it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by N0thingbetter (talk • contribs) 07:38, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Sorry for not signing properly, the above post is mine N0thingbetter (talk) 07:43, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Sweden
The age of majority in Sweden is 18 and have been so for the last 36 years —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.254.84.193 (talk) 01:48, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

History?
How come this article has no history. It's not like the age of majority has stayed the same in all these places throughout time. I'd like to know the history. For example, was the age of majority always 18 in most of the US or was it at one time 21 in most of the US just like how the voting age used to be 21 in most of the US? I would like to know. This article should be considered a stub until more history is added.35.11.207.145 (talk) 00:01, 1 April 2010 (UTC)

I second the desire for a history: the Babe Ruth article states that in 1913 the age of majority was 25! Could this be true?--Jrm2007 (talk) 00:29, 23 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Dunno. The article cites no supporting source on that point. I've added a cn tag there. Wtmitchell (talk) (earlier Boracay Bill) 23:08, 23 September 2010 (UTC)


 * Thanks, a citation would be very useful. I actually doubt that the age of majority was ever that high; in the days when education was in general shorter and people tended to start work and marry earlier and even tended to live shorter lives, it seems counter-intuitive that the AoM was so much greater than now. Moreover, was the voting age ever as high as 25 (which should be easy to find out although I am having no luck so far) and if not, does that indicate that AoM was probably never that high? In any event, an interesting topic for sure and that the Babe Ruth article might contribute to our understanding of AoM history is maybe another great thing about Wikipedia!--Jrm2007 (talk) 08:26, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Dig this link which mentions that apparently in the late 19th century in at least one town, parental consent was required for marriage irrespective of children's age: http://forums.rtbookreviews.com/viewtopic.php?t=16959 --Jrm2007 (talk) 08:31, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Another link: http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Age_of_majority_in_Judaism -- apparently AoM could be based upon visible signs of maturity and if one had not achieved them (perhaps due to some developmental disorder) the AoM could be as high as 35!--Jrm2007 (talk) 08:38, 24 September 2010 (UTC)


 * Youth rights is the article you should consult, on the issue regarding the youth rights movements in the 20th and early 21st centuries.

In the US, Canada and UK among other British-based nations, 21 was the traditional adult age to vote (the 26th amendment of the US constitution lowered the voting age in 1971). Most of the states (US) and a few Canadian provinces set adult age of majority differently from one another, like the drinking age and to be permitted to drive.

Today in very few states, 16 is the age to learn to drive but not get a license and to see a R-rated movie without a parent or guardian, and sometimes to legally withdraw from public school or not having to live with the biological parent(s). The US since the 1980's pushed for 18 to be a strictly followed age of majority while the drinking age is 21 or risen from 18 in some states, and to be tried as adults in court for criminal trials dropped to 14.

Also teenagers are subject to municipal curfews, state laws require them to wear bike helmets and federal regulations on permitting a teen to live outside the US for family reunification purposes. Males aged 18 to 21 must comply to register in the selective service draft in the US Armed forces and Females aged 13 to 17 have mandatory vaccines for certain feminine reproductive diseases, in order to attend public schools in some (or is it most) states.

All sorts of laws are in place placed teens and sometimes, youngest level of adults in American sociocultural life, not because it is to protect them but there's a bigoted moralistic P.C. attitude that the government should look after them and have made laws permit parents to abuse their powers or take away parental powers over their children.

A runaway teenager can go to juvenile hall for running away from home and dropping out of public school if they are age 17, or be sent to jail for attempting to buy an alcohol beverage or entering a gaming casino if they are age 19.

There are even laws (and business policies) to forbade teens from not owning a firearm, renting a car or apartment, having a ban account of their own, obtaining summer-time work, nor transfer to another class or alternate public school without a parents' signature...and one pity law is anyone under age 18 can't purchase a Music CD, Movie DVD or video game containing "violence, nudity, bad language, etc." in media outlets, without a parent or adult guardian with them.

It is like all 50 states now require anyone aged 16 to 18 have a provisional drivers license for only employment purposes in daytime hours not during school sessions with only a parent/guardian aside them and assure they don't have cell phone technology with them at all times while the vehicle is in motion.

This is beyond belief on how much restrictions or laws that American teens and young adults have, plus one is they cannot leave their parents' original religion (the 1st amendment is limited) and inability to cast a vote in any election until the election is past their 18th birthday. 71.102.26.168 (talk) 09:18, 11 May 2011 (UTC)

I think you need to take all of that up with the government. Typing that on here isn't going to do you any good. You aren't going to get very far with the government either, since we do have those laws for good reason. Heck, I think the age of majority everywhere needs to be raised to 21 with the way kids are today.Bjoh249 (talk) 06:50, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

Mississippi
The page gives the age of majority in Mississippi as 21. However, the page cited as a source seems to say very clearly that the age of majority in Mississippi is 18. Is this an error, or am I misreading this? Nasulikid (talk) 02:33, 23 June 2011 (UTC)

It doesn't even sound like you even read it. I read it, and it clearly states in very legible print that the age of majority there is 21.Bjoh249 (talk) 06:52, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

I just read it again, and although it gives the legal drinking age as 21, for all other purposes (entering into binding contracts, etc.), it states very clearly that the age of majority is 18. Nasulikid (talk) 19:55, 15 February 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree. It appears to say 18. Restrictions are placed on sellers of alcoholic beverages for buyers under age 21. I have boldly changed the article to this effect (and a couple of other minor changes) here). [[User:Wtmitchell|Wtmitchell] (talk) (earlier Boracay Bill) 02:55, 16 February 2012 (UTC)

Scotland
The age of majority in scotland(part of the uk) is 16 according to Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 can someone change this. >> http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/50/contents Scotland is a political subdivision of Great Britain though and Great Britain has an overall adulthood of 18 so I'm not sure thats accurate. --99.50.131.225 (talk) 02:16, 18 August 2011 (UTC) We have a seperate legal system from the rest of the Britain though, it is definitely accurate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 139.133.11.3 (talk) 15:08, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

New Zealand
Age of Majority in New Zealand is 20, not 18 as listed on the page. Age of majority act is located http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1970/0137/latest/DLM396495.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.170.144.184 (talk) 11:44, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

Pennsylvania
I reverted the edit by Wc6j (talk) that took out Pennsylvania from the 21 yo group. The citation was put in the edit summary instead of the article itself. Upon researching the link provided, the bill cited was never passed into law. It made it out of the House, but stalled in the Senate. The newer source that is currently by Pennsylvania still appears correct. Just wanted to note this in case any other user wanted to confirm. Thank you. -- JoannaSerah (talk) 02:01, 11 January 2012 (UTC)
 * Putting a section back in that once included Pennsylvania. Reference did not support that portion, so I removed it.  Reference stated Age of Majority at both 18 and 21.  (21 is defined as a part of drinking age, age of majority for everything else is 18) --Nouniquenames (talk) 06:25, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

United states
According to the article atm, the age of majority in the US is 21, save two states. However, the sourcing seems to directly contradict this. Here's the source on the US entry, and when I click on, for example, the Louisiana entry, I read at the top "Majority is attained upon reaching the age of eighteen years." California says "On or after March 4, 1972, makes reference to individuals 18 years of age and older, or younger than 18 years of age." South Dakota says "Minors are natural male persons and natural female persons under eighteen years of age." That's three random states, and all say 18. Now, IANAL but that seems rather clear to me. Alabama and Nebraska are definitely 19, so I'll leave those and move the other entry from 21 to 19. Nolelover Talk·Contribs 01:14, 30 May 2012 (UTC)

Bad source for NZ
New Zealand was listed under 18 with the Adult Rights and Responsibilities (Age of Majority) Bill 2010 given as a source. However, that bill is a mock bill created for debate by Youth Parliament, a political club for students (see for evidence) and so obviously was never passed. The actual age of majority is 20, and I'll fix it, although I will add a note that most rights traditionally granted at the age of majority are still granted at 18 in New Zealand. Dcoetzee 03:02, 11 June 2012 (UTC)