Legal Ages Around the World: Voting, Driving, Drinking & Retirement
"How old do you have to be?" is one of the most consequential age questions there is. The answer changes as you cross borders: an 18-year-old can legally buy a beer in Berlin but not in Boston, and a 16-year-old can vote in Buenos Aires but not in most of Europe. This guide surveys the most important legal age thresholds worldwide. Rules change and exceptions abound, so always confirm with official sources — and to check exactly when you or your child reach a given age, use our age calculator.
Age of Majority (Legal Adulthood)
The age of majority is when the law stops treating you as a minor: you can sign contracts, open accounts, and make your own medical and financial decisions. 18 is the global standard, used across Europe, the Americas, India, Bangladesh, China and most of Africa. Notable exceptions: 19 in South Korea and some Canadian provinces (Alberta and Ontario differ), 20 in Thailand, and 21 in Singapore for some purposes. In Japan the age of majority was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2022.
Voting Age
| Voting age | Where |
|---|---|
| 16 | Austria, Argentina, Brazil (optional at 16, compulsory 18–70), Scotland & Wales (devolved elections) |
| 17 | Greece (from the year you turn 17), Indonesia, Timor-Leste |
| 18 | The overwhelming global standard — USA, UK (general elections), EU countries, India, Bangladesh, and most others |
| 21 | A handful of countries, e.g. Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait (men) |
Driving Age
Minimum ages for a full car licence cluster between 16 and 18:
| Country | Learner / restricted | Full car licence |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 14–16 (varies by state) | 16–18 (varies by state) |
| United Kingdom | 17 (learner) | 17 |
| Germany & most of EU | 17 (accompanied, some countries) | 18 |
| India | 16 (mopeds ≤50cc) | 18 |
| Bangladesh | — | 18 |
| Australia | 15years 9months–16 (learner, by state) | 17–18 (provisional) |
| Canada | 14–16 (by province) | 16–18 |
Drinking Age
Legal drinking (purchase) ages range more widely than almost any other threshold:
| Purchase age | Where |
|---|---|
| 16 | Germany, Austria, Belgium (beer/wine); spirits usually 18 |
| 18 | UK, France, Australia, India (varies by state: 18–25), most of the world |
| 20 | Japan, Iceland, Norway (spirits), Thailand |
| 21 | United States, Indonesia, Egypt; several Indian states |
| Prohibited | Bangladesh (for Muslims, with exceptions), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others |
Retirement and Pension Age
State pension ages are rising almost everywhere as lifespans lengthen:
| Country | Current state pension age | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 66–67 (full Social Security, by birth year) | 67 for those born 1960+ |
| United Kingdom | 66 | Rising to 67 by 2028 |
| Germany | 65–67 (by birth year) | 67 for those born 1964+ |
| France | 62–64 (by birth year) | Rising to 64 |
| Japan | 65 | Employment encouraged to 70 |
| India (EPF) | 58 (EPF), 60 (govt. service, varies) | Stable |
| Bangladesh (govt.) | 59 (most civil servants) | Stable |
To find out exactly how many years, months and days remain until your own retirement age, set the "Age at the Date of" field in our age calculator to your birthday in the relevant year.
Other Common Thresholds
- Criminal responsibility: ranges from 7 to 16 worldwide; 10 in England and Wales, 13 in France, 14 in Germany and China.
- Social media accounts: 13 under most platforms' terms (driven by the US COPPA law); some EU countries require 14–16 for data consent.
- Marriage: 18 without parental consent in most countries; many jurisdictions allow 16–17 with consent, and reform campaigns continue worldwide.
- Standing for parliament: commonly 18–25; you must be 35 to run for President of the United States.
Check Any Threshold for Your Own Birth Date
Every rule above is defined in completed years, which is exactly what our age calculator measures. Enter your date of birth and a future date — an election day, a licence application date, a retirement date — and you'll know to the day when you cross the line. For how these calculations work under the hood, see how to calculate age manually.