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Parliamentary Turnout

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Voter Turnout by Country 2024

Voting for elected officials is a freedom afforded to the citizens of many (but not all) countries around the world. The right to vote is particularly likely in democratic countries and republics. However, not every person eligible to vote does. The reasons for this phenomenon vary: some potential voters have no interest in politics or feel their vote doesn't matter, some dislike the available candidates, and others lack certain material requirements—for example, a government-issue I.D. is required in more than half of U.S. states.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Presidential Voter Turnout:*

Country
Presidential Turnout
Presidential Year
Equatorial Guinea98.41%2022
Rwanda98.15%2017
Turkmenistan97.17%2022
Singapore93.55%2023
Togo92.28%2020
Angola90.37%1992
Uruguay90.12%2019
Gambia89.34%2021
Seychelles88.45%2020
Bolivia88.42%2020

Voter Turnout by Country

Based on data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Rwanda has displayed the highest voter turnout in a recent national election. Several additional African or Asian countries also show strikingly high voter turnout, including Laos, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Vietnam, and Nauru.

It is worthwhile to note that high voter turnout does not always indicate a healthy election, especially in fourth world or global south countries. For example, watchdog group Freedom House gives Rwanda a score of 4 points out of a possible 28 in the categories of the electoral process and political participation, stating that Rwandan elections are "marred by numerous irregularities," which included forcing citizens to view propaganda, preventing certain candidates from running, unfair registration practices, and stuffing ballot boxes. Similarly, Laos (which earns 0 of 28 points) is ruled by a single political party that chooses which candidates will appear on the ballot. As such, it is fair to question even the official turnout numbers.

That said, high voter turnout can be achieved in free and fair elections as well. For example, the island nations of Antigua and Barbuda (26 of 28) and Nauru (26 of 28) have both obtained turnout percentages over 90%.

Recent trends in voter turnout

Globally, voter turnout has decreased over time in recent decades, with most countries posting lower voter turnout in recent elections than in those which took place 20-30 years ago. Election experts have identified multiple causes for this trend. Voter apathy is one—young voters in particular are more likely to be unaware of the voting process or disenchanted with what they see as a corrupt and dysfunctional system. Another influential cause is voter suppression, especially in countries classified by the Democracy Index as flawed democracies or authoritarian regimes.

On a more positive note, election experts also point out that lower turnout can also be a positive sign that the right to vote is being extended to more and more people. Throughout history, voting was often confined to rich, usually white males who could easily take time off work to vote. However, voting is now more likely to be available to women, blue-collar workers, and minorities who were often previously denied voting rights and who may not be able to rearrange their lives in order to vote on a specific day or time. This reality is one of the main reasons that many states and countries are working to expand voting access by offering mail-in ballots, longer voting hours, and other voting aids.

Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Presidential Voter Turnout:

Country
Presidential Turnout
Presidential Year
Haiti18.11%2016
Afghanistan19%2019
Nigeria26.71%2023
Mali34.42%2018
Bulgaria34.64%2021
Central African Republic35.25%2020
Kyrgyzstan39.16%2021
Portugal39.26%2021
Algeria39.88%2019
DR Congo41.05%2023

Voter turnout in the United States

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, an estimated 158 million Americans turned out to vote. About 66.5% of eligible voters voted in the 2020 election, the highest turnout since 1900. The 2020 election saw about 20 million more votes than the 137 million in the 2016 election. Only about 55.72% of eligible voters voted in the 2016 election. Even in the 2020 election, U.S. voter turnout lagged behind that of several developed nations around the world.

When voting doesn't matter: The corruption of national elections

The fact that a country or state holds public elections is not a guarantee that the elections are free or fair. Election scandals both large and small are quite common in most countries, from accusations of ballot box stuffing or improper counting procedures to unreasonable voting requirements. Authoritarian regimes have access to more sinister tactics, such as outlawing all other politcal parties or candidates, and fully controlling every aspect of the voting process. Even in elections that are otherwise fair, the gerrymandering of voting districts can give one party an unnatural advantage and deliver a result contrary to the desires of the people as a whole.

Notes:
- The term ""parliamentary"" applies to any election in which members are elected to a legislative body, regardless of whether that body is called a parliament. For example, the midterm elections in the United States, which elect members to the Senate and House of Representatives, are parliamentary elections. Countries which operate without a president may have only parliamentary elections.
- Voter turnout is the percentage of registered voters who voted. Because every country is also home to residents who are of legal voting age but have not registered, if turnout were instead computed using the total number of voting-age adults, percentages would trend slightly lower.

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Country
Parliamentary Turnout
Parliamentary Year
Presidential Turnout
Presidential Year
Somalia99.86%1984
Laos98.02%2021
Nauru97.09%2022
Singapore95.81%202093.55%2023
Vietnam95.6%2021
Ethiopia93.64%2021
Rwanda93.04%201898.15%2017
Turkmenistan91.12%202397.17%2022
Uruguay90.13%201990.12%2019
Australia89.74%2022
Faroe Islands89.42%2019
Bolivia88.42%202088.42%2020
Seychelles88.4%202088.45%2020
Belgium88.38%2019
Burundi87.31%202087.71%2020
Luxembourg87.18%2023
Turkey87.05%202384.15%2023
Tajikistan86.44%202085.34%2020
Malta85.63%2022
Aruba84.66%2021
Cambodia84.59%2023
Sweden84.21%2022
Denmark84.16%2022
Equatorial Guinea84.01%201798.41%2022
Indonesia83.86%201979.01%2019
Botswana83.51%2019
Sierra Leone82.86%202383%2023
New Zealand82.24%2020
Belize81.86%2020
Papua New Guinea81.3%2017
Ecuador81%202182.36%2023
Iceland80.09%202166.92%2020
Bangladesh80%201954.09%1986
Tuvalu79.99%2002
Guinea Bissau79.57%202374.37%2019
Timor Leste79.28%202375.17%2022
Brazil79.2%202279.42%2022
Netherlands78.71%2021
Liberia78.13%202366.12%2023
Liechtenstein78.01%2021
Ghana77.83%202078.89%2020
Palestine77.7%200645.56%2005
Kenya77.37%201764.77%2022
Belarus77.31%201984.28%2020
Norway77.16%2021
Cook Islands77.04%2022
Mauritius77.01%2019
Niger76.96%202062.91%2021
Germany76.58%2021
Gibraltar76.41%2023
Sri Lanka75.89%202083.72%2019
Cuba75.87%2023
Thailand75.71%2023
Kiribati75.67%202083.12%2016
Austria75.59%201965.19%2022
Maldives75.52%201987.2%2023
Yemen74.98%200364.78%2012
Poland74.38%202368.18%2020
Niue74.02%2023
Djibouti74.01%202376.44%2021
Malawi73.93%201964.81%2020
Malaysia73.89%2022
Mongolia73.64%202059.35%2021
Cayman Islands73.1%2021
Bahrain73%2022
Guyana72.58%2020
Myanmar71.89%2020
Taiwan71.78%202471.86%2024
Mauritania71.59%202362.66%2019
Suriname71.57%2020
Argentina71.51%202176.32%2023
Slovenia70.97%202253.6%2022
United States70.75%202070.75%2020
Panama70.71%201973.01%2019
Israel70.63%2022
Antigua and Barbuda70.34%2023
Grenada70.32%2022
Zambia70.3%202170.61%2021
Peru70.08%202174.57%2021
Hungary69.59%2022
Samoa69.47%2021
Slovakia68.52%202348.74%2019
Finland68.5%202371.55%2024
Fiji68.3%2022
Uzbekistan67.8%201979.88%2023
United Kingdom67.55%2019
Solomon Islands67.54%2019
India67.4%2019
Zimbabwe67.37%202342.75%2008
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines66.95%2020
Andorra66.93%2023
Spain66.59%2023
South Korea66.21%202077.08%2022
South Africa66.05%2019
Greenland65.84%2021
Cyprus65.72%202172.04%2023
Sao Tome and Principe65.67%202265.32%2021
Bhutan65.6%2024
Czech Republic65.39%202170.25%2023
Nicaragua65.24%202165.26%2021
Bahamas65%2021
Italy63.79%2022
Estonia63.53%202367.95%1992
Qatar63.5%2021
Paraguay62.86%202363.29%2023
Ireland62.77%202043.87%2018
Palau62.7%201660.9%2020
Tanzania62.68%201550.72%2020
Montserrat62.47%2019
Comoros62.42%202056.44%2024
Canada62.25%2021
Tonga61.92%2021
Nepal61.35%2022
Anguilla61.02%2020
Bermuda60.93%2020
Costa Rica60.65%202259.97%2022
Namibia60.38%201960.82%2019
Guatemala59.86%202345.23%2023
Honduras59.49%201769.09%2021
Latvia59.43%2022
Kuwait59.27%2023
Togo59.25%201892.28%2020
Serbia58.77%202358.4%2022
Gabon58.63%201856.64%2023
Guinea58.04%202078.88%2020
Trinidad and Tobago58.04%2020
Saint Kitts and Nevis58.03%2022
Portugal57.96%202239.26%2021
United States Virgin Islands57.5%2023
Cape Verde57.46%202147.96%2021
Monaco57.26%2023
Georgia56.75%202056.36%2018
Chad56.6%201163.37%2021
Montenegro56.25%202374.14%2023
Japan55.97%2021
San Marino55.73%2019
Uganda55.23%202159.35%2021
Dominican Republic55.18%202055.29%2020
Kazakhstan54.15%202369.44%2022
Greece53.74%2023
Mexico52.66%202163.43%2018
North Macedonia52.02%202046.65%2019
Russia51.58%202167.5%2018
Bosnia and Herzegovina51.45%202251.45%2022
Mozambique51.41%201951.84%2019
Gambia51.21%202289.34%2021
Saint Lucia51.08%2021
Morocco50.86%2021
Burkina Faso50.7%202050.79%2020
El Salvador50.25%202151.88%2019
Pakistan50.14%2018
Armenia49.39%202160.18%2013
Ukraine49.2%201960.72%2019
Lebanon49.19%2022
Oman49.02%2019
Moldova48.51%202158.22%2020
Lithuania47.8%202053.88%2019
Colombia47.43%202258.17%2022
Chile47.05%202155.64%2021
Croatia46.9%202054.99%2020
Azerbaijan46.84%202074.24%2018
Senegal46.64%202266.27%2019
Switzerland46.64%2023
Sudan46.4%201546.4%2015
Albania46.32%2021
France46.23%202271.99%2022
DR Congo45.4%201841.05%2023
Afghanistan45.23%201819%2019
Angola44.82%202290.37%1992
Central African Republic44.28%201635.25%2020
Vanuatu44.16%2022
Cameroon43.79%202053.85%2018
Iraq43.54%2021
Iran42.32%202048.78%2021
Republic of the Congo42.23%201767.17%2021
Libya41.74%2014
Barbados41.73%2022
Madagascar40%201946.35%2023
Bulgaria39.11%202334.64%2021
Ivory Coast37.88%202153.9%2020
Jamaica37.85%2020
Benin37.79%202350.63%2021
Lesotho37.44%2022
Mali35.58%202034.42%2018
Kyrgyzstan34.94%202139.16%2021
Syria33.17%202078.64%2021
Micronesia33.11%2017
Marshall Islands32.62%2023
Nigeria32.14%201926.71%2023
Romania31.95%202054.86%2019
Dominica31.6%2022
Venezuela30.46%202045.74%2018
Jordan29.9%2020
Egypt29.07%202066.8%2023
Algeria23.03%202139.88%2019
Haiti17.82%201518.11%2016
Tunisia11.4%202355.02%2019
South Sudan 58.62%2010
showing: 198 rows

Which country has the highest voter turnout?

98.15% of those who can vote turned out for Rwanda's 2017 Presidential election, which is a record that has yet to be beaten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources