Referendums by Country 2025

Legal Provisions For Mandatory Referendums

Yes

Legal Provisions For Mandatory Referendums

109 countries

83 countries

Country	Legal Provisions For Mandatory Referendums↓	Legal Provisions For Optional Referendums	First Referendum Initiative Held	Issues Mandatory Referendums	Issues Optional Referendums	Issues Excluded From Referendums	Issues Sub National Referendums Regulated	Who CanInitiate Optional Referendum At National Level ?	Who Drafts The Referendum Question ?	Who Decides On Final Ballot Text ?	Quorum Requirements For Valid Referendum	Requirements For Referendum To Pass	Are Referendum Results Binding ?	Data Year
Nigeria	Yes	No	1963	Creation of a new state; Creation of a new local government area	None	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - sometimes	2014
Ethiopia	Yes	No		National sovereignty, national self-determination Devolution	None	Not specified by legislation	Devolution	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Japan	Yes	No			None	None	Any law applicable to only one sub-national administrative unit	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Mandatory referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Egypt	Yes	Yes	1956	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Dissolution of the parliament; impeachment of the President National sovereignty, national self-determination	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Philippines	Yes	Yes	1935	Constitutional amendments Presence of foreign military bases, troops, or facilities	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Petition embracing more than one subject Statutes involving emergency measures	No data	Legislative majority Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
DR Congo	Yes	No	1963	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination Transfer of capital	None	Constitutional amendments	No data	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No data	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Iran	Yes	Yes	1953	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Constitutional amendments	No data	Legislative majority	No data	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Turkey	Yes	Yes	1961	Constitutional amendments	Constitutional amendments	None	No data	Legislative majority President	No data	No data	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Thailand	Yes	Yes		Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Issues contrary to or inconsistent with the Constitution	None	Government	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Not specified by legislation	2017
Tanzania	Yes	Yes	1965	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Mandatory referendum - Attorney General of the United Republic and the Attorney General of Zanzibar Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Attorney General of the United Republic and the Attorney General of Zanzibar Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
United Kingdom	Yes	Yes	1975	Adoption of international treaties	Any issue decided by legislation	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Legislative majority	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - not specified	Not specified by legislation	2015
France	Yes	Yes	1793	Constitutional amendments Treaties pertaining to the accession of a state to the EU and to the European Communities	Adoption of international treaties Civil service Economic or Social Reforms	Not specified by legislation	None	Government Legislative majority President	No data	Not specified by legislation	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Kenya	Yes	Yes	2005	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Not specified by legislation	None	Legislative majority President	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2022
Myanmar	Yes	No	1973	Constitutional amendments	None	None	No data	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
South Korea	Yes	Yes		Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	Any national policy of special importance for the sub-national territory Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	President	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	Final text is specified by law	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Uganda	Yes	Yes	2000	Constitutional amendments	Change of the political system	None	Any issue	Legislative majority Members of district councils Registered electors	The format of the question is defined by law	Form provided in the referendum act	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Spain	Yes	Yes	1947	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Government Legislative majority	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - never	2013
Algeria	Yes	Yes	1961	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Iraq	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Language	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes	2013
Yemen	Yes	No	1991	Constitutional amendments Dissolution of parliament	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Ukraine	Yes	Yes	1991	Constitutional amendments Change of territory	Adoption of international treaties Change of Laws Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - not specified; Optional referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - not specified	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Morocco	Yes	Yes	No data	Constitutional amendments	Constitutional amendments		None	King	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Uzbekistan	Yes	Yes	1991	In the case of seceding autonomous republic - Karakalpakstan	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Issues related to territorial integrity Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - not specified Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - not specified Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Ghana	Yes	No	1960	Creation, alteration of boundaries, and merger of regions	None		Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes	2013
Peru	Yes	Yes	1919	Constitutional amendments	Approval of any law, or disapproval of any law, legislative decree or urgency decree Constitutional amendments	Any issue that implies diminishing or suppressing human rights or an international treaty already in force Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Madagascar	Yes	Yes	1972	Adoption of international treaties	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Ivory Coast	Yes	Yes		Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Not specified by legislation	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Venezuela	Yes	Yes	1957	Constitutional amendments	Any bill being discussed by the Legislature Any issue of national importance, except those excluded National sovereignty, national self-determination Transfer of authority to international bodies	Any amnesty law, or those that protect, guarantee or develop human rights as well as those that approve international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Niger	Yes	Yes	1987	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Australia	Yes	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	1898	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Mandatory referendum - Legislature	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - double majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2015
Mali	Yes	Yes	1974	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Burkina Faso	Yes	Yes	1959	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Sri Lanka	Yes	Yes	1982	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance Certain Bills	None	No data	Government President Supreme court	Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum		Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Taiwan	Yes	Yes	1994	Alteration of the national territory Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Salary and personnel affairs Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Devolution	Government Legislative majority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2018
Malawi	Yes	No	1993	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Zambia	Yes	Yes	1965	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Not specified by legislation	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - sometimes Optional referendum - sometimes	2013
Chad	Yes	Yes	1989	Change of the territory Constitutional amendments	Adoption of international treaties Government organization Transfer of authority to international bodies	None	None	President	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Somalia	Yes	No	1961	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Romania	Yes	Yes	1864	Constitutional amendments Removal of President	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Issues related to territorial integrity National sovereignty, national self-determination	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	President	Mandatory referendum - questions are specified by law Optional referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - questions are specified by law Optional referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - never	2014
Guatemala	Yes	No	1935	Constitutional amendments Political decisions of special significance, issues relating to relationship with Belize	None	None	None	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Ecuador	Yes	Yes	1978	The call to create a Constitutional Assembly to draft a new Constitution; Activities for the extraction of non-renewable natural resources	Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Public policy issues	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Benin	Yes	Yes	1964	Constitutional amendments		National sovereignty, national self-determination	None	Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Constitutional Court	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Rwanda	Yes	Yes	1961	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance	None	No data	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No quorum requirements	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Bolivia	Yes	Yes	1931	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Devolution Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Those who initiate the referendums	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Dominican Republic	Yes	Yes	1870	Constitutional amendments	This issue has not been regulated yet by a special law	Designation or recall of an elected authority	This issue has not been regulated yet by a special law.	No specific legal provisions have been issued yet.	This issue has not been regulated yet by a special law.	This issue has not been regulated yet by a special law.	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional Referendum - not yet specified	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Tajikistan	Yes	Yes	1994	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Civil service Constitutional amendments Devolution National sovereignty, national self-determination	None	Legislative minority President	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Portugal	Yes	Yes		Devolution	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Civil service Constitutional amendments Devolution National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Any issue of regional importance for the two autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Government Legislative majority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	Constitutional Court	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2018
Azerbaijan	Yes	Yes		Any change in state borders Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution Public policy issues	"President Legislative majority Registered electors Supreme Court of the Azerbaijan Republic; the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan Republic; and Ali Majlis of Nakhchyvan Autonomous Republic"	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Togo	Yes	Yes	1956	Constitutional amendments	Constitutional amendments	The status of the State as a republican and secular one	None	President Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Hungary	Yes	Yes	1989	Any issue except those excluded	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Civil service Constitutional amendments Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative minority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Austria	Yes	Yes	1938	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	Generally, every law can be put to a vote by referendum if so decided by the National Council	Legislative majority Legislative minority	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Belarus	Yes	Yes	1995	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Any questions pertaining to election and dismissal of the President Civil service Issues related to territorial integrity Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - President Mandatory referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - President Optional referendum - President	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Switzerland	Yes	Yes	1848	Conflict between constitutional organs Constitutional amendments Emergency federal acts National sovereignty, national self-determination Transfer of authority to international bodies	Adoption of international treaties Federal acts, emergency federal acts whose term of validity exceeds one year, federal decrees as provided by law	"Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments"	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Any eight Cantons (member states) Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - double majority Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Sierra Leone	Yes	No	1978	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Turkmenistan	Yes	Yes	1991	Removal of President from the office	Any other issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	Civil service Issues related to territorial integrity	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	No data	No data	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - not specified Optional referendum - always	2013
Libya	Yes	No	1971	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	No data	No data	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Paraguay	Yes	Yes	1938	Constitutional amendments	Legislative proposals	Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative minority	Mandatory referendums - not specified Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Legislature	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Serbia	Yes	Yes	1990	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Duties deriving from international contracts Introduction of the state of emergency Issues pertaining to election competences of the National Assembly Laws pertaining to human and minority rights and freedoms Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Government Legislative majority Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	The committee of the National Assembly competent for constitutional issues (after consultations with electoral commission)	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes Optional referendum - never	2021
Republic of the Congo	Yes	Yes	1963	Change of the territory Constitutional amendments	Adoption of international treaties Organization of government, human rights protection, and economic and social actions of state	None	No data	Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
El Salvador	Yes	No	No data	Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies	None	Not specified by legislation	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Denmark	Yes	Yes	1916	Altering the voting age Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies	Adoption of international treaties Legislative bills	Bills introduced for the purpose of discharging existing treaty obligations Civil Servants (Amendment) Bills Expropriation Bills Finance Bills Government Loan Bills Naturalization Bills Salaries and Pensions Bills Supplementary Appropriation Bills Taxation (Direct and Indirect) Bills Provisional Appropriation Bills	Not specified by legislation	Legislative majority Legislative minority	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2018
Singapore	Yes	No	1962	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	None	None	No data	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Not specified by legislation	2014
Liberia	Yes	No	1846	Constitutional amendments	None	None	No data	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Central African Republic	Yes	Yes	1981	Change of national territories Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination Transfer of authority to international bodies	Legislative acts or bills	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Council of Ministers	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Slovakia	Yes	Yes	1994	Entering into or withdrawing from a union with other states; Dismissal of President	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Basic rights and freedoms Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Government Legislative majority Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	All referendums - Ministry of the Interior, Central Commission for Referendum Mandatory referendum - Government Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Not specified by legislation	2013
Mauritania	Yes	Yes	1991	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination Territorial issues	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Ireland	Yes	Yes	1937	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Template for the ballot paper is provided by the law	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - no quorums requirements Optional referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2022
Panama	Yes	No	1940	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments	None	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Croatia	Yes	Yes	1991	Adoption of international treaties	Any issue of national importance	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution Public policy issues	Legislative majority President Registered electors		Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Uruguay	Yes	Yes	1917	Constitutional amendments	Any legislation passed by the Congress. Optional referendums can only be abrogative	Constitutional laws and those related to issues where the initiative can solely be exerted by the Executive Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Any decree issued by the Department Boards	President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Moldova	Yes	Yes	1994	Constitutional amendments	Constitutional amendments	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Public policy issues Issues of special interest	Government Legislative majority Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Armenia	Yes	Yes	1991	Constitutional amendments Issues related to territorial changes Issues related to the accession to supranational international organizations	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Civil service Constitutional amendments Devolution National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Optional referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2022
Jamaica	Yes	Yes	1961	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	None	None	Legislative majority	Not specified by legislation	No data	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Lithuania	Yes	Yes	1991	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination Transfer of authority to international bodies	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	None	None	Legislative minority Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Mandatory referendum - Registered electors Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - never	2013
Gambia	Yes	Yes	1965	Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination No confidence vote against the President	Any issue of national importance	None	Recall of elected member of Parliament	Legislative majority	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - not specified	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - not specified	2014
Gabon	Yes	Yes	1995	Changes to territory	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	Not specified by legislation	No data	Government Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - not specified Optional referendum - always	2013
Botswana	Yes	No	1987	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Lesotho	Yes	Yes		Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Not specified by legislation	None	King, on the advice of the Prime Minister	No data	No data	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes Optional referendum - never	2014
Latvia	Yes	Yes	1923	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Dissolution of the parliament; impeachment of the President Transfer of authority to international bodies	Adoption of a law	Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
North Macedonia	Yes	Yes	1991	Adoption of international treaties Changing the border of the Republic Transfer of authority to international bodies	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Issues related to elections, appointments and dismissals Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative majority Legislative minority Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - sometimes	2017
Estonia	Yes	Yes	1923	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Declaration or termination of a state of emergency; national defence Taxes and public expenditure commitments Transfer of authority to international bodies	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution	Committees of parliament Legislative majority Legislative minority President	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Mauritius	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	None	No data	No data	No data	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Eswatini	Yes	No	1962	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Fiji	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	Not specified by legislation	No data	Not applicable	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Montenegro	Yes	Yes	2006	Changes in the form of a government and any changes of frontiers Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination	Adoption of international treaties Conflict between constitutional organs Constitutional amendments Civil service Devolution Taxes and public expenditure commitments Transfer of authority to international bodies	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution	Government Legislative majority Legislative minority President Registered electors	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - turnout quorum Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2014
Malta	Yes	Yes	1870											2017
Maldives	Yes	Yes	1968	Constitutional amendments		None	No data	Legislative majority President	No data	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2013
Belize	Yes	Yes		Any proposed settlement with Guatemala for resolving the Belize/Guatemala dispute Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Bahamas	Yes	No	2002	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - Government	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Vanuatu	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Government Mandatory referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Samoa	Yes	No	1961	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Saint Lucia	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	Constitutional amendments	No data.	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Kiribati	Yes	No	1974	Constitutional amendments	None	Not specified by legislation	No data	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - approval quorum	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Seychelles	Yes	No	1992	Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Mandatory referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Grenada	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	None	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes	2013
Micronesia	Yes	No	1975				Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories						Mandatory referendum - always	2017
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	Not specified by legislation	None	Not applicable	No data	No data	No data	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2013
Antigua and Barbuda	Yes	Yes		Amendments to the provisions of the Supreme Court Order Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Government	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - not specified	2014
Andorra	Yes	Yes	1971	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	Not specified by legislation	None	Government Legislative majority The Coprinces	Mandatory referendum - Government Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	Mandatory referendum - Government Mandatory referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - never	2014
Dominica	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	Conflict between constitutional organs Transfer of authority to international bodies	None	Not applicable	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Greenland	Yes	Yes												2017
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Yes	No	1977	Constitutional amendments Secession	None	Not specified by legislation	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Not applicable	No data	No data	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - double majority	Mandatory referendum - sometimes	2013
Liechtenstein	Yes	Yes	1919											2017
Gibraltar	Yes	Yes	1967	Adoption of international treaties	Constitutional amendments	Not specified by legislation		Government		Mandatory referendum - Defined by specific Act Optional referendum - Government	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - Government order specifies percentage of votes required for the result to be treated as passed	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - always	2017
Marshall Islands	Yes	Yes	1977											2017
Palau	Yes	Yes	1976	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Holding regular Constitutional Convention	None	None	Constitutional Convention Legislative majority Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - No data Optional referendum - Constitutional Convention	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - double majority Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Cook Islands	Yes	Yes	1994	Constitutional amendments	Any issue of national importance	None	Any matter may be the subject of an advisory poll directed at particular electorate/s	Government Legislative majority	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always Optional referendum - never	2014
Nauru	Yes	No		Constitutional amendments	None	Not specified by legislation	No data.	Not applicable	The format of the question is defined by law	Template for ballot text is provided by law	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
Niue	Yes	No	1974	Constitutional amendments	None	None	Not applicable	Not applicable	The format of the question is defined by law	The format of the question is defined by law	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - qualified majority Mandatory referendum - simple majority	Mandatory referendum - always	2014
India	No	No	1937											2014
China	No	No	No data											2014
United States	No	No	Not applicable											2014
Indonesia	No	No	No data											2014
Pakistan	No	Yes	1984	None	Any issue of national importance	None	No data	Prime Minister	No data	No data	No data	No data	Not specified by legislation	2013
Brazil	No	Yes	1963	None	Any issue of national importance	None	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Congress	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Bangladesh	No	No	1977											2014
Russia	No	Yes	1993	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Devolution Issues related to territorial integrity Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Constitutional Assembly (in the cases of amendments) President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2017
Mexico	No	Yes	1863	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Electoral matters National sovereignty, national self-determination Restriction of human rights Separation of church and state Taxes and public expenditure commitments The organization, operation and discipline of the permanent Military Forces	None	Legislative minority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Supreme Court	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - sometimes	2017
Vietnam	No	Yes	1955	None	Not specified			Legislative majority Legislative minority						2014
Germany	No	No	1926	None	None		Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories							2022
South Africa	No	Yes	1960	None	Not specified by legislation	None	Not specified	President	Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2013
Italy	No	Yes	1929	None	Constitutional amendments Laws or measures having the force of law	Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution	Legislative minority President Registered electors five Regional Councils	No data	No data	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Colombia	No	Yes	1957	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2017
Sudan	No	Yes	1971	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Argentina	No	Yes	1984	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	The law excludes specific issues regulated by Constitution	None	Legislative majority President	Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Afghanistan	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Canada	No	Yes	1898	None	Constitutional amendments	No provisions in this regard	None	Government	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Legislature	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - never	2013
Angola	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Constitutional amendments	None	Legislative minority Parliamentary Groups President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	2014
Poland	No	Yes	1946	None	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies		Various local matters (see quotes)	Government Legislative majority President Registered electors Senate	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Malaysia	No	No	1957		Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments									2014
Mozambique	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Adoption of international treaties Civil service Constitutional amendments Taxes and public expenditure commitments Transfer of authority to international bodies	None	Legislative majority Legislative minority	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2013
Saudi Arabia	No	No	No data											2014
Cameroon	No	Yes	1961	None	Constitutional amendments	None		President	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Nepal	No	Yes	1980	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority	No data	No data	No data	No data	Not specified by legislation	2013
Syria	No	Yes	1949	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	No data	No data	No quorum requirements	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2014
Kazakhstan	No	Yes	1995	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Issues related to territorial integrity Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative majority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Independent electoral commission	Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - double majority Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Chile	No	Yes	1812	None	Constitutional amendments		None	President	Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - Constitutional Court Optional referendum - President	No quorum requirements	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2022
Senegal	No	Yes	1963	None	Any draft legislation the president deems as requiring referendum Constitutional amendments	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2014
Netherlands	No	No	2005		Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance, except those excluded			Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	2018
Cambodia	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	1945				None							2014
Zimbabwe	No	Yes	2000	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Not specified by legislation	2014
Burundi	No	Yes	1982	None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No quorum requirements	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Tunisia	No	Yes	2002	None	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Freedoms and human rights, or personal status	None	None	President	The format of the question is defined by law	The ballot text is defined by the law	No quorum requirements	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
South Sudan	No	Yes	2011	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Haiti	No	No	1918											2014
Belgium	No	No	1950											2014
Jordan	No	No	No data											2014
United Arab Emirates	No	No	No data											2014
Honduras	No	Yes	1870	None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	Not specified by legislation	Establishment of Special Regions of Development	Government Legislative minority Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Papua New Guinea	No	No	No data	None	None		Devolution							2014
Sweden	No	Yes	1910	None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	None	Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - approval quorum	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - never	2013
Czech Republic	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	2003											2014
Greece	No	Yes	1920	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Existing laws on important social issues	Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Government	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Not specified by legislation	2013
Israel	No	No												2014
Laos	No	No												2017
Kyrgyzstan	No	Yes	1991	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Amnesty and pardon Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Nicaragua	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	None	Legislative minority President Registered electors	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	No quorum requirements	Optional referendum - simple majority	Not specified by legislation	2013
Bulgaria	No	Yes	1922	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Public policy issues	Government Legislative minority President Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2022
Lebanon	No	No												2014
Finland	No	Yes	1931	None	Not specified	None	None	Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	No quorum requirements	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - never	2013
Norway	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	1905											2014
Palestine	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	No data											2014
Oman	No	No	No data											2014
New Zealand	No	Yes	1894	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Government Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Registered electors Governor general	Optional referendum - Government Clerk of the House of Representatives	No quorum requirements	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Costa Rica	No	Yes	1870	None	Any law proposal, except those clearly excluded Constitutional amendments	Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President Registered electors		Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - sometimes	2014
Kuwait	No	No												2014
Georgia	No	Yes	1991	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Issues related to passing or revoking a law; and issues which restrict general human constitutional rights and freedom	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories Devolution	Legislative majority President Registered electors	Central Referendum Commission Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Eritrea	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	1993											2014
Mongolia	No	Yes	1945	None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	None	Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - President	Optional referendum - Legislature	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - sometimes	2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina	No	No	1992											2022
Qatar	No	Yes	2003	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Emir	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Namibia	No	Yes	1946	None	Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None	No data	Legislative majority President	No data	No data	No data	Optional referendum - qualified majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Albania	No	Yes	1994	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments	Amnesty and pardon Declaration and abrogation of the state of emergency Declaration of war and peace Issues related to territorial integrity Limitations of fundamental human rights and freedoms Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Government Legislative majority Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - President Optional referendum - Registered electors	Optional referendum - approval quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2022
Slovenia	No	Yes	1990	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies	Adoption of international treaties National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Any issue of special interest to a sub-national territory Creation/merger/abolition of sub-national territories	Legislative majority Legislative minority Registered electors	Optional referendum - Legislature Specified by law for rejective referendum and referendum on constitutional amendments	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Equatorial Guinea	No	Yes	1963	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	President	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2013
Bahrain	No	Yes	2001	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	The King	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Timor-Leste	No	Yes	1999	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Government Legislative majority Legislative minority President	No data	No data	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	No data	Optional referendum - always	2014
Cyprus	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible	1950											2014
Guyana	No	No	1978											2014
Bhutan	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	King Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Legislature	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Luxembourg	No	Yes	1919	None	Constitutional amendments	Not specified by legislation		Legislative minority Registered electors				Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2017
Suriname	No	Yes	1987	None	Any issue of national importance	None		Legislative majority						2017
Cape Verde	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Devolution Taxes and public expenditure commitments	None	Legislative majority President	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2013
Brunei	No	No												2014
Barbados	No	No, but ad hoc referendums are possible												2014
Sao Tome and Principe	No	Yes	1990	None	Any issue of national importance, except those excluded	Adoption of international treaties Constitutional amendments Taxes and public expenditure commitments	Not specified	Government President	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Not specified by legislation	Optional referendum - always	2013
Tonga	No	No	No data											2014
Cayman Islands	No	Yes		None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority Registered electors	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Government Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - approval quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2014
Bermuda	No	Yes	1990	None	Any issue of national importance	None	None	Legislative majority	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - Legislature	Optional referendum - turnout quorum	Optional referendum - simple majority	Optional referendum - always	2013
Anguilla	No	No	1967											2014
Tuvalu	No	No	1974											2014
Montserrat	No	No				Not specified by legislation								2014
Guinea			1958	None	Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance Constitutional amendments	None		Legislative majority President
Cuba		Yes	1976	Constitutional amendments
Djibouti			1977
Iceland			1908	Constitutional amendments Bills passed by legislature	Any issue of national importance	None	Not specified	Legislative majority	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	Mandatory referendum - Government Optional referendum - Government	No quorum requirements	Mandatory referendum - simple majority Optional referendum - simple majority

A referendum is when voters are asked to vote on a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question by a direct vote on a proposal, law, or issue.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) provides independent electoral services for the Australian electorate.

The AEC held a referendum on the Australian Indigenous Voice on October 14, 2023, which asked voters if they approved a change in the Australian Constitution.

The referendum asked Australian voters to vote on a proposal that included giving greater political rights to Indigenous people and recognizing Indigenous people in the Constitution. The referendum included the creation of an advocacy committee to offer advice on policy regarding Indigenous people.

All six Australian states voted ‘no’ on the referendum.

The most well-known referendum in Ireland is the Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement, two referendums held in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Voters voted ‘yes’ on the Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement, which approved the British-Irish Agreement and allowed an amendment to Ireland’s Constitution.

In Switzerland, referendums allow voters to vote on policy. The process in Switzerland for proposing a referendum requires 100,000 signatures, which puts the power in the citizens’ hands.

On June 1, 2022, Denmark held a referendum asking voters if they wanted to abolish the opt-out from the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). Denmark’s voters supported abolishing the opt-out.

In the United States, twenty-three states and the Virgin Islands allow citizens to vote on referendums, including repealing existing legislation and suggesting new legislation.

US states that allow voters to vote on referendums include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota,

Delaware is the only state that doesn’t require a popular vote to make changes to the Constitution.