Which country first gave women the right to vote?
Quick answer
New Zealand was the first self-governing country to give all adult women the right to vote in national elections, in 1893. The Electoral Act became law on September 19, 1893, after a campaign led by Kate Sheppard. Women in New Zealand couldn’t stand for Parliament until 1919, however.
The petition that changed history
Campaigners gathered signatures on huge petitions. In 1893, the final one carried nearly 32,000 signatures, close to a quarter of New Zealand’s adult women. Glued together, the sheets stretched about 270 m. The bill passed the upper house narrowly, 20 votes to 18.
Women, including Māori women, voted for the first time just ten weeks later. Kate Sheppard appears on New Zealand’s $10 note.
Earlier, smaller firsts
| Place | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corsica | 1755 | Short-lived republic; women voted in some local elections |
| Pitcairn Islands | 1838 | Tiny British colony |
| Wyoming Territory (US) | 1869 | First modern territory to grant women the vote |
| New Zealand | 1893 | First self-governing country, nationwide |
Women’s suffrage around the world
| Country | Year women gained the vote (national) |
|---|---|
| Australia | 1902 (but Aboriginal women largely excluded until 1962) |
| Finland | 1906, first in Europe, and first to let women stand for parliament |
| Norway | 1913 |
| United Kingdom | 1918 (some women over 30); 1928 (equal terms) |
| United States | 1920 (19th Amendment) |
| France | 1944 |
| Switzerland | 1971 (federal level) |
| Saudi Arabia | 2015 (local elections) |
In the US, many Black women in the South were blocked from voting until the Voting Rights Act of 1965; see how to vote in the US.
Suffragists and suffragettes
- Suffragists campaigned through petitions, meetings and peaceful lobbying.
- Suffragettes, a term used for the British movement led by Emmeline Pankhurst, used more militant tactics, including protests and hunger strikes.
For New Zealand’s capital, see what the capital of New Zealand is. For one of America’s civil rights heroes, read about who refused to give up her bus seat.
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