International Differences
| Country | Compulsory | № | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | N | 6 | 94% |
| Chile | N | 2 | 93%† |
| Austria | N | 9 | 92% |
| Belgium | Y | 12 | 91% |
| Italy | Y (not enforced) | 9 | 90% |
| Luxembourg | Y | 7 | 90% |
| Iceland | N | 10 | 89% |
| New Zealand | N | 12 | 88% |
| Denmark | N | 14 | 87% |
| Germany | N | 9 | 86% |
| Sweden | N | 14 | 86% |
| Greece | Y (not enforced) | 10 | 86% |
| Venezuela | N* | 7 | 85% |
| Czech Republic | N | 2 | 85% |
| Argentina | Y | 12 | 83% |
| Brazil | Y | 9 | 83% |
| Netherlands | N** | 7 | 83% |
| Australia | Y | 14 | 81% |
| Costa Rica | N | 8 | 81% |
| Norway | N | 9 | 81% |
| Romania | N | 2 | 81% |
| Bulgaria | N | 2 | 80% |
| Israel | N | 9 | 80% |
| Portugal | N | 9 | 79% |
| Finland | N | 10 | 78% |
| France | N | 9 | 76% |
| United Kingdom | N | 9 | 76% |
| South Korea | N | 11 | 75% |
| Ireland | N | 11 | 74% |
| Canada | N | 12 | 74% |
| Spain | N | 6 | 73% |
| Japan | N | 12 | 71% |
| Estonia | N | 2 | 69% |
| Hungary | N | 2 | 66% |
| Russia | N | 2 | 61% |
| India | N | 6 | 58% |
| Switzerland | N | 8 | 54% |
| Poland | N | 2 | 51% |
| United States | N | 18 | 48%*** |
Voter turnout varies considerably between countries. It tends to be lower in the United States, Asia and Latin America than most of Europe, Canada and Oceania. Western Europe averages a 77% turnout, and South and Central America around 54% since 1945. The differences between nations tend to be greater than those between classes, ethnic groups, or regions within nations. Confusingly, some of the factors that cause internal differences do not seem to apply on a global level. For instance, nations with better-educated populaces do not have higher turnouts. There are two main causes of these international differences—culture and institutions—although there is much debate over the relative impact of the various factors.
Read more about this topic: Voter Turnout
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“I trust the time is nigh when, with the universal assent of civilized people, all international differences shall be determined without resort to arms by the benignant processes of civilization.”
—Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886)