Who Went First?
The year each country first did something that became a global norm: let women vote, opened marriage to same-sex couples, gave citizens a right to government documents.
Part of the comparative law toolkit.
When Women Won the Vote
42 countries
The year women could first vote in national elections, on terms at least close to men's. Drag the slider to watch the map fill in.
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When Same-Sex Marriage Became Legal
35 countries
The year marriage first became legally available to same-sex couples across the whole country, by law or by a court. The list runs to 2024.
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When Citizens Won a Right to Government Documents
47 countries
The year each country passed its first national law giving the public a general right to see government documents. Sweden's law of 1766 is the oldest.
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Read this first
These charts show a single number for each country, from our own knowledge: the year something first happened, or the time the law sets for it. Where a rule differs by region, by type of case or by group of people, the note says so. Rules are reformed from time to time, so check the current law. It is general information, not legal advice.
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