Direct Democracy Database
Issues in relation to which referendums are optional at the national level
| Theme | Referendum |
|---|
Breakdown by continent
| Continent | None | Devolution | Civil service | Constitutional amendments | Any issue of national importance | Adoption of international treaties | Conflict between constitutional organs | Taxes and public expenditure commitments | Transfer of authority to international bodies | National sovereignty, national self-determination | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | Other | No data | Countries researched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 13 (26.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
11 (22.0%) |
22 (44.0%) |
5 (10.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
1 (2.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
4 (8.0%) |
10 (20.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
50 |
| Americas | 9 (29.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
9 (29.0%) |
8 (25.8%) |
1 (3.2%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
1 (3.2%) |
2 (6.5%) |
6 (19.4%) |
6 (19.4%) |
0 (0.0%) |
31 |
| Asia | 5 (16.1%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
8 (25.8%) |
11 (35.5%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
12 (38.7%) |
3 (9.7%) |
0 (0.0%) |
31 |
| Europe | 1 (2.7%) |
0 (0.0%) |
1 (2.7%) |
10 (27.0%) |
8 (21.6%) |
7 (18.9%) |
1 (2.7%) |
1 (2.7%) |
4 (10.8%) |
0 (0.0%) |
15 (40.5%) |
10 (27.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
37 |
| Oceania | 7 (63.6%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
3 (27.3%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
1 (9.1%) |
0 (0.0%) |
11 |
| Other | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 |
| Total | 35 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 52 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 37 | 30 | 0 | 160 |
Country Answers
| Country | Year | Value (Text) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Albania | 2022 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Algeria | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Andorra | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Angola | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Argentina | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Armenia | 2022 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Australia | 2015 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Austria | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Azerbaijan | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Bahamas | 2014 | None | |
| Bahrain | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Belarus | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Belize | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Benin | 2014 | See source (in French) | |
| Bermuda | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Bhutan | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Bolivia | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Botswana | 2014 | None | |
| Brazil | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Bulgaria | 2022 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Burkina Faso | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Burundi | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Cabo Verde | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Cameroon | 2014 | Constitutional amendments See also source |
|
| Canada | 2013 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Cayman Islands | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Central African Republic | 2014 | Legislative acts or bills | |
| Chad | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies Government organization |
|
| Chile | 2022 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Colombia | 2017 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Congo, Democratic Republic of | 2013 | None | |
| Cook Islands | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Costa Rica | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Any law proposal, except those clearly excluded |
|
| Croatia | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Cyprus (North) | 2017 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Denmark | 2018 | Adoption of international treaties Legislative bills |
|
| Dominica | 2014 | None | |
| Dominican Republic | 2013 | This issue has not been regulated yet by a special law. | |
| Ecuador | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Egypt | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| El Salvador | 2014 | None | |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Estonia | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Eswatini | 2013 | None | |
| Ethiopia | 2013 | None | |
| Fiji | 2014 | None | |
| Finland | 2014 | Not specified | |
| France | 2013 | Adoption of international treaties Civil service Economic or Social Reforms |
|
| Gabon | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Georgia | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Germany | 2022 | None | |
| Ghana | 2013 | None | |
| Gibraltar | 2017 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Greece | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Existing laws on important social issues |
|
| Grenada | 2013 | None | |
| Guatemala | 2013 | None | |
| Guinea | 2017 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance |
|
| Honduras | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Hungary | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Iceland | 2017 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Iraq | 2013 | None | |
| Ireland | 2022 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Italy | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Laws or measures having the force of law |
|
| Jamaica | 2014 | Constitutional amendments National sovereignty, national self-determination |
|
| Japan | 2014 | None | |
| Kazakhstan | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Kenya | 2022 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Kiribati | 2013 | None | |
| Korea, Republic of | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Latvia | 2013 | Adoption of a law | |
| Lesotho | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Liberia | 2014 | None | |
| Libya | 2014 | None | |
| Lithuania | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Luxembourg | 2017 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Madagascar | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Malawi | 2013 | None | |
| Maldives | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Mali | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Mauritania | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Mauritius | 2013 | None | |
| Mexico | 2017 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Moldova, Republic of | 2014 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Mongolia | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Montenegro | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies Conflict between constitutional organs Devolution Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments |
|
| Morocco | 2014 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Mozambique | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Myanmar | 2013 | None | |
| Namibia | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Nauru | 2014 | None | |
| Nepal | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Netherlands | 2016 | Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| New Zealand | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Nicaragua | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Niger | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Nigeria | 2014 | None | |
| Niue | 2013 | None | |
| North Macedonia, Republic of | 2017 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Pakistan | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Palau | 2014 | Holding regular Constitutional Convention | |
| Panama | 2014 | None | |
| Papua New Guinea | 2014 | None | |
| Paraguay | 2014 | Legislative proposals | |
| Peru | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Approval of any law, or disapproval of any law, legislative decree or urgency decree |
|
| Philippines | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Poland | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies |
|
| Portugal | 2018 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Qatar | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Republic of The Congo (Brazzaville) | 2013 | Adoption of international treaties Organization of government, human rights protection, and economic and social actions of state |
|
| Romania | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Russian Federation | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Rwanda | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Any issue of national importance See also source. |
|
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2013 | None | |
| Saint Lucia | 2013 | None | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2013 | None | |
| Samoa | 2013 | None | |
| Senegal | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Any draft legislation the president deems as requiring referendum |
|
| Serbia | 2021 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Seychelles | 2013 | None | |
| Sierra Leone | 2013 | None | |
| Singapore | 2014 | None | |
| Slovakia | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Slovenia | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Transfer of authority to international bodies Any issue of national importance, except those excluded |
|
| Somalia | 2013 | None | |
| South Africa | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| South Sudan | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Spain | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Sri Lanka | 2013 | Any issue of national importance Certain Bills, see source |
|
| Sudan | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Suriname | 2017 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Sweden | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any issue of national importance |
|
| Switzerland | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Federal acts, emergency federal acts whose term of validity exceeds one year, federal decrees as provided by law |
|
| Syrian Arab Republic | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Taiwan | 2018 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Tajikistan | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Tanzania, United Republic of | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Thailand | 2017 | Any issue of national importance | |
| The Gambia | 2014 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Timor-Leste | 2014 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Togo | 2014 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Tunisia | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Freedoms and human rights, or personal status |
|
| Turkey | 2013 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Turkmenistan | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Any other issue of national importance |
|
| Uganda | 2014 | Change of the political system | |
| Ukraine | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies Change of Laws |
|
| United Kingdom | 2015 | Any issue decided by legislation | |
| Uruguay | 2014 | Any legislation passed by the Congress. Optional referendums can only be abrogative | |
| Uzbekistan | 2013 | Any issue of national importance, except those excluded | |
| Vanuatu | 2013 | None | |
| Venezuela | 2014 | Transfer of authority to international bodies National sovereignty, national self-determination Any issue of national importance, except those excluded Any bill being discussed by the Legislature |
|
| Viet Nam | 2014 | Not specified | |
| Yemen | 2013 | None | |
| Zambia | 2013 | Any issue of national importance | |
| Zimbabwe | 2014 | Any issue of national importance |
Total number of countries in selected sample: 160
