A referendum (in some countries synonymous with plebiscite, or a vote on a ballot question) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This article summarises referendum laws and practice in various countries.
Summary table The table below refers to nationwide referendums. Country Referendum law Binding referendum on demand Turnout threshold to be binding Referendum approval needed to amend constitution? Last referendum Australia / Referendum requirement created by the Constitution not by statute law No Double majority of 50% + 1 of all votes cast nationally, and by a majority of votes cast within a majority of the original states (4 of 6). If the amendment affects the parliamentary representation or the limits of one or more states, then a majority in those state(s) are also required. Referendums in Australia are exclusively used for the purpose of amending the Constitution 2023 Austria Yes No / Comprehensive change 2013 Belgium No No - No 1950 Chile Yes No None No 2023 Colombia Yes YesSignatures of 10% of registered voters needed 25% No 2018 Croatia Yes YesSignatures of 10% of registered voters needed None 2013 Czech Republic No on state level (except EU referendum), but on regional and municipal level allowed No None No 2003 Ecuador Yes YesSignatures of 10% of registered voters needed 50% Yes 2018 Estonia Yes No None / chapters "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" 2003 France Yes No None No 2005 Hungary Yes YesSignatures of 200,000 voters needed 50% No 2022 Indonesia No No - No - Ireland Yes No None Yes March 2024 Italy Yes (only to abolish existing law or when it is requested to approve a constitutional change; see: referendums in Italy) YesSignatures of 500,000 voters or 5 Regional Councils needed 50% No (only for advisory referendums, like in 1989) 2025 Kazakhstan Yes YesSignatures of 200,000 voters needed 50% / The President can choose to bypass a public vote to adopt changes; however, if a referendum is held, it requires a national majority plus approval in two-thirds of all regions to pass. 2026 Liechtenstein Yes YesSignatures of 1,500 voters needed 50% Yes 2024 Lithuania Yes No At least 33% of registered voters in favour / Amendments to chapters 1 and 14 2019 Malaysia No No - No - North Korea No No - No - Norway No No - No 1994 Philippines / Law on initiatives on amending constitution ruled by the Supreme Court as "fatally defective", can still be used for other types of initiatives YesSignatures of 10% of registered voters, with 3% in every legislative district needed None Yes 1987 Poland Yes No 50% No 2023 Romania Yes No 30% Yes 2019 Slovakia Yes YesSignatures of 350,000 voters needed 50% No 2023 Slovenia Yes YesSignatures of 40,000 voters needed 50% No 2025 Sweden Yes No No 2003 Switzerland Yes YesSignatures of 50,000 voters needed None Yes ongoing Saudi Arabia No No - No - South Korea Yes No 50% Yes 1987 Taiwan Yes YesSignatures of 1.5% of registered voters needed At least 25% of registered voters in favour Constitutional amendments regulated by Additional Articles of the Constitution, not by statute law 2025 Turkey Yes No None No 2017 United Kingdom Yes - Each referendum requires a separate Act of Parliament No No standing requirement; the determination of a threshold is a political decision for each referendum. The UK has no history of applying special thresholds, with very few exceptions. No 2016 United States No No - No -
Africa
Egypt
On 19 March 2011 a constitutional referendum was held in Egypt, following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. The reforms made it easier for candidates to run for president, limited the number of presidential terms to two four-year periods, and ensured judicial monitoring of elections.
Eritrea In April 1993 nearly 1 million voters in Eritrea (a quarter of the population), cast ballots to become "sovereign and independent" of Ethiopia. This vote was the result of thirty years of war by Eritreans during their War of Independence. The result was a vote for independence by 99.8% of the voters.
Kenya
Kenya has had three referendums.
Sudan In 2011, Sudan conducted a referendum in Southern Sudan to choose between continued unity and separation from Sudan. The result was overwhelmingly in favour of separation, with 98.83% of voters supporting the move. Consequently, the region became independent on 9 July 2011, forming the Republic of South Sudan.
Morocco There have been several referendums in Morocco, most of which were related to the Moroccan constitution. Since becoming King, Mohammed VI has led many reforms that made Morocco an exception from all the other Arab countries. On February 20, 2011, thousands took to the streets of Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Marrakesh in peaceful protests demanding a new constitution, a change in government and an end to corruption. During a march on Hassan II Avenue in Rabat, demonstrators demanded a new constitution to bring more democracy to the country. They shouted slogans calling for economic opportunity, education reform, better health services, and help in coping with the rising cost of living.
On March 9, King Mohammed VI made a speech that was described as a "historical" speech in which he announced several reforms including a new constitution to the country.
In a televised speech on Friday, 17 June, King Mohammed VI announced a series of constitutional reforms, to be put to a national referendum on 1 July. The proposed reforms would give the prime minister and the parliament more executive authority, and would make Berber an official language in Morocco, together with Arabic. The proposal would empower the prime minister with the authority to appoint government officials and to dissolve the parliament - the powers previously held by the king. However, the king would remain the military commander-in-chief and would retain his position as the chair of the Council of Ministers and the Supreme Security Council, the primary bodies responsible for the security policy. A new constitutional provision would also confirm the king's role as the highest religious authority in the country.
Although most people were celebrating among the protesters after the King's speech, the leaders of the 20 February Movement rejected the proposals as insufficient and called for continuing protests on 19 June 2011. On 29 June 2011, the protesters called for a boycott of the referendum. The referendum was held on July 1, and almost all Moroccans said yes to it with a "98% yes" "2% No" turnout.
Asia
Bangladesh Year Type Date Question Significance Result1977Motion of confidence30 May 1977Do you have confidence in President Major General Ziaur Rahman and the policies and programs adopted by him?The referendum on was held to seek public approval for the confidence of policies and programs under Ziaur Rahman. Successful - 98.9% of votes saying yes, with a voter turnout of 88.1%.198521 March 1985Do you support the policies of President Ershad, and do you want him to continue to run this administration until a civilian government is formed through elections?The referendum was held to seek public approval for the continuation of military rule under Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Successful - 94% vote in favour with a turnout of 72%.1991Constitutional15 September 1991"Should or not the President assent to the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Bill, 1991 of the People's Republic of Bangladesh?"The amendments would lead to the reintroduction of parliamentary government, with the President becoming the constitutional head of state, but the Prime Minister the executive head. It also abolished the position of vice-president and would see the President elected by Parliament. Successful - 83.6% vote in favour, with a turnout of 35.2%.202612 February 2026"Do you approve of the July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025, and the following proposals for constitutional reform as recorded in the July National Charter?"The referendum propounds reforms to countervail among state institutions — the legislature, executive and judiciary and improve accountability in governance. If the referendum is passed, the newly elected parliament will act as a constituent assembly to enact the changes in the constitution agreed in the charter. Successful - 68.26% vote in favour, with a turnout of 60%.
East Timor East Timor, formerly governed by Indonesia, held a referendum on 30 August 1999, in which voters chose either to become a Special Autonomous Region within Indonesia, or for independence. 78.5% of voters opted for independence.
Hong Kong
Due to discontent towards the proposal of political reform made by the Hong Kong government, the Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats joined to carry out "Five Constituencies Referendum" in early 2010, by having one Legislative Councillor (from either one of the parties) in each constituency resigned, forcing the government to carry out a by-election, thus giving a chance for all voters to show their will towards universal suffrage and the abolition of functional constituencies. This is often called a "de facto referendum".
The Basic Law of Hong Kong does not provide for official referendums, but the pan-democrats hope that by returning the resignees to the Legislative Council, on their manifesto of real political reform in Hong Kong and the abolition of functional constituencies,Fung, Fanny (19 January 2010), "Referendum bid is against Basic Law, minister says", South China Morning Post, Retrieved on 20 January 2010. the election can be seen as a de facto referendum and an endorsement of these issues.Leong, Alan (8 February 2010) "Quantifying Hong Kong's Democratic Desires" Wall Street Journal Retrieved on 21 January 2011.
The original five pan-democrat Legislative Councillors were re-elected, the turnout was much lower than the expectation of the two parties, due to the suppression of pro-Beijing Camp.
India The Constitution of India does not have a specific provision for or against referendum. Some of the referendums held in India are: 1947 Sylhet referendum was held in Sylhet district on 6 July 1947 to decide whether the district would remain in Assam and join the newly formed country India or would join East Bengal (present day Bangladesh), a part of the newly formed country Pakistan. The referendum was in favor of joining East Bengal. 1947 North-West Frontier Province referendum was held in the North-West Frontier Province of British India in July 1947 to decide whether the province would join the Dominion of India or Pakistan. The referendum was in favor of joining Pakistan. 1967 Goa status referendum was held in the state of Goa, India, on 16 January 1967, to decide the future of the Union Territory of Goa. 1975 Sikkimese monarchy referendum on abolishing the monarchy was held in Sikkim on 14 April 1975. It was approved by 97.55% of voters, and resulted in Sikkim becoming an Indian state.
Indonesia Constitution of Indonesia does not mention referendums at all, and as such, referendums are not a part of Indonesian political practice. In 1985, the People's Consultative Assembly issued Act No. 5 of 1985UU No. 5 Tahun 1985 , retrieved 21 March 2016 (in Indonesian) that officially recognized constitutional referendum as a legitimate political process in Indonesia, but revoked in 1999 by Act No. 6 of 1999.UU No. 6 Tahun 1999 , retrieved 21 March 2016 (in Indonesian) According to explanation given in Act No. 6 of 1999, referendum is not compatible with Indonesian doctrine of representative democracy, as on the fourth principles of the national ideology Pancasila, absence on mentions of referendums inside the national constitution also became another reason why the referendum law was revoked.