Age of majority and the Minimum age established by law that determines when a individual becomes responsible for their actions, also having full civil rights and obligations.
Each country has its own specific legislation on when the citizen is considered to be "of legal age", taking into account elements of that nation's local culture and tradition.
Most Western countries adopt the chronological age of 18 years as the limit between the minority and age of majority. However, there are some countries that consider young people between the ages of 13 and 16 as capable of answering for their civil and criminal acts as adults, as is the case, for example, in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Sudan.
Criminal majority
Criminal age is the minimum age at which a person can be criminally tried for their actions as an adult. In Brazil, and in several countries around the world, criminal legal age begins at 18 years of age.
In Brazil, however, there is a Constitutional Amendment Project (PEC) that intends to lower the minimum age of criminal majority from 18 to 16 years.
Learn more about the meaning of Criminal majority.
age of majority
Civil age is the minimum legal age at which an individual can begin to enjoy all their civil rights.
In Brazil, with the approval of the new Civil Code on January 11, 2003 (through Law No. 10,406, of January 10, 2002), the age of majority becomes over 18 in Brazil. Before, according to the Civil Code of 1916, the civil majority was guaranteed only from 21 years of age.
Learn more about the meaning of age of majority.
