List of national constitutions
The following is a list of national constitutions by country, semi-recognized countries, and by codification.
Codified constitutions (most recent, in use today)
A codified constitution is a constitution that is contained in a single document, which is the single source of constitutional law in a state. An uncodified constitution is one that is not contained in a single document, but consists of several different sources, which may be written or unwritten.
Sovereign states (UN member and observer states)
State | Date ratified | Word count[1] |
---|---|---|
None (see Constitution of Afghanistan) | August 15, 2021 | — |
Constitution of Albania | November 28, 1998 | 13,826 |
Constitution of Algeria | December 8, 1996 | 10,038 |
Constitution of Andorra | February 2, 1993 | 8,740 |
Constitution of Angola | January 21, 2010 | 27,181 |
Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda | October 31, 1981 | 38,464 |
Constitution of Argentina | May 1, 1853 | 12,514 |
Constitution of Armenia | July 5, 1995 | 13,786 |
Constitution of Australia | January 1, 1901 | 17,318 |
Constitution of Austria | October 1, 1920 | 41,366 |
Constitution of Azerbaijan | November 12, 1995 | 17,354 |
Constitution of the Bahamas | 1973 | 41,835 |
Constitution of Bahrain | February 14, 2002 | 10,806 |
Constitution of Bangladesh | November 4, 1972 | 27,643 |
Constitution of Barbados | November 30, 1966 | 34,144 |
Constitution of Belarus | March 15, 1994 | 13,278 |
Constitution of Belgium | February 7, 1831 | 16,119 |
Constitution of Belize | September 21, 1981 | 39,629 |
Constitution of Benin | December 2, 1990 | 11,386 |
Constitution of Bhutan | July 18, 2008 | 13,632 |
Constitution of Bolivia | February 7, 2009 | 39,375 |
Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina | December 14, 1995 | 5,454 |
Constitution of Botswana | September 30, 1966 | 30,713 |
Constitution of Brazil | October 5, 1988 | 64,488 |
Constitution of Brunei | 1959 | 13,869 |
Constitution of Bulgaria | July 12, 1991 | 13,641 |
Constitution of Burkina Faso | June 11, 1991 | 10,030 |
Constitution of Myanmar | May 29, 2008 | 40,492 |
Constitution of Burundi | March 9, 1992 | 17,574 |
Constitution of Cambodia | 1993 | 8,936 |
Constitution of Cameroon | January 18, 1996 | 8,444 |
Constitution of Cape Verde | 1992 | 32,132 |
Constitution of the Central African Republic | March 27, 2016 | 9,767 |
Constitution of Chad | March 31, 1996 | 11,768 |
Constitution of Chile | September 11, 1980 | 25,821 |
Constitution of the People's Republic of China | December 4, 1982 | 10,960 |
Constitution of Colombia | July 4, 1991 | 46,902 |
Constitution of the Comoros | December 23, 2001 | 6,185 |
Constitution of the Republic of the Congo | 2001 | 9,970 |
Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | February 18, 2006 | 19,285 |
Constitution of Costa Rica | November 7, 1949 | 16,705 |
Constitution of Croatia | December 22, 1990 | 10,898 |
Constitution of Cuba | April 10, 2019 | 12,893 |
Constitution of Cyprus | August 16, 1960 | 37,006 |
Constitution of the Czech Republic | December 16, 1992 | 14,580 |
Constitution of Denmark | May 25, 1849 | 6,221 |
Constitution of Djibouti | September 15, 1992 | 6,666 |
Constitution of Dominica | 1978 | 36,080 |
Constitution of the Dominican Republic | January 26, 2010 | 29,710 |
Constitution of East Timor | May 20, 2002 | 15,307 |
Constitution of Ecuador | October 20, 2008 | 54,555 |
Constitution of Egypt | January 18, 2014 | 22,626 |
Constitution of El Salvador | December 20, 1983 | 22,823 |
Constitution of Equatorial Guinea | November 17, 1991 | 5,575 |
Constitution of Eritrea | May 23, 1997 | 6,753 |
Constitution of Estonia | June 28, 1992 | 11,344 |
Constitution of Eswatini | 2005 | 48,604 |
Constitution of Ethiopia | August 21, 1995 | 13,630 |
Constitution of Fiji | September 6, 2013 | 40,773 |
Constitution of Finland | March 1, 2000 | 12,640 |
Constitution of France | October 4, 1958 | 10,180 |
Constitution of Gabon | 1991 | 11,804 |
Constitution of the Gambia | January 16, 1997 | 43,465 |
Constitution of Georgia | August 24, 1995 | 11,490 |
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany | May 8, 1949 | 27,379 |
Constitution of Ghana | April 28, 1992 | 53,985 |
Constitution of Greece | June 11, 1975 | 26,989 |
Constitution of Grenada | 1991 | 33,737 |
Constitution of Guatemala | January 14, 1986 | 28,692 |
Constitution of Guinea | May 7, 2010 | 12,707 |
Constitution of Guinea-Bissau | May 6, 1984 | 7,820 |
Constitution of Guyana | October 6, 1980 | 46,221 |
Constitution of Haiti | June 20, 2012 | 18,488 |
Constitution of Honduras | January 20, 1982 | 23,434 |
Constitution of Hungary | April 18, 2011 | 15,247 |
Constitution of Iceland | June 17, 1944 | 4,089 |
Constitution of India | November 26, 1949 | 146,385 |
Constitution of Indonesia | August 18, 1945 | 5,915 |
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran | December 3, 1979 | 16,179 |
Constitution of Iraq | October 15, 2005 | 11,550 |
Constitution of Ireland | December 29, 1937 | 16,007 |
Constitution of Italy | December 22, 1947 | 11,708 |
Constitution of Ivory Coast | November 8, 2016 | 7,897 |
Constitution of Jamaica | January 1, 1962 | 38,048 |
Constitution of Japan[a] | February 11, 1889 | 4,998 |
Constitution of Jordan | January 11, 1952 | 10,239 |
Constitution of Kazakhstan | August 30, 1995 | 13,482 |
Constitution of Kenya | August 27, 2010 | 48,818 |
Constitution of Kiribati | 1979 | 26,080 |
Constitution of North Korea | December 25, 1972 | 7,364 |
Constitution of South Korea | July 17, 1948 | 9,059 |
Constitution of Kuwait | November 11, 1962 | 8,197 |
Constitution of Kyrgyzstan | June 27, 2010 | 14,327 |
Constitution of Laos | August 14, 1991 | 4,820 |
Constitution of Latvia | November 7, 1922 | 4,917 |
Constitution of Lebanon | May 23, 1926 | 6,296 |
Constitution of Lesotho | 1993 | 45,532 |
Constitution of Liberia | January 6, 1986 | 11,667 |
Constitution of Liechtenstein | October 5, 1921 | 9,513 |
Constitution of Lithuania | October 25, 1992 | 12,214 |
Constitution of Luxembourg | October 17, 1868 | 5,601 |
Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration | August 3, 2011 | Not documented by source |
Constitution of Madagascar | November 14, 2010 | 15,759 |
Constitution of Malawi | May 16, 1994 | 33,422 |
Constitution of Malaysia | August 27, 1957 | 64,080 |
Constitution of the Maldives | August 7, 2008 | 23,991 |
Constitution of Mali | January 12, 1992 | 7,503 |
Constitution of Malta | September 21, 1964 | 31,820 |
Constitution of the Marshall Islands | 1979 | 21,429 |
Constitution of Mauritania | July 12, 1991 | 6,997 |
Constitution of Mauritius | March 12, 1968 | 37,320 |
Constitution of Mexico | February 5, 1917 | 57,087 |
Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia | October 1, 1978 | 5,271 |
Constitution of Moldova | July 29, 1994 | 12,818 |
Constitution of Monaco | December 17, 1962 | 3,814 |
Constitution of Mongolia | January 13, 1992 | 8,250 |
Constitution of Montenegro | October 19, 2007 | 11,572 |
Constitution of Morocco | December 14, 1962 | 15,897 |
Constitution of Mozambique | December 21, 2004 | 24,171 |
Constitution of Namibia | February 9, 1990 | 24,198 |
Constitution of Nauru | January 31, 1968 | 13,714 |
Constitution of Nepal | September 20, 2015 | 32,753 |
Constitution of the Netherlands[b][2] | August 24, 1815[3] | 8,739 |
Constitution of Nicaragua | January 1, 1987 | 20,535 |
Constitution of Niger | November 25, 2010 | 14,806 |
Constitution of Nigeria | May 29, 1999 | 66,263 |
Constitution of North Macedonia | November 17, 1991 | 13,486 |
Constitution of Norway | May 17, 1814 | 7,307 |
Basic Statute of Oman | November 6, 1996[4] | 7,233 |
Constitution of Pakistan | August 14, 1973 | 56,240 |
Constitution of Palau | July 9, 1980 | Not documented by source |
Palestinian National Covenant | May 28, 1964 | Not documented by source |
Constitution of Panama | October 11, 1972 | 26,097 |
Constitution of Papua New Guinea | September 16, 1975 | 58,490 |
Constitution of Paraguay | June 20, 1992 | 25,461 |
Constitution of Peru | December 31, 1993 | 19,216 |
Constitution of the Philippines | February 2, 1987 | 21,954 |
Constitution of Poland | April 2, 1997 | 19,602 |
Constitution of Portugal | April 25, 1976 | 35,219 |
Constitution of Qatar | April 9, 2004 | 6,848 |
Constitution of Romania | November 21, 1991 | 14,663 |
Constitution of Russia | December 12, 1993 | 12,908 |
Constitution of Rwanda | May 26, 2003 | 16,940 |
Constitution of Saint Kitts and Nevis | June 23, 1983 | 49,643 |
Constitution of Saint Lucia | 1978 | 38,271 |
Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1979 | Not documented by source |
Constitution of Samoa | October 28, 1960 | 19,611 |
Constitution of São Tomé and Príncipe | November 5, 1975 | 7,988 |
Basic Law of Saudi Arabia | March 1, 1992 | 6,335 |
Constitution of Senegal | January 1, 2001 | 10,866 |
Constitution of Serbia | November 8, 2006 | 19,891 |
Constitution of Seychelles | 1993 | 39,729 |
Constitution of Sierra Leone | 1996 | 44,636 |
Constitution of Singapore | August 9, 1965 | 40,076 |
Constitution of Slovakia | October 1, 1992 | 18,402 |
Constitution of Slovenia | December 23, 1991 | 11,406 |
Constitution of Solomon Islands | May 31, 1978 | 31,826 |
Constitution of Somalia | August 1, 2012 | 19,823 |
Constitution of South Africa | February 4, 1997 | 43,062 |
Constitution of South Sudan | July 9, 2011 | 27,191 |
Constitution of Spain | December 6, 1978 | 17,608 |
Constitution of Sri Lanka | September 7, 1978 | 40,085 |
Constitution of Sudan | August 4, 2019 | — |
Constitution of Suriname | September 30, 1987 | 12,488 |
Swiss Federal Constitution | April 18, 1999 | 16,484 |
Constitution of Syria | February 27, 2012 | 8,154 |
Constitution of Tajikistan | November 6, 1994 | 7,917 |
Constitution of Tanzania | April 25, 1977 | 35,651 |
Constitution of Thailand | April 6, 2017 | 7,683 |
Constitution of Togo | October 14, 1992 | 10,252 |
Constitution of Tonga | November 4, 1875 | 10,192 |
Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago[5] | March 29, 1976 | 32,567 |
Constitution of Tunisia | January 26, 2014 | 9,508 |
Constitution of Turkey | November 7, 1982 | 29,727 |
Constitution of Turkmenistan | May 18, 1992 | 5,735 |
Constitution of Tuvalu | 1986 | 34,801 |
Constitution of Uganda | October 8, 1995 | 49,448 |
Constitution of Ukraine | June 28, 1996 | 19,299 |
Constitution of the United States | June 21, 1788 | 7,762 |
Constitution of the United Arab Emirates | December 2, 1971 | 11,557 |
Constitution of Uruguay | July 18, 1830 | 29,911 |
Constitution of Uzbekistan | December 8, 1992 | 7,941 |
Constitution of Vanuatu | July 30, 1980 | 8,425 |
Fundamental Law of Vatican City State | November 26, 2000 | Not documented by source |
Constitution of Venezuela | December 20, 1999 | 37,344 |
Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | November 28, 2013 | 11,344 |
Constitution of Yemen | May 16, 1991 | Not documented by source |
Constitution of Zambia | 2016 | 30,696 |
Constitution of Zimbabwe | May 9, 2013 | 55,883 |
Unrecognized and partially recognized countries
Country | Date |
---|---|
Constitution of Abkhazia | October 3, 1999 |
Constitution of the Republic of China | December 25, 1947 (amended May 1, 1991) |
Constitution of Kosovo | June 15, 2008 |
Constitution of Northern Cyprus | May 5, 1985 |
Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | August 1976 |
Constitution of Somaliland | May 31, 2001 |
Constitution of South Ossetia | April 8, 2001 |
Constitution of Transnistria | January 17, 1996 |
Dependent territories
Territory | Date |
---|---|
Constitution of American Samoa | October 17, 1960 |
Constitution of Aruba | January 1, 1986 |
Constitution of the British Virgin Islands | June 15, 2007 |
Constitution of Curaçao | October 10, 2010 |
Constitution of the Falkland Islands | January 1, 2009 |
Constitution of Gibraltar | January 2, 2007 |
Hong Kong Basic Law | April 4, 1990 |
Macau Basic Law | March 31, 1993 |
Niue Constitution Act | October 19, 1974 |
Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Constitution | January 1, 1978 |
Constitution of Puerto Rico | July 25, 1952 |
Constitution of Sint Maarten | October 10, 2010 |
Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands | October 15, 2012 |
Uncodified constitutions
An uncodified constitution is one where not all elements are written into law. Typically some elements, such as constitutional conventions, are not written into law. Such elements are almost always written down somewhere (perhaps across multiple documents and/or publications), however written in documents that are not enforceable in law. Approximate dates have been listed below based on fundamental founding documents on governance of the respective countries.
- Constitution of Canada (1867)
- Basic Laws of Israel (1950)
- Constitution of New Zealand (1840)
- Constitution of San Marino (1600)[6]
- Basic Laws of Sweden (1810)
- Constitution of the United Kingdom (1215)
Former constitutions
Afghanistan
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Afghanistan (1964)
- Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004)
Brazil
- Constitution of the Empire of Brazil (1824)
- Constitution of the Republic of the United States of Brazil (1891)
- Constitution of the Republic of the United States of Brazil (1934)
- Brazilian Constitution of 1937
- Brazilian Constitution of 1946 [pt]
- Brazilian Constitution of 1967 [pt]
Bulgaria
- Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria (1879)
- Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1947)
- Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1971)
China
- Constitution of the Qing Empire 1908
- Constitution of the Republic of China (1912)
- Constitution of the Republic of China (1947) — Suspended 1948, amended 1991
- Common Program (1949)
- Constitution of the People's Republic of China (1954)
- Constitution of the People's Republic of China (1975)
- Constitution of the People's Republic of China (1978)
Colombia
- Act of the Extraordinary Council of Santa Fe de Bogotá (1810)
- Constitution of the Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca (1811)
- Act of Federation of the United Provinces of New Granada (1811)
- Constitution of the Republic of Colombia (1821)
- Constitution of the Republic of Colombia (1830)
- Constitution of the Republic of New Granada (1832)
- Constitution of the Republic of New Granada (1843)
- Constitution of the Republic of New Granada (1853)
- Constitution of the Granadine Confederation (1858)
- Constitution of the United States of Colombia (1863)
- Constitution of the Republic of Colombia (1886)
Cuba
Czechoslovakia
- Constitution of Czechoslovakia (1920)
- Constitution of Czechoslovakia (1948)
- Constitution of Czechoslovakia (1960)
- Constitution of Czechoslovakia (1968)
Egypt
- Constitution of Egypt (1879) (abortive)
- Fundamental Ordinance (1882)
- Constitution of Egypt (1923)
- Constitution of Egypt (1930)
- Provisional constitution of 1953
- Constitution of Egypt (1956)
- Provisional Constitution of the United Arab Republic (1958)
- Constitutional Proclamation (1962)
- Constitution of United Arab Republic (1964)
- Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt (1971)
- Provisional Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt (2011)
- Constitution of Egypt (2012)
France
- Constitution of the Kingdom of France (1791)
- Constitution of the First French Republic (1793)
- Constitution of the First French Republic (1795)
- Constitution of the First French Republic (1799)
- Constitution of the First French Republic (1801)
- Constitution of the First French Empire (1804)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of France (1814)
- Constitution of the First French Empire (1815)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of France (1830)
- Constitution of the Second French Republic
- Constitution of the Second French Empire
- Constitution of the Third French Republic
- Constitution of the French State (Vichy Regime)
- Constitution of the Fourth French Republic
Germany
- Constitution of the German Confederation (1815)
- Constitution of Prussia (1848)
- Frankfurt Constitution (1849)
- Constitution of Prussia (1850)
- North German Constitution (1867)
- Constitution of the German Confederation (1871)
- Constitution of the German Empire (1871)
- Weimar Constitution (1919)
- Constitution of Prussia (1920)
- Reichstag Fire Decree (1933)
- Enabling Act (1933)
- First Constitution of East Germany (1949)
- Second Constitution of East Germany (1968)
Hawaii
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1840)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1852)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1864)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1887)
- Constitution of the Republic of Hawaii
Iran
Italy
- Corsican Constitution
- Constitution of the Cisalpine Republic (1797)
- Constitution of the Cisalpine Republic (1798)
- Constitution of the Cisalpine Republic (1801)
- Constitution of the Napoleonic Italian Republic
- Constitution of the Napoleonic Italian Kingdom
- Statuto Albertino
Mexico
- Constitution of Apatzingán (Proposed 1814)
- Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States (1824)
- Seven Constitutional Laws (Siete Leyes; 1836)
- Organic Bases of the Mexican Republic (1843)
- Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States (1857)
Poland
- Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw (1807)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland (1815)
- Organic Statute of the Kingdom of Poland (1832)
Portugal
- Portuguese Constitution of 1822
- Portuguese Constitution of 1826
- Portuguese Constitution of 1838
- Portuguese Constitution of 1911
- Portuguese Constitution of 1933
Russia
- Constitution of the Russian Empire
- Constitution of the Russian Republic
- Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1918)
- Constitution of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1978)
- Constitution of the Soviet Union (1924)
- Constitution of the Soviet Union (1936)
- Constitution of the Soviet Union (1977)
South Africa
- South Africa Act 1909
- South African Constitution of 1961
- South African Constitution of 1983
- Interim Constitution (1993)
Turkey
United States
Yugoslavia
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1921)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1931)
- Constitution of Yugoslavia (1946)
- Constitution of Yugoslavia (1963)
- Constitution of Yugoslavia (1974)
- Constitution of Yugoslavia (1992)
Other States
- Constitution of Artsakh
- Constitution of the Irish Free State
- Constitution of Japan (1889)
- Constitution of Poland-Lithuania (1791)
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland
- Constitution of the Principality of Serbia (1835)
- Constitution of Persia
- Constitution of the Confederate States
- Ottoman constitution of 1876
- Constitution of Ukraine (1710)
- Constitution of Vermont Republic
- Constitution of the Republic of Texas
- Malolos Constitution
- Constitution of the Mali Empire (1235)
See also
- Constitution Day
- Constitutional documents
- Constitutional law
- State constitution (United States)
Notes
References
- ^ "Constitution Rankings". Comparative Constitutions Project. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
- ^ Subordinated to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- ^ "Grondwet - Militair Rechtelijk Tijdschrift". puc.overheid.nl. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ "Basic Statute of the State" (PDF). Royal Decree 101/96. Ministry of Legal Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act" (PDF). Organization of American States. December 31, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "Oldest Constitutions Still Being Used Today". WorldAtlas. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-13.