What was the first country to grant women the right to vote?

New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. This groundbreaking legislation was passed in 1893, making New Zealand a pioneer in women's suffrage. The suffrage movement in New Zealand was significantly influenced by social reformers and activists who worked tirelessly to advocate for women's rights, culminating in this historic achievement.

While other countries also made advances in women's voting rights, they did so after New Zealand. For instance, Australia granted women the right to vote federally in 1902, and Finland provided suffrage in 1906. The United States began to grant women's voting rights at the state level starting in the mid-19th century, but it wasn't until the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 that women gained the right to vote nationwide. These developments highlight New Zealand's early role in this important movement for gender equality, solidifying its status as the first firm commitment to women's suffrage in a parliamentary system.