Voter Turnout Comparisons 2

 
Here is the turnout of voters to elect the main legislature of various democracies. The figures are from the latest election as of early 1998. "PR" refers to a having a form of proportional representation. "District" refers to use of winner-take- all, single-seat districts electing one representative. "Mixed" refers to a mix of systems.
  

Country Voter Turnout System
Iceland 88% 1995 PR
Italy 87% 1996 Mixed **
Greece 84% 1996 PR
Sweden 84% 1994 PR
Denmark 83% 1998 PR
New Zealand 83% 1996 PR *
Belgium 83% 1995 PR
Australia 82% 1996 PR ***
Austria 79% 1995 PR
Portugal 79% 1995 PR
Spain 78% 1996 PR
Norway 77% 1977 PR
Netherlands 75% 1994 PR
Germany 73% 1994 PR *
Turkey 71% 1995 PR
Finland 71% 1995 PR
United Kingdom 69% 1997 District #
Ireland 67% 1997 PR ***
Luxembourg 61% 1994 PR
France 60% 1997 District $
Canada 56% 1997 District #
Switzerland 36% 1995 PR
United States 38% 1994 District #
 

* 50% by single-seat, plurality election
** 75% by single-seat, plurality election
*** Choice Voting
# Single-seat districts, elected by plurality
$ Single-seat districts, with majority provision

Sources: The Almanac of European Politics 
Congressional Quarterly