Who was aloud to participate in the Athenian democracy?

In Athenian democracy, participation was limited to free male citizens of Athens who were at least 18 years old. This excluded women, slaves, and foreign residents (metics) from having any political rights. Only about 10-20% of the population in Athens were eligible to participate in the democratic process, which included voting and holding public office. This exclusivity highlights the limitations of Athenian democracy despite its historical significance.