diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a19a3d1c..87eabdd8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ postgresql_databases:
     uuid_ossp: yes      # flag to install the uuid-ossp extension on this database (yes/no)
     citext: yes         # flag to install the citext extension on this database (yes/no)
     encoding: "UTF-8"   # override global {{ postgresql_encoding }} variable per database
+    state: "present"    # optional; one of 'present', 'absent', 'dump', 'restore'
     lc_collate: "en_GB.UTF-8"   # override global {{ postgresql_locale }} variable per database
     lc_ctype: "en_GB.UTF-8"     # override global {{ postgresql_ctype }} variable per database
 
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ postgresql_users:
   - name: baz
     pass: pass
     encrypted: no       # denotes if the password is already encrypted.
+    state: "present"    # optional; one of 'present', 'absent'
 
 # List of schemas to be created (optional)
 postgresql_schemas:
diff --git a/tasks/databases.yml b/tasks/databases.yml
index 8e412236..f1459b8f 100644
--- a/tasks/databases.yml
+++ b/tasks/databases.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     lc_ctype: "{{ item.lc_ctype | default(postgresql_ctype) }}"
     port: "{{postgresql_port}}"
     template: "template0"
-    state: present
+    state: "{{ item.state | default('present') }}"
     login_user: "{{postgresql_admin_user}}"
   become: yes
   become_user: "{{postgresql_admin_user}}"
diff --git a/tasks/users.yml b/tasks/users.yml
index 12e2c9f2..dafe16cb 100644
--- a/tasks/users.yml
+++ b/tasks/users.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     password: "{{ item.pass | default(omit) }}"
     encrypted: "{{ item.encrypted | default(omit) }}"
     port: "{{postgresql_port}}"
-    state: present
+    state: "{{ item.state | default('present') }}"
     login_user: "{{postgresql_admin_user}}"
   no_log: true
   become: yes
diff --git a/tests/docker/group_vars/postgresql.yml b/tests/docker/group_vars/postgresql.yml
index 2949e5cb..d623c72c 100644
--- a/tests/docker/group_vars/postgresql.yml
+++ b/tests/docker/group_vars/postgresql.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ postgresql_databases:
   - name: foobar
     owner: baz
 
+  - name: qux
+    owner: baz
+    state: absent
+
 # NOTE: postgresql >= 10 does not accept unencrypted passwords
 postgresql_users:
   - name: baz
@@ -17,6 +21,9 @@ postgresql_users:
     pass: md51a1dc91c907325c69271ddf0c944bc72
     encrypted: yes
 
+  - name: foo
+    state: absent
+
   - name: zabaz
 
 postgresql_database_schemas:
diff --git a/tests/vars.yml b/tests/vars.yml
index c3163964..171b58d8 100644
--- a/tests/vars.yml
+++ b/tests/vars.yml
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 ---
 
-postgresql_version: 10 
+postgresql_version: 10
 
 postgresql_databases:
   - name: foobar
     owner: baz
 
+  - name: qux
+    owner: baz
+    state: absent
+
 postgresql_users:
 
-  # postgresql >=10 does not accept unencrypted passwords 
+  # postgresql >=10 does not accept unencrypted passwords
   - name: baz
     pass: md51a1dc91c907325c69271ddf0c944bc72
     encrypted: yes
@@ -18,6 +22,9 @@ postgresql_users:
     pass: md51a1dc91c907325c69271ddf0c944bc72
     encrypted: yes
 
+  - name: foo
+    state: absent
+
   - name: zabaz
 
 postgresql_user_privileges: