Denmark is set to join the ranks of countries practicing military conscription for both men and women, as it prepares to draft young women who turn 18 after July 1, starting in January 2026, if the volunteer numbers remain insufficient. The decision comes two years earlier than initially planned, reflecting growing geopolitical tensions across Europe.
In Denmark, about 25% of military recruits are women, as reported by the Danish Armed Forces. The compulsory service, already mandatory for men, varies in length from four to 12 months, depending on the individuals’ chosen path after completing a basic three-month training.
Multiple nations have implemented conscription for women, including Norway and Sweden, where the service duration ranges from six to 15 months. Norway has had universal conscription since 2015, while Sweden reinstated conscription in 2018 for both genders after abolishing it in 2010. In these countries, roughly 20% of military personnel are female. The Netherlands also practices conscription for women, albeit with a suspension on compulsory military service since 1997.
Israel has required women to serve in the military since 1949, although for a shorter period than men; however, a recent Supreme Court ruling mandates military service for previously exempt ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Eritrea, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and Niger are among the African states that conscript women, with service periods varying. The requirement is not strictly enforced in the Ivory Coast.
In Mozambique, there is a possibility of extending the selective compulsory service from two to five years. In Asia, countries such as Burma, China, East Timor, and North Korea have conscription. In North Korea, women have been obligated to serve in the military since 2015, with the requisite age starting from 17.
In most countries, women serve in the military on a voluntary basis. The United States, for example, has opened all military roles to women, comprising about 14% of its military personnel. Many other nations, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Spain, France, Poland, Australia, Greece, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Bolivia, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, offer military careers to women who choose to pursue them.
Ukraine, despite its ongoing conflict with Russia, does not mandate military service for women. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that 68,000 women currently serve in the army, representing a 40% increase from 2021 but still a fraction of the 900,000 active-duty male soldiers.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/which-countries-require-military-service-for-women/a-72151079?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
