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Enlistment into the armed forces remains optional for women in many nations; however, mandatory service is becoming more common. This gives a global perspective on females serving in militaries around the world.
Denmark becomes the most recent nation to implement mandatory military service for women. On March 25, Copenhagen declared that females turning 18 after July 1 of this year might be selected through a national draft beginning in January 2026, provided the armed forces do not receive sufficient voluntary enlistments. This policy is being enacted two years ahead of schedule due to increasing geopolitical tensions across Europe.
Approximately 25% of volunteers joining the Danish Armed Forces are women. Currently, mandatory military service, which applies to men and can last from four to twelve months based on individual choices following the initial three months of basic training, remains unchanged.
Pioneers of military equality
In Norway and Sweden, women are also obligated to participate in military service.
Norway has implemented mandatory military service for all citizens since January 2015, whereas Sweden In 2010, conscription was eliminated but reinstated in January 2018 for individuals of both genders who are at least 18 years old. The length of military duty ranges from six to fifteen months. Approximately twenty percent of the armed forces consist of females.
In the Netherlands , conscription also includes women, even though mandatory military service overall was halted in 1997.
Conscription laws in Israel has mandated service of women in the military since 1949, with a duration of two years compared to three for men. In June 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court decided that ultra-Orthodox Jews, who were formerly exempt from this requirement, will now additionally be serving in the military , although this decision affects only men.
A greater number of female recruits in Africa and Asia
Many African nations also draft women into their armed forces. For instance, in the East African country of Eritrea The mandatory military service lasts for 16 months for both males and females.
Women are likewise obligated to serve Chad, Guinea-Bissau , Mali , Mozambique , Cape Verde and Niger .
Women are also subject to conscription in Ivory Coast , even though it is not mandatory.
In Mozambique In 2024, the government announced that mandatory military service might be extended from two to as many as five years.
The Asian countries of Burma , China, East Timor, and North Korea also have conscription.
In North Korea Since 2015, women have been mandated to fulfill military service obligations, with the lowest acceptable age being 17. The duration of this requirement varies based on their educational background, potentially spanning multiple years.
In East Timor In 2020, it was mandated that both men and women aged 18 to 30 must perform military service, which lasts for 18 months. Nevertheless, the specifics of this requirement have yet to be determined.
In China Women between the ages of 18 and 19 who have finished their education and fulfill the criteria for specific military roles are required to undergo mandatory military service.
More women volunteering
In most nations, women still have the option to volunteer for military service. United States In this nation, approximately 200,000 female soldiers make up about 14% of the total military force. Women have been participating in combat roles since 1993. Following that, the country has all military endeavors were opened up to women , including deployment in ground forces and submarines.
In numerous other nations, including the United Kingdom , Belgium , Canada , Spain , France , Poland , Australia , Greece , Turkey , the Czech Republic , Portugal , Bolivia , Japan , South Korea and Germany Additionally, women have the opportunity to embark on a military career if they choose to do so.
In Ukraine In Ukraine, where resistance against Russia’s aggressive actions started with the full-scale invasion in February 2022, mandatory military service does not apply to women. However, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry states that 68,000 women are serving in the armed forces at present. This number represents a 40% increase from last year but constitutes just a small portion of the current 900,000 male personnel on active duty.
Women are likewise battling for Russia In October 2024, the nation established its inaugural all-women volunteer combat squad amidst the conflict with Ukraine. This group, known as the "Night Witches," comprises female drone operators and draws its moniker from a renowned women’s aviation squadron of the Second World War era.
Sources CIA Factbook, World Population Review, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Bolivian Ministry of Defense, War Resisters International, House of Commons Library.
The original version of this article was published in German.
Author: Astrid Prange de Oliveira
