Country rankings

Countries with Mandatory Military Service

Countries with Mandatory Military Service: compare 179 countries on 2 metrics.

LawMilitary179 countries · 2 metricsUpdated Apr 18, 2024Original page
3 sources

Mandatory Military Service

5 values across 179 entries

Data

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179 countries
AfghanistanNoService is voluntary; there is no conscription (2023)
AlbaniaNoConscription abolished 2010
AlgeriaYes12 months for males aged 19-30
AngolaYes24 months for males aged 20-45
Antigua and BarbudaNoNo conscription
ArgentinaDe jureConscription suspended in 1995, but government has authority to draft citizens into service Argentinians can still be drafted in times of crisis, national emergency, war, or if necessary to keep the military functional
ArmeniaYes24 months for males 18-27. If enrolled in officer-producing program at university, can defer service until after graduation and serve as an officer
AustraliaNoConscription abolished 1973
AustriaYes6 months military service or 9 months alternative civil/community service for males 18 to 50 years old; reserves are subject to additional compulsory service
AzerbaijanYes18 months for men 18-25 (12 months for university graduates)
BahamasNoNo conscription
BahrainNoNo conscription
BangladeshNoNo conscription
BarbadosNoNo conscription
BelarusYes12-18 months military service or 24-36 months alternative service for males aged 18-27; duration depends upon academic qualifications.
BelgiumNoConscription abolished 1995
BelizeDe jureLaw authorizes conscription if necessary, but as volunteers outnumber available positions 3:1, it has never been implemented
BeninYes18 months selective compulsory service for males and females aged 18-35; higher education degree required
BermudaNoNo conscription
BhutanYesMilitary training required for males 20-25, but full enlistment is voluntary
BoliviaYes12 months military service or 24 months Search and Rescue for males aged 18-22
Bosnia and HerzegovinaNoConscription abolished 2005
BotswanaNoNo conscription
BrazilYes10-12 months for males aged 18-45
BruneiNoNo conscription
BulgariaNoConscription ended 2007
Burkina FasoNoNo conscription
BurundiNoNo conscription
CambodiaYes18 months for males aged 18-30
CameroonNoNo conscription
CanadaNoNo conscription
Cape VerdeYes24 months selective compulsory for males and females 18-35
Central African RepublicDe jureThe constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country
ChadYes36 months for males age 20, 12 months for females age 21 (females can opt for civic service)
ChileInfrequent12 months (Army) to 22 months (Navy, Air Force) selective compulsory service for males 18-45 — But in practice, conscriptions occur only if too few volunteers enlist.
ChinaDe jureDe jure system (legally recognized, but not practiced). 24 months for males aged 18-22 — However, complusory recruitment has never been required
ColombiaYes18 months for males aged 18-24
ComorosNoNo conscription
CroatiaNoConscription abolished 2008, but slated to be reinstated in 2025
CubaYes24 months for males aged 17-28
CuracaoNoNo conscription
CyprusYes14 months in Cypriot National Guard (CNG) for males aged 18-50
CzechiaNoConscription abolished 2004
DenmarkYes4-12 months training required for men at age 18. No immediate service required, but soldier remains eligible for further conscription until age 50
DjiboutiNoNo conscription
Dominican RepublicNoNo conscription
DR CongoYesLaw authorizes conscription of citizens aged 18-45 if necessary; degree of implementation is unclear
EcuadorNoConscription suspended
EgyptYes18-36 months for males 18-30, who then become reserves for 9 years
El SalvadorYes12 months (11 for officers and non-commissioned officers) selective compulsory service for males at age 18
Equatorial GuineaYes24 months selective compulsory for males at age 18, though conscription is rare in practice.
EritreaYes6 months training and 12 months national service (typically military) for males aged 18-40 and females aged 18-27. Service obligation may be (and often is) extended indefinitely
EstoniaYes8-11 months military or government service for males 18-27; duration depends on education, with NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serving11 months
EswatiniNoNo conscription
EthiopiaDe jureNo ongoing compulsory military service, but the military may conduct compulsory callups when necessary
FijiNoNo conscription
FinlandYes6-12 months military or border guard service for males at age 18, after which they become reserves until age 60
FranceNoConscription abolished 2001
GabonNoNo conscription
GambiaNoNo conscription
GeorgiaYes11 months for males aged 18-27
GermanyNoConscription ended 2011
GhanaNoNo conscription
GreeceYes9 months (Air Force, Navy) to 12 months (Army) for males aged 19-45
GuatemalaYes12-24 months selective conscription service for males aged 17-21, though conscription is rare in practice.
GuineaNoNo conscription
Guinea-BissauYes24 months selective compulsory service for males and females aged 18-25
GuyanaNoNo conscription
HaitiNoNo conscription
HondurasNoNo conscription
HungaryNoConscription abolished 2005
IndiaNoNo conscription
IndonesiaDe jureSelective conscription is authorized, but not currently utilized. Obligation is 18-24 months for males at age 18.
IranYes18-24 months for males at age 18
IraqNoNo conscription
IrelandNoNo conscription
IsraelYes32 months for men and 24 months for women (varies based on military occupation), 48 months for officers, 9 years for pilots; once finished, soldiers enter reserves until age 41-51 (men) or 24 (women)
ItalyNoConscription abolished 2004
Ivory CoastDe jureSelective conscription of males and females aged 18-25 is authorized, but is not currently enforced.
JamaicaNoNo conscription
JapanNoNo conscription
JordanYes12 months for unemployed males 25-29; obligation consists of 3 months military training and 9 months of professional and technical training
KazakhstanYes12-24 months for males aged 18-27
KenyaNoNo conscription
KuwaitYes12 months for males aged 18-35
KyrgyzstanYes9 months (university graduates) to 12 months military or Interior Ministry service for males aged 18-27; after which they can become paid reserves for 3 years
LaosYes18 months for males at age 18
LatviaYesConscription reintroduced in 2024.18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12 months mandatory military service for men 18-27 years of age
LebanonNoNo conscription
LesothoNoNo conscription
LiberiaNoNo conscription
LibyaNoNo conscription
LithuaniaYes9 months for males aged 19-26
LuxembourgNoNo conscription
MadagascarNoNo conscription
MalawiNoNo conscription
MalaysiaNoNo conscription
MaldivesNoNo conscription
MaliYes24 months selective compulsory for males and females at age 18
MaltaNoNo conscription
MauritaniaNoNo conscription
MauritiusNoNo conscription
MexicoYes12 months for lottery-selected males at age 18; after which they become reserves until age 40
MoldovaYes12 months for males aged 18-27 - may be abolished soon
MongoliaYes12 months Army, Air Force, or police service or 24 months civil service for males aged 18-27; after which they become reserves until age 45
MontenegroNoConscription abolished 2006
MoroccoYes12 months for males and females at aged 19-25
MozambiqueYes60 months for males and females aged 18-35
MyanmarDe jureLaw reintroducing conscription passed in 2010, but has not yet entered into force
NamibiaNoNo conscription
NepalNoNo conscription
NetherlandsNoConscription abolished 1997
New ZealandNoNo conscription
NicaraguaNoNo conscription
NigerYes24 months selective compulsory service in military (females may also serve in health care) for unmarried males and females at age 18; reportedly not always enforced
NigeriaNoNo conscription
North KoreaYes8 years (males) to 5 years (females) military service at age 17
North MacedoniaNoConscription abolished 2007
NorwayYes19 months (12 months plus 4-5 refreshers) for males and females aged 19-44 (18-55 in wartime). However, more than 80% are released from service.
OmanNoNo conscription
PakistanNoNo conscription
Papua New GuineaNoNo conscription
ParaguayYes12 months (Army) to 24 months (Navy) for males at age 18
PeruNoNo conscription
PhilippinesNoNo conscription
PolandDe jureDe jure system. Not used since 2009, but the president may, at the advice of the legislature, introduce compulsory military service. Conscription is prepped, if not practiced: Every adult male must go to a "military qualification" where his fitness for service is determined an…
PortugalDe jureCompulsory service abolished 2004. Conscription authorized, but is not currently enforced.
QatarYes4-12 months (depending upon education and profession) for males 18-35
Republic of the CongoNoNo conscription
RomaniaNoConscription ended 2006
RussiaYes12 months for males 18-30, after which they become reserves until age 50. May end conscription in near future.
RwandaNoNo conscription
Saint Kitts and NevisNoNo conscription
Saint LuciaNoNo conscription
San MarinoDe jureNo organized conscription, but government has the authority to call up all citizens aged 16-60 to serve in the military under special circumstances.
Sao Tome and PrincipeDe jure[Limited information] Conscription authorized for citizens at age 18, but is apparently unenforced.
Saudi ArabiaNoNo conscription
SenegalYes24 months selective compulsory service for males (and possibly females) at age 20
SerbiaNoConscription abolished 2011
SeychellesNoNo conscription
Sierra LeoneNoNo conscription
SingaporeYes24 months for males 18-21, who then become reserves until age 40 (enlisted) or 50 (officers)
SlovakiaDe jureConscription in peacetime suspended in 2004
SloveniaNoConscription abolished in 2003, but could be reinstated in event of war
SomaliaDe jureConscription of males aged 18-40 and females aged 18-30 is authorized, but is not currently enforced
South AfricaNoNo conscription
South KoreaYes18 months (Army), 20 months (Navy) or 21 months (Air Force) for males 18-35
South SudanYes12-24 months for citizens (gender requirements unclear) at age 18
SpainDe jureConscription abolished 2001, but government has right to mobilize citizens aged 19-25 years in case of national emergency
Sri LankaNoNo conscription
SudanYes12-24 months for males and females 18-33
SurinameNoNo conscription
SwedenYes7-15 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), or 8-12 months (Air Force) for males and females aged 18-47, after which they become reserves until age 47. However, only a portion of those who register are selected for service
SwitzerlandYes245 days (18 weeks) training for males 18-30, followed by six 19-day recalls over next 10 years
SyriaNoNo conscription after the fall of the ASAS regime in December 2024
TaiwanYes12 months military training for males aged 18-36 (civil service can be substituted in some cases), plus up to four 20-day training recalls over next 8 years.
TajikistanYes24 months for males aged 18-27; an exemption can be purchased for US$2,200 as of 2021
TanzaniaUncertainNo military conscription, but selective conscription for 24 months public service is authorized. Current enforcement levels are unclear
ThailandYes24 months for lottery-chosen males at age 21
Timor-LesteYesAll Timorese citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions.
TogoNoNo conscription
TongaNoNo conscription
Trinidad and TobagoNoNo conscription
TunisiaYes12 months for ages 20-35 (gender requirements unclear)
TurkeyYes6-12 months for males at age 20 (6 months for privates and non-commissioned officers and 12 months for reserve officers); an exemption can be purchased after 1 month of training for 31,000 Lira (approx US$3115) as of 2019
TurkmenistanYes24 months (30 months for Navy) for males aged 18-37
UgandaNoNo conscription
UkraineYes12 months for males aged 25; conscripts cannot serve on front lines. Conscription may be abolished in the near future
United Arab EmiratesYes36 months (11 months for secondary school graduates) for males aged 18-30
United KingdomNoConscription abolished 1963
United StatesDe jureDe jure system. No conscription currently active, but Selective Service retains right to randomly "draft" males aged 18-25 in time of need.
UruguayDe jureNo military conscription currently active, but government has the authority to conscript in emergencies.
UzbekistanYes12 months for males aged 18-27; shortened (1-month) term can be purchased and requires remaining in reserves until age 27
Vatican CityNoNo conscription
VenezuelaYes"Forcible recruitment" forbidden, but all citizens aged 18-50 must register for possible military training and service. Those who refuse forfeit many government benefits, including right to obtain driver's license and attend university.
VietnamYes24-36 months for males 18-27 (females eligible, but are not drafted)
YemenNoConscription abolished 2001
ZambiaNoNo conscription
ZimbabweNoNo conscription

Quick answers

Where does this countries with mandatory military service data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Military Service Age and Obligation - CIA World Factbook; Fewer than a third of countries currently have a military draft - Pew Research 2019; Summary of Military Service Around the World - Wiki.

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