Denmark will introduce compulsory military service for women for the first time, marking a significant change in the Scandinavian country’s defence policy. The measure is aimed at increasing the number of young people in the armed forces by extending a requirement that previously applied only to men.
This change means that although both men and women can still volunteer for service, the remaining places will be filled through a gender-neutral lottery. Until now, women could only join the Danish armed forces on a voluntary basis.
This policy was adopted after 20-year-old Katrine, a female soldier, recently completed her final military training near the Danish army barracks in Hovelt, 25 kilometres north of Copenhagen. After nearly four months of intensive training, Katrine and her unit, their faces smeared with camouflage paint, were spotted scanning the horizon for threats in a dense forest.
Katrine and other female soldiers, who spoke to the Associated Press on June 11 on condition of anonymity for operational security reasons, joined the army earlier this year. Denmark’s reforms to ensure gender equality were originally planned for 2024 as part of a major defence agreement.
The programme was originally scheduled to be implemented by early 2027 but was moved up to summer 2025. Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription programme, told the AP that the move was based on “the current security situation.” Denmark, with a population of 6 million, has about 9,000 professional military personnel.
The new system is expected to increase the number of conscripts to 6,500 per year by 2033, up from 4,700 last year. Under Danish law, all physically fit men over the age of 18 are called up for military service. But since there are usually enough volunteers, there’s a lottery system, so not all young men serve in the army. Women, on the other hand, could previously only serve if they wanted to and made up about a quarter of conscripts in 2024.
Women are also required to perform military service in Norway and Sweden. In Norway, universal military service was introduced in January 2015. In Sweden, conscription was abolished in 2010 but reintroduced in January 2018 and now applies to both men and women from the age of 18. The term of service is between six and fifteen months. Women make up approximately 20 per cent of all military personnel.
In the Netherlands, conscription legislation also applies to women, but compulsory service was suspended in 1997.
Middle East
In Israel, military service has been compulsory for women since 1949. Women serve for two years, while men serve for three. In June 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox Jews, who were previously exempt from this duty, will now also be called up for military service. This decision currently only applies to men.
Africa
Many African countries also have compulsory military service for women. In Eritrea (East Africa), compulsory service lasts 16 months and is the same for both sexes. Women are also subject to conscription in Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Niger.
In Côte d’Ivoire, such a rule also exists, but it is not actually enforced. In Mozambique, the authorities announced in 2024 that selective compulsory service could be extended from two to five years.
Asia
Among Asian countries, compulsory conscription of women exists in Myanmar (Burma), China, East Timor and North Korea.
In North Korea, women have been required to serve since 2015. The minimum age for conscription is 17. Depending on the level of education, service can last several years.
In East Timor, a law on conscription for men and women aged 18 to 30 has been in force since 2020. The term of service is 18 months, but it is not yet clear how this law will be implemented.
In China, conscription for women applies to those aged 18–19 who have completed school and meet the requirements for certain military specialities.
Voluntary service
In most countries, military service for women remains voluntary.
In the United States, where women make up about 14 per cent of all military personnel (approximately 200,000 people), they have been able to serve in combat units since 1993. Since then, all areas of service have been open to women, including the Army and Navy.
In a number of other countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Spain, France, Poland, Australia, Greece, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Bolivia, Japan, South Korea and Germany, military careers are also open to women who wish to serve.
