Conscription, or drafting, is a compulsory enrollment of people in a military service. The modern system of near-universal national conscription for young men dates to the French Revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very large and powerful military. Most European nations later copied the system in peacetime.As of the early 21st century, many states no longer conscript soldiers, relying instead upon professional militaries with volunteers enlisted to meet the demand for troops. Many states that have abolished conscription still reserve the power to resume it during wartime or times of crisis.Sweden had a military system entirely based on a Universal National Military Service called Allmän Värnplikt (Universal Conscription) between 1901 and 2010. However, which other European countries has used conscription or still do?
Conscription by Country - Europe
Below is a selection of European countries.
Belgium
Conscription was abolished as of 1 January 1994 in favor of professional militaries.
Denmark
Denmark has a conscription system for men, but it is not universal. Most conscripts serve for 9 months. About 30% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. However, almost all of the recruits have been volunteers in recent years.
Finland
Finland has a universal conscription system for men. About 80% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. This is the largest percentage in Europe.
France
Conscription in France was suspended for peacetime in 2001 in favor of professional militaries.
Germany
Conscription in Germany was suspended for peacetime in 2011 in favor of professional militaries.
Ireland
Ireland has never used conscription. The country has professional militaries.
Italy
Conscription in Italy was suspended for peacetime in 2005 in favor of professional militaries.
Netherlands
Conscription in the Netherlands was suspended for peacetime in 1997 in favor of professional militaries.
Norway
Norway has an universal conscription system for men. About 15% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. Most conscripts serve for 12 months. From 2017 women will also be drafted.
Poland
Poland has an universal conscription system for men. About 20% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training.
Russia
Russia has an universal conscription system for men. About 11% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. Students serve for 12 months, all others 24 months.
Spain
Conscription was abolished as of 31 December 2001 in favor of professional militaries.
Sweden
Sweden had a universal conscription system for men between 1901 and 2010. However, conscription in Sweden was suspended for peacetime in 2010 in favor of professional militaries. From 2014 former conscripts and volunteers may now be called up for refresher courses.In 2017 the Swedish Government reactivated the Conscription System as a reinforcement to the professional militaries.The new conscription system includes both men and women. Women have since the 1980s been able to voluntarily do military service in the Conscription System; to make careers as officers and to serve in any type of units, including combat units. In the new reactivated Conscription System in 2017 the duty to do compulsory military service also includes women.
Switzerland
Switzerland has a universal conscription system for men. About 33% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training.
United Kingdom
The UK has professional militaries. However, conscription was used between 1916 - 1919 and 1939 - 1960. The conscription system was called National Service.
Non-European countries
USA
The USA has professional militaries. Draft was abandoned in 1973 under President Nixon. However, in 1980, President Carter reinstated a requirement that men register with the U.S. Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. A selective draft was used in the US between 1862 - 1865, 1917 - 1919 and 1940 - 1973.
Canada
The country has professional militaries.
Australia
Australia has never used conscription. The country has professional militaries.
Conscription, or drafting, is a compulsory enrollment of people in a military service. The modern system of near-universal national conscription for young men dates to the French Revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very large and powerful military. Most European nations later copied the system in peacetime.As of the early 21st century, many states no longer conscript soldiers, relying instead upon professional militaries with volunteers enlisted to meet the demand for troops. Many states that have abolished conscription still reserve the power to resume it during wartime or times of crisis.Sweden had a military system entirely based on a Universal National Military Service called Allmän Värnplikt (Universal Conscription) between 1901 and 2010. However, which other European countries has used conscription or still do?
Conscription by Country - Europe
Below is a selection of European countries.
Belgium
Conscription was abolished as of 1 January 1994 in favor of professional militaries.
Denmark
Denmark has a conscription system for men, but it is not universal. Most conscripts serve for 9 months. About 30% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. However, almost all of the recruits have been volunteers in recent years.
Finland
Finland has a universal conscription system for men. About 80% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. This is the largest percentage in Europe.
France
Conscription in France was suspended for peacetime in 2001 in favor of professional militaries.
Germany
Conscription in Germany was suspended for peacetime in 2011 in favor of professional militaries.
Ireland
Ireland has never used conscription. The country has professional militaries.
Italy
Conscription in Italy was suspended for peacetime in 2005 in favor of professional militaries.
Netherlands
Conscription in the Netherlands was suspended for peacetime in 1997 in favor of professional militaries.
Norway
Norway has an universal conscription system for men. About 15% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. Most conscripts serve for 12 months. From 2017 women will also be drafted.
Poland
Poland has an universal conscription system for men. About 20% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training.
Russia
Russia has an universal conscription system for men. About 11% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training. Students serve for 12 months, all others 24 months.
Spain
Conscription was abolished as of 31 December 2001 in favor of professional militaries.
Sweden
Sweden had a universal conscription system for men between 1901 and 2010. However, conscription in Sweden was suspended for peacetime in 2010 in favor of professional militaries. From 2014 former conscripts and volunteers may now be called up for refresher courses.In 2017 the Swedish Government reactivated the Conscription System as a reinforcement to the professional militaries.The new conscription system includes both men and women. Women have since the 1980s been able to voluntarily do military service in the Conscription System; to make careers as officers and to serve in any type of units, including combat units. In the new reactivated Conscription System in 2017 the duty to do compulsory military service also includes women.
Switzerland
Switzerland has a universal conscription system for men. About 33% of the annual age-group are called up for the basic training.
United Kingdom
The UK has professional militaries. However, conscription was used between 1916 - 1919 and 1939 - 1960. The conscription system was called National Service.
Non-European countries
USA
The USA has professional militaries. Draft was abandoned in 1973 under President Nixon. However, in 1980, President Carter reinstated a requirement that men register with the U.S. Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday. A selective draft was used in the US between 1862 - 1865, 1917 - 1919 and 1940 - 1973.
Canada
The country has professional militaries.
Australia
Australia has never used conscription. The country has professional militaries.
