Military Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2021-01-11

Conscription in Other Countries

Introduction

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.

Israel

Israel has a universal conscription system for men and women. Most conscripts serve for 22 months. Related Links The Organization of the Swedish Armed Forces during the Conscription Period 1901 - 2010 Conscription in Sweden Research of Conscripts/Draftees, Sweden

Source References

Wikipedia Top of page
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Military Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2021-01-11

Conscription in Other

Countries

Introduction

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.

Israel

Israel has a universal conscription system for men and women. Most conscripts serve for 22 months. Related Links The Organization of the Swedish Armed Forces during the Conscription Period 1901 - 2010 Conscription in Sweden Research of Conscripts/Draftees, Sweden

Source References

Wikipedia Top of page