Reunionperiodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton dela Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Romaniaearthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologicstructure and climate promote landslides
Russiapermafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment todevelopment; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes andearthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods andsummer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of EuropeanRussia
Rwandaperiodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in thenorthwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Saint Helenaactive volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Saint Kitts and Nevishurricanes (July to October)
Saint Luciahurricanes and volcanic activity
Saint Pierre and Miquelonpersistent fog throughout the year can bea maritime hazard
Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshurricanes; Soufriere volcano onthe island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Samoaoccasional typhoons; active volcanism
San MarinoNA
Sao Tome and PrincipeNA
Saudi Arabiafrequent sand and dust storms
Senegallowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Serbia and Montenegrodestructive earthquakes
Seychelleslies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;short droughts possible
Sierra Leonedry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
SingaporeNA
SlovakiaNA
Sloveniaflooding and earthquakes
Solomon Islandstyphoons, but rarely destructive; geologicallyactive region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Somaliarecurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plainsin summer; floods during rainy season
South Africaprolonged droughts
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsthe South SandwichIslands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make themdifficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to activevolcanism
Southern Oceanhuge icebergs with drafts up to several hundredmeters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations andwith large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelffloored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances;high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especiallyMay-October; most of region is remote from sources of search andrescue
Spainperiodic droughts
Spratly Islandstyphoons; serious maritime hazard because ofnumerous reefs and shoals
Sri Lankaoccasional cyclones and tornadoes
Sudandust storms and periodic persistent droughts
SurinameNA
Svalbardice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transitpoint for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make partsof the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Swazilanddrought
Swedenice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulfof Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Switzerlandavalanches, landslides, flash floods
Syriadust storms, sandstorms
Taiwanearthquakes and typhoons
Tajikistanearthquakes and floods
Tanzaniaflooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;drought
Thailandland subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from thedepletion of the water table; droughts
Togohot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north duringwinter; periodic droughts
Tokelaulies in Pacific typhoon belt
Tongacyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activityon Fonuafo'ou
Trinidad and Tobagooutside usual path of hurricanes and othertropical storms
Tromelin IslandNA
TunisiaNA
Turkeyvery severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, alongan arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
TurkmenistanNA
Turks and Caicos Islandsfrequent hurricanes
Tuvalusevere tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, therewere three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitiveto changes in sea level
UgandaNA
UkraineNA
United Arab Emiratesfrequent sand and dust storms
United Kingdomwinter windstorms; floods
United Statestsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity aroundPacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexicocoasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides inCalifornia; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost innorthern Alaska, a major impediment to development
Uruguayseasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly andoccasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentinepampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains,which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularlyvulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts
UzbekistanNA
Vanuatutropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanismcauses minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Venezuelasubject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Vietnamoccasional typhoons (May to January) with extensiveflooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Virgin Islandsseveral hurricanes in recent years; frequent andsevere droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Wake Islandoccasional typhoons
Wallis and FutunaNA
West Bankdroughts
Western Saharahot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occurduring winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% oftime, often severely restricting visibility
Worldlarge areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcaniceruptions)
Yemensandstorms and dust storms in summer
Zambiaperiodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Zimbabwerecurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2022 People - note
Afghanistanof the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3million have returned
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsthe landing of illegal immigrants fromIndonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Christmas Islandthe Australian Bureau of Statistics reports apopulation of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census
Cubaillicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt todepart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, aliensmugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also usenon-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights toMiami and overland via the southwest border
Greecewomen, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greecefor the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
RwandaRwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Turks and Caicos Islandsdestination and transit point for illegalHaitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas,and US
Ukrainethe sex trafficking of Ukrainian women is a serious problemthat has only recently been addressed
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2023 Area - comparative
Afghanistanslightly smaller than Texas
Akrotiriabout 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Albaniaslightly smaller than Maryland
Algeriaslightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
American Samoaslightly larger than Washington, DC
Andorra2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Angolaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Anguillaabout half the size of Washington, DC
Antarcticaslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Antigua and Barbuda2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Arctic Oceanslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Argentinaslightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Armeniaslightly smaller than Maryland
Arubaslightly larger than Washington, DC
Ashmore and Cartier Islands about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Atlantic Oceanslightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
Australiaslightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Austriaslightly smaller than Maine
Azerbaijanslightly smaller than Maine
Bahamas, Theslightly smaller than Connecticut
Bahrain3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Baker Islandabout 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Bangladeshslightly smaller than Iowa
Barbados2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Bassas da Indiaabout one-third the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Belarusslightly smaller than Kansas
Belgiumabout the size of Maryland
Belizeslightly smaller than Massachusetts
Beninslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Bermudaabout one-third the size of Washington, DC
Bhutanabout half the size of Indiana
Boliviaslightly less than three times the size of Montana
Bosnia and Herzegovinaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Botswanaslightly smaller than Texas
Bouvet Islandabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Brazilslightly smaller than the US
British Indian Ocean Territoryabout 0.3 times the size ofWashington, DC
British Virgin Islandsabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Bruneislightly smaller than Delaware
Bulgariaslightly larger than Tennessee
Burkina Fasoslightly larger than Colorado
Burmaslightly smaller than Texas
Burundislightly smaller than Maryland
Cambodiaslightly smaller than Oklahoma
Cameroonslightly larger than California
Canadasomewhat larger than the US
Cape Verdeslightly larger than Rhode Island
Cayman Islands1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Central African Republicslightly smaller than Texas
Chadslightly more than three times the size of California
Chileslightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Chinaslightly smaller than the US
Christmas Islandabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Clipperton Islandabout 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsabout 24 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Colombiaslightly less than three times the size of Montana
Comorosslightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Congo, Democratic Republic of the slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Congo, Republic of theslightly smaller than Montana
Cook Islands1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Coral Sea IslandsNA
Costa Ricaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Cote d'Ivoireslightly larger than New Mexico
Croatiaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Cubaslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Cyprusabout 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Czech Republicslightly smaller than South Carolina
Denmarkslightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Dhekeliaabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Djiboutislightly smaller than Massachusetts
Dominicaslightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Dominican Republicslightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
East Timorslightly larger than Connecticut
Ecuadorslightly smaller than Nevada
Egyptslightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
El Salvadorslightly smaller than Massachusetts
Equatorial Guineaslightly smaller than Maryland
Eritreaslightly larger than Pennsylvania
Estoniaslightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Ethiopiaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Europa Islandabout 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
European Unionless than one-half the size of the US
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)slightly smaller than Connecticut
Faroe Islandseight times the size of Washington, DC
Fijislightly smaller than New Jersey
Finlandslightly smaller than Montana
Franceslightly less than twice the size of Colorado
French Guianaslightly smaller than Indiana
French Polynesiaslightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
French Southern and Antarctic Lands slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Gabonslightly smaller than Colorado
Gambia, Theslightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Gaza Stripslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Georgiaslightly smaller than South Carolina
Germanyslightly smaller than Montana
Ghanaslightly smaller than Oregon
Gibraltarabout 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Glorioso Islandsabout eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Greeceslightly smaller than Alabama
Greenlandslightly more than three times the size of Texas
Grenadatwice the size of Washington, DC
Guadeloupe10 times the size of Washington, DC
Guamthree times the size of Washington, DC
Guatemalaslightly smaller than Tennessee
Guernseyabout one-half the size of Washington, DC
Guineaslightly smaller than Oregon
Guinea-Bissauslightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Guyanaslightly smaller than Idaho
Haitislightly smaller than Maryland
Heard Island and McDonald Islandsslightly more than two times thesize of Washington, DC
Holy See (Vatican City)about 0.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Hondurasslightly larger than Tennessee
Hong Kongsix times the size of Washington, DC
Howland Islandabout three times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Hungaryslightly smaller than Indiana
Icelandslightly smaller than Kentucky
Indiaslightly more than one-third the size of the US
Indian Oceanabout 5.5 times the size of the US
Indonesiaslightly less than three times the size of Texas
Iranslightly larger than Alaska
Iraqslightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Irelandslightly larger than West Virginia
Israelslightly smaller than New Jersey
Italyslightly larger than Arizona
Jamaicaslightly smaller than Connecticut
Jan Mayenslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Japanslightly smaller than California
Jarvis Islandabout eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Jerseyabout two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Johnston Atollabout 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Jordanslightly smaller than Indiana
Juan de Nova Islandabout seven times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Kazakhstanslightly less than four times the size of Texas
Kenyaslightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Kingman Reefabout 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Kiribatifour times the size of Washington, DC
Korea, Northslightly smaller than Mississippi
Korea, Southslightly larger than Indiana
Kuwaitslightly smaller than New Jersey
Kyrgyzstanslightly smaller than South Dakota
Laosslightly larger than Utah
Latviaslightly larger than West Virginia
Lebanonabout 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Lesothoslightly smaller than Maryland
Liberiaslightly larger than Tennessee
Libyaslightly larger than Alaska
Liechtensteinabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Lithuaniaslightly larger than West Virginia
Luxembourgslightly smaller than Rhode Island
Macauabout 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Macedoniaslightly larger than Vermont
Madagascarslightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Malawislightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Malaysiaslightly larger than New Mexico
Maldivesabout 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Malislightly less than twice the size of Texas
Maltaslightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Man, Isle ofslightly more than three times the size of Washington,DC
Marshall Islandsabout the size of Washington, DC
Martiniqueslightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Mauritaniaslightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Mauritiusalmost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Mayotteslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Mexicoslightly less than three times the size of Texas
Micronesia, Federated States offour times the size of Washington,DC (land area only)
Midway Islandsabout nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Moldovaslightly larger than Maryland
Monacoabout three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Mongoliaslightly smaller than Alaska
Montserratabout 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Moroccoslightly larger than California
Mozambiqueslightly less than twice the size of California
Namibiaslightly more than half the size of Alaska
Nauruabout 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Navassa Islandabout nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Nepalslightly larger than Arkansas
Netherlandsslightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Netherlands Antillesmore than five times the size of Washington, DC
New Caledoniaslightly smaller than New Jersey
New Zealandabout the size of Colorado
Nicaraguaslightly smaller than the state of New York
Nigerslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Nigeriaslightly more than twice the size of California
Niue1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norfolk Islandabout 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Northern Mariana Islands2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norwayslightly larger than New Mexico
Omanslightly smaller than Kansas
Pacific Oceanabout 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% ofthe global surface; larger than the total land area of the world
Pakistanslightly less than twice the size of California
Palauslightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Palmyra Atollabout 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Panamaslightly smaller than South Carolina
Papua New Guineaslightly larger than California
Paracel IslandsNA
Paraguayslightly smaller than California
Peruslightly smaller than Alaska
Philippinesslightly larger than Arizona
Pitcairn Islandsabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Polandslightly smaller than New Mexico
Portugalslightly smaller than Indiana
Puerto Ricoslightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Qatarslightly smaller than Connecticut
Reunionslightly smaller than Rhode Island
Romaniaslightly smaller than Oregon
Russiaapproximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Rwandaslightly smaller than Maryland
Saint Helenaslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Saint Kitts and Nevis1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Lucia3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Pierre and Miquelon1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestwice the size of Washington, DC
Samoaslightly smaller than Rhode Island
San Marinoabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Sao Tome and Principemore than five times the size of Washington, DC
Saudi Arabiaslightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Senegalslightly smaller than South Dakota
Serbia and Montenegroslightly smaller than Kentucky
Seychelles2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Sierra Leoneslightly smaller than South Carolina
Singaporeslightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Slovakiaabout twice the size of New Hampshire
Sloveniaslightly smaller than New Jersey
Solomon Islandsslightly smaller than Maryland
Somaliaslightly smaller than Texas
South Africaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsslightly larger thanRhode Island
Southern Oceanslightly more than twice the size of the US
Spainslightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Spratly IslandsNA
Sri Lankaslightly larger than West Virginia
Sudanslightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Surinameslightly larger than Georgia
Svalbardslightly smaller than West Virginia
Swazilandslightly smaller than New Jersey
Swedenslightly larger than California
Switzerlandslightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Syriaslightly larger than North Dakota
Taiwanslightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Tajikistanslightly smaller than Wisconsin
Tanzaniaslightly larger than twice the size of California
Thailandslightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Togoslightly smaller than West Virginia
Tokelauabout 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Tongafour times the size of Washington, DC
Trinidad and Tobagoslightly smaller than Delaware
Tromelin Islandabout 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Tunisiaslightly larger than Georgia
Turkeyslightly larger than Texas
Turkmenistanslightly larger than California
Turks and Caicos Islands2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Tuvalu0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Ugandaslightly smaller than Oregon
Ukraineslightly smaller than Texas
United Arab Emiratesslightly smaller than Maine
United Kingdomslightly smaller than Oregon
United Statesabout half the size of Russia; about three-tenths thesize of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightlylarger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and ahalf times the size of the European Union
Uruguayslightly smaller than the state of Washington
Uzbekistanslightly larger than California
Vanuatuslightly larger than Connecticut
Venezuelaslightly more than twice the size of California
Vietnamslightly larger than New Mexico
Virgin Islandstwice the size of Washington, DC
Wake Islandabout 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Wallis and Futuna1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
West Bankslightly smaller than Delaware
Western Saharaabout the size of Colorado
Worldland area about 16 times the size of the US
Yemenslightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Zambiaslightly larger than Texas
Zimbabweslightly larger than Montana
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)
Afghanistan22 years of age; inductees are contracted into servicefor a 4-year term (2005)
Albania19 years of age (2004)
Algeria19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 18 months (October 2003)
Angola17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)
Antigua and Barbuda18 years of age (est.); no conscript militaryservice (2001)
Argentina18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Armenia18-27 years of age for compulsory military service,conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age forvoluntary military service (May 2004)
Australia16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)
Austria18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years ofage for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsorymilitary service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (June2004)
Azerbaijan18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription agefrom 28 to 35 (December 2001)
Bahamas, The18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Bahrain18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Bangladesh18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2005)
Barbados18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteersat earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Belarus18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 18 months (May 2004)
Belgium16 years of age for voluntary military service; womencomprise some 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
Belize18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allowfor conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscriptionhas never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber availablepositions by 3:1 (2001)
Benin21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexesare eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18months (2004)
Bhutan18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Bolivia18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annualnumber of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment iseffected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; oneestimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18,with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12months (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina18 years of age for compulsory militaryservice in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of agein times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years ofage for voluntary military service in the Federation and in theRepublika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy menbetween the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18and 55; service obligation is 4 months (July 2004)
Botswana18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; theofficial qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown(2001)
Brazil19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 17 years of age for voluntaryservice (2001)
Brunei18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Bulgaria18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 9 months (2004)
Burkina Faso18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Burma18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes(May 2002)
Burundi16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice (2001)
Cambodia18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for allmales; conscription law passed September 2004; service obligation is18 months (September 2004)
Cameroon18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (1999)
Canada16 years of age for voluntary military service; womencomprise some 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)
Central African Republic18 years of age for voluntary andcompulsory military service; conscript service obligation is twoyears (2005)
Chad20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation;18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction forvolunteers with consent from a guardian (2004)
Chile18 years of age for compulsory military service; all citizens18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript serviceobligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force(2004)
China18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service;17 years of age for women who meet requirements for specificmilitary jobs (2004)
Colombia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Congo, Republic of the18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice (2001)
Costa Rica18 years of age (2004)
Cote d'Ivoire18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Croatia18 years of age for compulsory military service, with6-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent forvoluntary service; Croatian Military Police planning to endconscription in 2005 (December 2004)
Cuba17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service(2004)
Cyprus18 years of age (2004)
Czech Republic18-50 years of age for voluntary military service;military service transformed into a fully professional,all-volunteer force no longer dependent on conscription beginning inJanuary 2004 (2005)
Denmark18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer militaryservice; conscripts serve an initial training period that variesfrom 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists areassigned to mobilization units following completion of theirconscript service (2004)
Djibouti18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Dominican Republic 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
East Timor18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Ecuador20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-monthservice obligation (2004)
Egypt18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year serviceobligation (2001)
El Salvador18 years of age for compulsory military service, with12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Equatorial Guinea18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Eritrea18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)
Estonia18 years of age for compulsory military service, with11-month service obligation; Estonia has committed to retainingconscription for men and women up to 2010; 17 years of age forvolunteers (2004)
Ethiopia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice (2001)
Fiji18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Finland18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory militaryservice (October 2004)
France17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service(2001)
Gabon18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service(2001)
Gambia, The18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Georgia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Germany18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour ofcompulsory military service) (2004)
Ghana18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service(2001)
Greece18 years of age for compulsory military service; duringwartime the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of theyear of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12months for the Army and Air Force, 15 months for Navy (2005)
Guatemala18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Guinea18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years (2004)
Guinea-Bissau18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Haiti18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the policeforce (2001)
Honduras18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service(2004)
Hong Kong18 years of age (2004)
Hungary18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionabolished in June 2004 (June 2004)
India16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Indonesia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2002)
Iran18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years ofage for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruitedextensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation -18 months (2004)
Iraq18 years of age; the Iraqi Interim Government is creating a newprofessional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defendIraq from external threats and the current insurgency (2004)
Ireland17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlisteesunder the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)
Israel17 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes areeligible for military service; conscript service obligation - 36months for men, 21 months for women (2004)
Italy18 years of age (2004)
Jamaica18 years of age for voluntary military service; youngerrecruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)
Japan18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Jordan17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionat age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 arerequired to register (2004)
Kazakhstan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteersNA (2004)
Kenya18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Korea, North17 years of age (2004)
Korea, South20-30 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on themilitary branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissionedofficers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry;excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2005)
Kuwait18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service(2001)
Kyrgyzstan18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Laos15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Latvia19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers;Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to anall-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)
Lebanon18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Lesotho18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Liberia18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Libya17 years of age (2004)
Lithuania19-45 years of age for compulsory military service,conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age forvolunteers (2004)
Luxembourga 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 yearsof age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are notdeployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)
Macedoniaconscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour ofconscript duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice (January 2005)
Madagascar18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18months (2004)
Malawi18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Malaysia18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Maldives18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Mali18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Malta18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Mauritania18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service inAir Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)
Mexico18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent forvoluntary enlistment (2004)
Moldova18 years of age for compulsory military service; nationalservice obligation - 12 months (2004)
Mongolia18-25 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Morocco18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Namibia18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Nepal18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Netherlands20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Netherlands Antilles16 years of age for military recruitment; noconscription (July 2002)
New Zealand17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldierscannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Nicaragua17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Niger18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years (2004)
Nigeria18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Norway18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years ofage in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of agefor women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard;conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Oman18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Pakistan16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldierscannot be deployed for combat until age of 18 (2001)
Papua New Guinea18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Paraguay18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24months for Navy (2004)
Peru18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)
Philippines18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice (2001)
Poland17 years of age for compulsory military service after January1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntarymilitary service; in 2005 Poland plans to shorten the length ofconscript service obligation from 12 to 9 months; by 2008, planscall for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; onlysoldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed tovolunteer for professional service; as of April 2004 women are onlyallowed to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers (April2004)
Portugal18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsorymilitary service was ended in 2004 (January 2005)
Qatar18 years of age for voluntary military service; Land Force'senlisted personnel are largely nonprofessional foreign nationals(2005)
Reunion18 years of age (2004)
Romania20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 inwartime; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of agefor voluntary military service (2004)
Russia18-27 years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17years of age; 200,000 conscripts were inducted into the armed forcesin 2003; length of compulsory military service is 2 years; plans asof August 2004 call for reduction in mandatory service to 1 year by2008; 2003 planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose 70% ofarmed forces by 2010, with the remaining servicemen consisting ofconscripts (August 2004)
Rwanda16 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Sao Tome and Principe18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Saudi Arabia18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Senegal18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Serbia and Montenegro19 years of age (nine months compulsoryservice) (2004)
Seychelles18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Sierra Leone18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Singapore18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 yearsof age for volunteers; conscript service obligation reduced to 24months beginning December 2004 (December 2004)
Slovakiacomplete transition to an all-volunteer professional forceis planned for 1 January 2007; 82% of Slovak armed forces werevolunteers as of January 2005; volunteers include women, withminimum age of 17 years; 18 years of age for compulsory militaryservice (January 2005)
Slovenia17 years of age for voluntary military service;conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)
Somalia18 years of age (est.) (2001)
South Africa18 years of age for voluntary military service; womenhave a long history of military service in non-combat roles - datingback to World War I (2004)
Spain20 years of age (2004)
Sri Lanka18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Sudan18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 3 years (August 2004)
Suriname18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Swaziland18 years of age for voluntary military service; both sexesare eligible for military service (2005)
Sweden19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; aftercompleting initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment untilthe age of 47 (2004)
Switzerlandthe Swiss Confederation states that "every Swiss male isobligated to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve forat least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age forcompulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary militaryservice; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training,followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis, but are not drafted(2005)
Syria18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 30 months (2004)
Taiwan19-40 years of age for military service (being lowered to 35years of age in July 2005); service obligation 22 months (beingshortened to 18 months in July 2005 and 12 months in 2008) (2005)
Tajikistan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Tanzania15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years ofage for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondaryschool; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Thailand21 years of age for compulsory military service; males areregistered at 18 years of age; conscript service obliation - 2years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Togo18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service(2001)
Tonga18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Trinidad and Tobago18 years of age for voluntary military service;no conscription (2001)
Tunisia20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntarymilitary service (2004)
Turkey20 years of age (2004)
Turkmenistan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Uganda18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty;the government has stated that recruitment below that age couldoccur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent ageof 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"
Ukraine18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and AirForce, 24 months for Navy (2004)