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
Iles EparsesBassas da India: land area about one-third the size ofThe Mall in Washington, DCEuropa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DCGlorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCJuan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCTromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
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
Isle of Manslightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
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
Macauless than one-sixth 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
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
Montenegroslightly smaller than Connecticut
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
Serbiaslightly larger than South Carolina
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
United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: abouttwo and a half times the size of The Mall in Washington, DCHowland Island: about three times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCJarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,DCJohnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCKingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size ofThe Mall in Washington, DCMidway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,DCPalmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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 19 December, 2006
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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 (6 months basic training,12 months civil projects) (2006)
Angola17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - two 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 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service,conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age forvoluntary military service (2004)
Australia16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed toserve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (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 eight months to six(2005)
Azerbaijanmen between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18years of age for voluntary military service; length of militaryservice is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
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 (2005)
Belgium16 years of age for voluntary military service; womencomprise approx. 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 four months (July 2004)
Botswana18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; theofficial qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown(2001)
Brazil21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age forvoluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to servein the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Armybecame the first army in South America to accept women into careerranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's ReserveCorps (2001)
Brunei18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Bulgaria18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006,67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers;conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and AirDefense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional byend of 2006 (2006)
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(2004)
Burundi16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice (2001)
Cambodiaconscription law made effective in October 2006 requiresall males between 18-30 to register for military service; serviceobligation is 18 months (2006)
Cameroon18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (1999)
Canada16 years of age for voluntary military service; womencomprise approximately 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 three-year serviceobligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum agerestriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women aresubject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at ageof 21 (2004)
Chileall male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24months 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(all officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meetrequirements for specific military jobs (2006)
Colombia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the18-45 years of age for militaryservice
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, withsix-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent forvoluntary service (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;on-going transformation of military service into a fullyprofessional, all-volunteer force no longer dependent onconscription began in January 2004 and is scheduled to be completedby 2007 (2005)
Denmark18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer militaryservice; conscripts serve an initial training period that variesfrom four to 12 months according to specialization; reservists areassigned to mobilization units following completion of theirconscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military 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; three-yearservice obligation (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)
Estoniacompulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoonleaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have adifferent conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed toretaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia andLithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60(2006)
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 for voluntary military service; conscriptionended in the 1990s; women serve in non-combat military posts (2001)
Gabon18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service(2001)
Gambia, The18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Georgia18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary activeduty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months(2005)
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 beginning January of the yearof inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 yearsof age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months forthe Army, Air Force; 15 months for Navy; women are eligible formilitary service (2005)
Guatemalaall male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liablefor military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to24 months (2005)
Guinea18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 24 months (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 two-three year militaryservice (2004)
Hong Kong18 years of age (2004)
Hungary18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionabolished in June 2004 (2004)
India16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Indonesia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - two 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)
Iraqall volunteer force; the Iraqi Government is creating a newprofessional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defendIraq from external threats and the current insurgency (2006)
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)
Italyvoluntary military service; conscription abolished January2005 (2006)
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; women not subject to conscription, but canvolunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Kazakhstan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - two 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,but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps(2005)
Kuwait18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have served inpolice forces since 1999 (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;plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to anall-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen isentitled to serve in the armed forces for life (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 six months; 18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice (2005)
Madagascar18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18months (either military or equivalent civil service) (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 - two years (2004)
Malta18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2001)
Mauritania18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation -two years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; servicein Air 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 in land or air defenseforces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5percent) is comprised of contract soldiers (2004)
Montenegrocompulsory national military service abolished August 2006
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 National Guard recruitment;no conscription (2004)
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 - two years (2004)
Nigeria18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)
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; the Pakistani AirForce has inducted its first female combat pilot (2006)
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 noncommissioned officers (2004)
Portugal18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsorymilitary service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces,on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in somecombatant specialties (2005)
Qatar18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forcesenlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals(2005)
Reunion18 years of age (2004)
Romaniaall military inductees (including women) are volunteers whocontract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequentvoluntary service contracts are for successive three-year termsuntil the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is18 (2006)
RussiaRussia has adopted a mixed conscript-contract force; 18-27years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;length of compulsory military service is two years; plans call forreduction in mandatory service to 18 months in 2007 and to one yearby 2008; 30% of Russian army personnel were contract servicemen atthe end of 2005; planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose70% of armed forces by 2010, with the remaining servicemenconsisting of conscripts; as of November 2006, the Armed Forces hadmore than 60 units manned with contract personnel totalling over78,000 contract privates and sergeants; 88 Ministry of Defense unitshave been designated as permanent readiness units and are expectedto become all-volunteer by end 2007; these include most air force,naval, and nuclear arms units, as well as all airborne and navalinfantry units, most motorized rifle brigades, and all specialforces detachments (2006)
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 - two years (2004)
Serbiapeacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts untilage 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or impendingwar, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60(2006)
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 (2004)
Slovakiacomplete transition to an all-volunteer professional forcewent into effect at the beginning of 2006 after 140 years ofmandatory army service; volunteers include women, with minimum ageof 17 years (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 noncombat 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 - three years (August 2004)
Suriname18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Swaziland18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; bothsexes are 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 untilage of 47 (2004)
Switzerlandthe Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male isobliged 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 (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Taiwan19-35 years of age for military service; service obligation16 months (to be shortened to 12 months in 2008); women in Air Forceservice are restricted to noncombat roles (2005)
Tajikistan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Tanzania15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years ofage for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondaryschool; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Thailand21 years of age for compulsory military service; males areregistered at 18 years of age; conscript service obligation - twoyears; 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 - two 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"
Ukraine18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and AirForce, 24 months for Navy (2004)
United Arab Emirates18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
United Kingdom16 years of age for voluntary military service; womenserve in military services, but are excluded from ground combatpositions and some naval postings (2004)
United States18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parentalconsent (2006)
Uruguay18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory militaryservice (2001)
Uzbekistan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Venezuela18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Vietnam18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years ofage (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or SelfDefense Forces (2006)
Yemenin May 2001, Yemen's National Defense Council abolishedcompulsory military service and authorized a voluntary program formilitary service (2004)
Zambia18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Zimbabwe18 years of age (est.) (2004)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@2025 Manpower fit for military service
Afghanistanmales age 22-49: 2,662,946females age 22-49: 2,508,574 (2005 est.)
Albaniamales age 19-49: 668,526females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)
Algeriamales age 19-49: 6,590,079females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)
Andorramales age 18-49: 14,721 (2005 est.)
Angolamales age 17-49: 1,282,195females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
Anguillamales age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)
Antigua and Barbudamales age 18-49: 14,859females age 18-49: 14,947 (2005 est.)
Argentinamales age 18-49: 7,316,038females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)
Armeniamales age 18-49: 551,938females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)
Arubamales age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)
Australiamales age 16-49: 4,092,717females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)
Austriamales age 18-49: 1,550,441females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)
Azerbaijanmales age 18-49: 1,314,955females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)
Bahamas, Themales age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)
Bahrainmales age 18-49: 161,372females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)
Bangladeshmales age 18-49: 26,841,255 (2005 est.)
Barbadosmales age 18-49: 54,510females age 18-49: 54,889 (2005 est.)
Belarusmales age 18-49: 1,657,984females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)
Belgiummales age 16-49: 1,998,003females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)
Belizemales age 18-49: 44,238females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)
Beninmales age 21-49: 749,774females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)
Bermudamales age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
Bhutanmales age 18-49: 314,975females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)
Boliviamales age 18-49: 1,311,414females age 18-49: 1,502,177 (2005 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovinamales age 18-49: 910,539females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)
Botswanamales age 18-49: 136,322females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)
Brazilmales age 19-49: 33,119,098females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)
British Virgin Islandsmales age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)
Bruneimales age 18-49: 85,045females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Bulgariamales age 18-49: 1,302,037females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)
Burkina Fasomales age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
Burmamales age 18-49: 7,946,701females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)
Burundimales age 16-49: 955,616females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)
Cambodiamales age 18-49: 1,955,141females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
Cameroonmales age 18-49: 1,946,767females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Canadamales age 16-49: 6,740,490females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)
Cape Verdemales age 18-49: 65,614females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Cayman Islandsmales age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)
Central African Republicmales age 18-49: 416,091females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)
Chadmales age 20-49: 794,988females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)
Chilemales age 18-49: 3,123,281females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)
Chinamales age 18-49: 281,240,272females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)
Colombiamales age 18-49: 6,986,228females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)
Comorosmales age 18-49: 98,792females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of themales age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005est.)
Congo, Republic of themales age 18-49: 406,016females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)
Costa Ricamales age 18-49: 829,874females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)
Cote d'Ivoiremales age 18-49: 1,973,265females age 18-49: 1,911,777 (2005 est.)
Croatiamales age 18-49: 725,914females age 18-49: 823,611 (2005 est.)
Cubamales age 17-49: 2,441,927females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)
CyprusGreek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):males age 18-49: 150,750females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)
Czech Republicmales age 18-49: 1,996,631females age 18-49: 1,923,508 (2005 est.)
Denmarkmales age 18-49: 955,168females age 18-49: 935,643 (2005 est.)
Djiboutimales age 18-49: 46,020females age 18-49: 42,181 (2005 est.)
Dominicamales age 18-49: 15,136 (2005 est.)
Dominican Republicmales age 18-49: 1,671,493females age 18-49: 1,536,257 (2005 est.)
East Timormales age 18-49: 179,422females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)
Ecuadormales age 20-49: 2,338,428females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)
Egyptmales age 18-49: 15,540,234females age 18-49: 14,939,378 (2005 est.)
El Salvadormales age 18-49: 960,315females age 18-49: 1,310,466 (2005 est.)
Equatorial Guineamales age 18-49: 56,462females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.)
Eritreamales age 18-49: 555,553females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)
Estoniamales age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young mencalled up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles toconscription were psychiatric and behavioral)females age 18-49: 250,351 (2005 est.)
Ethiopiamales age 18-49: 8,072,755females age 18-49: 7,902,660 (2005 est.)
Faroe Islandsmales age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)
Fijimales age 18-49: 163,960females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)
Finlandmales age 18-49: 913,617females age 18-49: 875,689 (2005 est.)
Francemales age 17-49: 11,262,661females age 17-49: 11,079,472 (2005 est.)
French Guianamales age 18-49: 38,676 (2005 est.)
French Polynesiamales age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)
Gabonmales age 18-49: 159,198females age 18-49: 156,122 (2005 est.)
Gambia, Themales age 18-49: 183,057females age 18-49: 194,551 (2005 est.)
Gaza Stripmales age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)
Georgiamales age 18-49: 827,281females age 18-49: 903,791 (2005 est.)
Germanymales age 18-49: 15,258,931females age 18-49: 14,443,412 (2005 est.)
Ghanamales age 18-49: 3,011,081females age 18-49: 2,991,551 (2005 est.)
Gibraltarmales age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)
Greecemales age 18-49: 2,018,557females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)
Greenlandmales age 18-49: 10,199 (2005 est.)
Grenadamales age 18-49: 17,483 (2005 est.)
Guadeloupemales age 18-49: 92,834 (2005 est.)
Guatemalamales age 18-49: 1,911,412females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)
Guineamales age 18-49: 1,034,006females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)
Guinea-Bissaumales age 18-49: 152,681females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)
Guyanamales age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)
Haitimales age 18-49: 948,320females age 18-49: 931,972 (2005 est.)
Hondurasmales age 18-49: 1,100,991females age 18-49: 1,121,649 (2005 est.)
Hong Kongmales age 18-49: 1,403,088females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)
Hungarymales age 18-49: 1,780,513females age 18-49: 1,864,580 (2005 est.)
Icelandmales age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
Indiamales age 16-49: 219,471,999females age 16-49: 209,917,553 (2005 est.)
Indonesiamales age 18-49: 48,687,234females age 18-49: 50,252,911 (2005 est.)
Iranmales age 18-49: 15,665,725females age 18-49: 15,005,597 (2005 est.)
Iraqmales age 18-49: 4,930,074females age 18-49: 4,771,105 (2005 est.)
Irelandmales age 17-49: 814,768females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)
Israelmales age 17-49: 1,255,902females age 17-49: 1,212,394 (2005 est.)
Italymales age 18-49: 10,963,513females age 18-49: 10,452,189 (2005 est.)
Jamaicamales age 18-49: 478,761females age 18-49: 504,541 (2005 est.)
Japanmales age 18-49: 22,234,663females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)
Jordanmales age 17-49: 1,348,076females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)
Kazakhstanmales age 18-49: 2,473,529females age 18-49: 3,168,048 (2005 est.)
Kenyamales age 18-49: 3,963,532females age 18-49: 3,471,926 (2005 est.)
Kiribatimales age 18-49: 14,231 (2005 est.)
Korea, Northmales age 17-49: 4,810,831females age 17-49: 4,853,270 (2005 est.)
Korea, Southmales age 20-49: 10,115,817females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)
Kuwaitmales age 18-49: 737,292females age 18-49: 405,207 (2005 est.)
Kyrgyzstanmales age 18-49: 871,493females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)
Laosmales age 15-49: 954,816females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)
Latviamales age 19-49: 361,098females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.)
Lebanonmales age 18-49: 821,762females age 18-49: 865,770 (2005 est.)
Lesothomales age 18-49: 180,797females age 18-49: 160,681 (2005 est.)
Liberiamales age 18-49: 267,430females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)
Libyamales age 17-49: 1,291,624females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)
Liechtensteinmales age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)
Lithuaniamales age 19-49: 590,606females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)
Luxembourgmales age 17-49: 90,279females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)
Macaumales age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
Macedoniamales age 18-49: 411,156females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)
Madagascarmales age 18-49: 2,218,662females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Malawimales age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)
Malaysiamales age 18-49: 4,574,854females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)
Maldivesmales age 18-49: 56,687females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)
Malimales age 18-49: 1,244,176females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)
Maltamales age 18-49: 74,525females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Marshall Islandsmales age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
Martiniquemales age 18-49: 90,868 (2005 est.)