Libyahot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one tofour days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
LiechtensteinNA
LithuaniaNA
LuxembourgNA
Macautyphoons
Macedoniahigh seismic risks
Madagascarperiodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
MalawiNA
Malaysiaflooding, landslides, forest fires
Maldiveslow level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea levelrise
Malihot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
MaltaNA
Marshall Islandsinfrequent typhoons
Mauritaniahot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily inMarch and April; periodic droughts
Mauritiuscyclones (November to April); almost completely surroundedby reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Mayottecyclones during rainy season
Mexicotsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructiveearthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts
Micronesia, Federated States oftyphoons (June to December)
Midway IslandsNA
Moldovalandslides (57 cases in 1998)
MonacoNA
Mongoliadust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and"zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Montenegrodestructive earthquakes
Montserratsevere hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Morocconorthern mountains geologically unstable and subject toearthquakes; periodic droughts
Mozambiquesevere droughts; devastating cyclones and floods incentral and southern provinces
Namibiaprolonged periods of drought
Nauruperiodic droughts
Navassa Islandhurricanes
Nepalsevere thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, andfamine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of thesummer monsoons
Netherlandsflooding
Netherlands AntillesCuracao and Bonaire are south of Caribbeanhurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, andSint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
New Caledoniacyclones, most frequent from November to March
New Zealandearthquakes are common, though usually not severe;volcanic activity
Nicaraguadestructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremelysusceptible to hurricanes
Nigerrecurring droughts
Nigeriaperiodic droughts; flooding
Niuetyphoons
Norfolk Islandtyphoons (especially May to July)
Northern Mariana Islands active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Norwayrockslides, avalanches
Omansummer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms ininterior; periodic droughts
Pacific Oceansurrounded by a zone of violent volcanic andearthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring ofFire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and eastAsia from May to December (most frequent from July to October);tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strikeCentral America and Mexico from June to October (most common inAugust and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs inthe equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the WesternHemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructureicing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in thenorthern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
Pakistanfrequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially innorth and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July andAugust)
Palautyphoons (June to December)
Palmyra AtollNA
Panamaoccasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Papua New Guineaactive volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ringof Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severeearthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Paracel Islandstyphoons
Paraguaylocal flooding in southeast (early September to June);poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Peruearthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanicactivity
Philippinesastride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struckby five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; activevolcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Pitcairn Islandstyphoons (especially November to March)
Polandflooding
PortugalAzores subject to severe earthquakes
Puerto Ricoperiodic droughts; hurricanes
Qatarhaze, dust storms, sandstorms common
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, last eruption in1961
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
Serbiadestructive 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; numerous reefs and shoals pose a seriousmaritime hazard
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
Turkeysevere earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along anarc 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 sensitive tochanges 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
United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker, Howland, andJarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island canbe a maritime hazardKingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation ofless than 1 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazardMidway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA
Uruguayseasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly andoccasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas),droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act asweather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapidchanges from weather fronts
UzbekistanNA
Vanuatutropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcaniceruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanismalso causes 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 8 February, 2007
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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
Cook Islands2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
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 over-land 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, TheBahamas, and US
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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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 Territory land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, 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 twice the size of Texas
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 the size of Texas
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
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
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
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 8 February, 2007
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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)