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
Bangladeshslightly smaller than Iowa
Barbados2.5 times the size of 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 one-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
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
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 LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam etIle Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DCIle Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 timesthe size of The Mall in Washington, DCIles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DCIles Kerguelen: slightly larger than DelawareBassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the sizeof The Mall in Washington, DCEuropa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size ofWashington, DCGlorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of TheMall in Washington, DCJuan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size ofThe Mall in Washington, DCTromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of The Mallin Washington, DC
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
Gibraltarslightly less than one-half the size of Rhode Island
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
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 smaller 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
Jerseyabout two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Jordanslightly smaller than Indiana
Kazakhstanslightly less than four times the size of Texas
Kenyaslightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Kiribatifour times the size of Washington, DC
Korea, Northslightly smaller than Mississippi
Korea, Southslightly larger than Indiana
Kosovoslightly larger than Delaware
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)
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 New York state
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; almost equal to 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
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 Barthelemyless than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC
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 Martinmore than one-third 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 one third 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 smaller 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 South Sandwich Islandsslightly larger than RhodeIsland
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
Timor-Lesteslightly larger than Connecticut
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
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; more than twice thesize 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 UStop fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean155.557 million sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76.762 million sq km; IndianOcean 68.556 million sq km; Southern Ocean 20.327 million sq km;Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14.056 million sq km;Antarctica 14 million sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,961 sq km; Brazil 8,514,877 sq km;Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km
Yemenslightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Zambiaslightly larger than Texas
Zimbabweslightly larger than Montana
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@2024
Field Listing :: Military service age and obligation
This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service obligation. Country
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)
Angola22-24 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years; Angolan citizenship required (2009)
Antigua and Barbuda18 years of age for voluntary military service;no conscription (2008)
Argentina18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21requires parental permission); no conscription (2001)
Armenia18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory militaryservice; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Australia17 years of age for voluntary military service (withparental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Armycombat units in non-combat support roles (2008)
Austria18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 yearsof age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 6months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2009)
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 (2008)
Bahrain17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years ofage for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)
Bangladesh16 years of age for voluntary military service; 17 yearsof age for officers (both with parental consent); conscriptionlegally possible in emergency, but has never been implemented (2008)
Barbados18 years of age for voluntary military service (youngerrequires parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Belarus18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Belgium18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionsuspended (2008)
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 (2008)
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 (2006)
Bermuda18-30 years of age for voluntary or compulsory enlistment inthe Bermuda Regiment; males must register at age 18; term of serviceis 38 months (2009)
Bhutan18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Bolivia18-49 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service;when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsoryrecruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, providesexemption from further military service (2009)
Bosnia and Herzegovina18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice; conscription abolished January 2006; 4-month serviceobligation (2009)
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 - 9 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.) for voluntary military service;non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
Bulgaria18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; as ofMay 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professionalsoldiers; conscription ended January 2008; Air Forces and NavalForces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)
Burkina Faso18 years of age for voluntary military service; womenmay serve in supporting roles (2009)
Burma18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes;forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited,reportedly continues (2007)
Burundimilitary service is voluntary; the armed forces law of 31December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but thegovernment had previously specified that each recruit would need tohave a primary school leaving certificate (2009)
Cambodiaconscription law of October 2006 requires all males between18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation(2006)
Cameroon18 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice; no conscription; the government makes periodic calls forvolunteers (2009)
Canada17 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve andmilitary college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanentresidence status required; maximum 34 years of age; serviceobligation 3-9 years (2008)
Cape Verde18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory militaryservice; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Central African Republic18 years of age for selective militaryservice; 2-year conscript service obligation (2009)
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; women are subject to 1 yearof compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
Chile18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female militaryservice, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained;service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and AirForce (2008)
China18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service,with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntaryservice (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for womenhigh school graduates who meet requirements for specific militaryjobs (2009)
Colombia18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the18-45 years of age for voluntarymilitary service (2009)
Congo, Republic of the18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice; women allowed to serve (2007)
Cote d'Ivoire18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male andfemale military service (2008)
Croatia18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 yearsof age with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript serviceobligation; full conversion to voluntary military service by 2010(2006)
Cuba17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-yearservice obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)
CyprusGreek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age forcompulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years ofage for voluntary service; women may volunteer for a 3-year term;length of normal service is 25 months (2009)
Czech Republic18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 forcompulsory military service (2008)
Denmark18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary 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; women eligible to volunteer for military service(2004)
Djibouti18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 yearsof age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)
Dominican Republic18 years of age for voluntary military service(2007)
Ecuador20 years of age for selective conscript military service;12-month service obligation (2008)
Egypt18-30 years of age for male conscript military service;service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserveobligation (2008)
El Salvador18 years of age for selective compulsory militaryservice; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service;service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs(2009)
Equatorial Guinea18 years of age (est.) for compulsory militaryservice; women hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard(2009)
Eritrea18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary andcompulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation(2006)
Estoniaobligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, withconscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months(2009)
Ethiopia18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; theoretically, no compulsory military service, but themilitary can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance iscompulsory (2008)
Fiji18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserveobligation to age 45 (2006)
Finland18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - andfemale voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service;service obligation 6-12 months; mandatory retirement at age 60 (2008)
France17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary militaryservice; no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women servein noncombat military posts (2008)
Gabon20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service(2007)
Gambia, The18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
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 9-month tour ofcompulsory military service) (2004)
Ghana18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Greece19-45 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 - 1 year for allservices; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)
Guatemalaall male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liablefor military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to24 months; women can serve as officers (2008)
Guinea18-25 years of age for compulsory or voluntary militaryservice; 18-month conscript service obligation (2009)
Guinea-Bissau18-25 years of age for selective compulsory militaryservice; 16 years of age or younger with parental consent, forvoluntary service (2009)
Guyana18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Honduras18 years of age for voluntary 2 to 3-year military service(2004)
Hungary18-50 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription; 6-month service obligation (2008)
India16 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008)
Indonesia18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntarymilitary service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserveobligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)
Iran19 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years ofage for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscriptmilitary service obligation - 18 months; women exempt from militaryservice (2008)
Iraq18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)
Ireland17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary militaryservice (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions;maximum obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the ReserveDefense Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Irelandrequired (2008)
Israel18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes areobligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months forofficers; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2008)
Italy18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionabolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch;10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45(Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (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; maleconscription at age 18 - suspended in 1999 - resurrected in July2007 in order to provide youth training necessary for job marketneeds; all males under age 37 are required to register; women notsubject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combatmilitary positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps(2009)
Kazakhstan18 years of age for compulsory military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteersNA (2004)
Kenya18 years of age (est.) for voluntary service, with a 9-yearobligation (2007)
Korea, North17 years of age (2004)
Korea, South20-30 years of age for compulsory military service,with middle school education required; conscript service obligation- 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to bereduced to 18 months beginning 2016); 18-26 years of age forvoluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admittedto 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded fromartillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 womenserve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% ofall officers (2008)
Kuwait18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age forvoluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject tocompulsory military service; conscription suspended in 2001 (2009)
Kyrgyzstan18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Laos15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum18-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Latvia18 years of age for voluntary male and female militaryservice; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law,every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life(2009)
Lebanon18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2007)
Lesotho18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Liberia16 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Libya17 years of age (2004)
Lithuania19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation;male registration required at age 16 (2009)
Luxembourg17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or withpeacekeeping missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EUcitizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2008)
Macedonia18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2007)
Madagascar18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory militaryservice; 18-month conscript service obligation (either military orequivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for NationalGendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with militaryexperience) (2008)
Malawi18 years of age for voluntary military service; standardobligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service(2007)
Malaysia18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Maldives18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Mali18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)
Malta17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Mauritania18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service inAir Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)
Mexico18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent forvoluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy andAir Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntarymilitary service (2007)
Moldova18 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years ofage for voluntary service; male registration required at age 16;12-month service obligation (2009)
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; women cannot be deployedoverseas for military operations (2006)
Montenegrocompulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Morocco18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Mozambique19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 18years of age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation (2009)
Namibia18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Nepal18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years ofage for military training; no conscription (2008)
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; no conscription (2008)
Nicaragua17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour ofduty 18-36 months (2008)
Niger17-21 years of age for selective compulsory or voluntarymilitary service; enlistees must be Nigerien citizens and unmarried;2-year service term; women may serve in health care (2009)
Nigeria18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Norway18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practiceshortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called toduty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of agefor volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2009)
Oman18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Pakistan17-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldierscannot be deployed for combat until age 18; the Pakistani Air Forceand Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots andsailors (2009)
Papua New Guinea16 years of age for voluntary military service(with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Paraguay18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24months for Navy (2007)
Peru18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female militaryservice; no conscription (2008)
Philippines18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory andvoluntary military service; applicants must be single male or femalePhilippine citizens (2007)
Poland18-28 years of age for male voluntary or compulsory militaryservice; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005;conscription is to end in 2012; only soldiers who have completedtheir conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professionalservice; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve asofficers and noncommissioned officers; reserve obligation to age 50(2009)
Portugal18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsorymilitary service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, onnaval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in somecombatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)
Qatar18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Romania18-35 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice; conscription officially ended October 2006; all militaryinductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term ofservice, with subsequent successive contracts for 3-year terms untilage 36 (2009)
Russia18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary militaryservice; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;service obligation - 1 year; reserve obligation to age 50; as ofJuly 2008, a draft military strategy called for the draft tocontinue up to the year 2030 (2009)
Rwanda18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Saint Kitts and Nevis18 years of age for voluntary militaryservice; no conscription (2008)
San Marino16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force(2006)
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)
Serbia19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service;under a state of war or impending war, conscription can begin at age16; conscription is to be abolished in 2010; 6-month serviceobligation, with a reserve obligation to age 60 for men and 50 forwomen (2007)
Seychelles18 years of age for voluntary military service (youngerwith parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Sierra Leone17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service(younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Singapore18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service;16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation,with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers)(2008)
Slovakia17-30 years of age for voluntary military service;conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)
Slovenia17 years of age for voluntary military service;conscription abolished in 2003 (2007)
South Africa18 years of age for voluntary military service; womenare eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation(2007)
Spain20 years of age (2004)
Sri Lanka18 years of age for voluntary military service; 5-yearservice obligation (2007)
Sudan18-33 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 12-24 month service obligation (2009)
Suriname18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, withpersonnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)
Swaziland18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary militaryservice; no conscription (2008)
Sweden18-47 years of age for male compulsory or voluntary militaryservice; conscript service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initialservice, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; women areeligible for voluntary military service (2009)
Switzerland19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18years of age for voluntary male and female military service; theSwiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to domilitary service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 daysin the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatorytraining, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for trainingduring the next 10 years (2008)
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 male compulsory military service;service obligation 14 months (reducing to 1 year in 2009); women mayenlist; women in Air Force service are restricted to noncombatroles; reserve obligation to age 30 (Army); the Ministry of Defensehas announced plans to implement an incremental voluntary enlistmentsystem beginning 2010, with 10% fewer conscripts each yearthereafter, although nonvolunteers will still be required to performalternative service or go through 3-4 months of military training(2009)
Tajikistan18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-yearconscript service obligation (2007)
Tanzania18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)
Thailand21 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 yearsof age for voluntary military service; males are registered at 18years of age; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Timor-Leste18 years of age for voluntary military service; noconscription (2008)
Togo18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 2-year service obligation (2006)
Tonga18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)
Trinidad and Tobago18 years of age for voluntary military service(16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription (2008)
Tunisia20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 years ofage for voluntary military service; 1-year conscript serviceobligation (2007)
Turkey20 years of age (2004)
Turkmenistan18-30 years of age for compulsory military service;2-year conscript service obligation (2007)
Uganda18-26 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryduty; 18-30 years of age for professionals; 9-year serviceobligation; the government has stated that recruitment below 18years of age could occur with proper consent and that "no personunder the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armedforces"; Ugandan citizenship and secondary education required (2009)
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.) for voluntary militaryservice; 18 years of age for officers and women; no conscription(2008)
United Kingdom16-33 years of age (officers 17-28) for voluntarymilitary service (with parental consent under 18); women serve inmilitary services, but are excluded from ground combat positions andsome naval postings; must be citizen of the UK, Commonwealth, orRepublic of Ireland; reservists serve a minimum of 3 years, to age45 or 55; 16 years of age for voluntary military service by Nepalesecitizens in the Brigade of the Gurkhas; 16-34 years of age forvoluntary military service by Papua New Guinean citizens (2008)
United States18 years of age (17 years of age with parentalconsent) for male and female voluntary service; maximum enlistmentage 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); serviceobligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 yearsactive (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines) (2008)
Uruguay18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory militaryservice; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the governmenthas the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)
Uzbekistan18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-yearconscript service obligation; moving toward a professional military,but conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodateeveryone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into themilitary is similar to the competition for admission to universities(2007)
Venezuela18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary militaryservice; 30-month conscript service obligation; all citizens 18-50years old are obligated to register for military service (2008)
Vietnam18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscriptservice obligation - 2 years (3 to 4 years in the navy); 18-45 yearsof age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force orSelf Defense Forces (2006)
Yemenvoluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-yearservice obligation (2006)
Zambia18-27 years of age for voluntary military service (16 yearsof age with parental consent); Zambian citizenship required;mandatory HIV testing on enlistment; no conscription (2009)
Zimbabwe18-24 years of age for compulsory military service; womenare eligible to serve (2007)
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Field Listing :: Manpower fit for military service
This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the military age range for a country (defined as being ages 16-49) and who are not otherwise disqualified for health reasons; accounts for the health situation in the country and provides a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve. Country
Manpower fit for military service
Afghanistanmales age 16-49: 4,371,193females age 16-49: 4,072,945 (2009 est.)
Albaniamales age 16-49: 800,665females age 16-49: 768,536 (2009 est.)
Algeriamales age 16-49: 8,317,473females age 16-49: 8,367,005 (2009 est.)
American Samoamales age 16-49: 13,875females age 16-49: 13,517 (2009 est.)
Andorramales age 16-49: 18,617females age 16-49: 17,613 (2009 est.)
Angolamales age 16-49: 1,467,833females age 16-49: 1,411,468 (2009 est.)
Anguillamales age 16-49: 2,955females age 16-49: 3,308 (2009 est.)
Antigua and Barbudamales age 16-49: 17,271females age 16-49: 19,586 (2009 est.)
Argentinamales age 16-49: 8,264,853females age 16-49: 8,268,498 (2009 est.)
Armeniamales age 16-49: 642,734females age 16-49: 729,047 (2009 est.)
Arubamales age 16-49: 20,287females age 16-49: 21,232 (2009 est.)
Australiamales age 16-49: 4,341,591females age 16-49: 4,179,659 (2009 est.)
Austriamales age 16-49: 1,607,456females age 16-49: 1,576,335 (2009 est.)
Azerbaijanmales age 16-49: 1,727,464females age 16-49: 1,944,260 (2009 est.)
Bahamas, Themales age 16-49: 50,764females age 16-49: 51,690 (2009 est.)
Bahrainmales age 16-49: 171,004females age 16-49: 144,555 (2009 est.)
Bangladeshmales age 16-49: 24,946,041females age 16-49: 31,409,069 (2009 est.)
Barbadosmales age 16-49: 58,596females age 16-49: 58,866 (2009 est.)
Belarusmales age 16-49: 1,720,049females age 16-49: 2,069,898 (2009 est.)
Belgiummales age 16-49: 1,962,409females age 16-49: 1,905,178 (2009 est.)
Belizemales age 16-49: 56,135females age 16-49: 54,732 (2009 est.)
Beninmales age 16-49: 1,279,053females age 16-49: 1,292,438 (2009 est.)