Denmark to Introduce Mandatory Conscription for Women One Year Earlier Than Planned

Starting in 2026, Denmark will begin conscripting women for mandatory military service. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced this, as reported by Bloomberg.

In this way, the government will accelerate planned reforms by one year to increase the size of the army and strengthen defense in response to growing threats from Russia.

Currently, women in Denmark have the right to join the armed forces voluntarily.

Men, on the other hand, are conscripted through a lottery system designed to compensate for a potential shortage of volunteers.

The bill on the conscription of women on par with men for military service will come into effect on July 1, 2025.

This means that women who turn 18 after July 1, 2025, will be required to participate in the military draft in 2026, alongside men, if there are not enough volunteers.

Additionally, starting from August 2026, the duration of military service in Denmark will be extended from four to eleven months.

According to the plan, the first five months of conscription will involve basic training, while the remaining six months will be spent on operational service along with additional training.

Denmark will become the second EU country where women are subject to mandatory military conscription. Sweden introduced this system back in 2017.

Norway, a NATO member but not an EU member, also has mandatory service for women.

Earlier in March, Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen and Defense Minister Troels Poulsen stated that Denmark is ready to join European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine if the need arises.