Denmark to Introduce Conscription for Women and Extend Length of National Service

In the coming years, Denmark plans to increase the number of conscripts for military service by including women in the draft and extending the length of national service. This initiative was announced by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, according to DR.

Specifically, the expansion of the draft to include women is scheduled to begin in 2026. The country's leadership also intends to extend the length of national service from approximately 4 months to 11 months. During the initial 5 months, recruits will undergo basic training, followed by specialized training for the remainder of their service.

"Defending one's country is one of the noblest duties. Therefore, the government proposes to expand conscription. We advocate for full equality between genders," said Mette Frederiksen, emphasizing that such an approach would better reflect the realities of the modern world.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen noted that the corresponding legislation is expected to be passed no later than 2025 to ensure these changes are implemented from the following year.

In 2023, 25% of approximately 4,700 Danish conscripts were women who voluntarily chose to serve in the country's armed forces. Not all young people in Denmark are conscripted - selection is done through a lottery system. Following the legislative changes, the annual number of conscripts is set to increase to 5000 individuals.

"This means that all young people, regardless of gender, may be called up for military service under the same conditions. In other words, conscription must meet contemporary conditions - and our fundamental values reflecting our society, and the threats we may face," said Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

Additionally, the government plans to allocate an additional 40 billion kroner (approximately 5.3 billion euros) for defence needs over the next 5 years. According to Frederiksen, this means that Denmark will spend 2.4% of its GDP on defence in 2024 and 2025, including the cost of military aid provided to Ukraine.

It's worth noting that Finland is also considering measures to attract girls to military service, leaving the final decision to their discretion. Meanwhile, Sweden has reintroduced civilian service by conscription for the first time since the 1990s starting from this year.