Denmark to Include Women in Conscription Starting in July
Previously, Women Could Only Serve by Volunteering
"Modernization and Diversity Through Expanded Gender Equality"
Starting in July, women in Denmark will also be subject to conscription. On June 30 (local time), the British media outlet The Independent reported, "Under a bill passed by the Danish parliament in early June, both men and women will be subject to conscription from July 1," adding, "The service period will also be extended from the current four months to eleven months." Previously, only men aged 18 and older were conscripted, and women could serve in the military only if they volunteered.
This measure is attributed to the threat of Russian aggression and the efforts by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states to strengthen their defense capabilities. Until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Denmark was considered a relatively safe country, but it is now facing threats across Europe. As part of a major defense agreement in 2024, Denmark aimed to achieve gender equality in conscription by 2027, but has moved up the timeline to implement this reform sooner.
In February 2024, Denmark announced a military reinforcement plan that included the creation of a $7 billion (approximately 9.47 trillion won) fund, and this year, its defense budget is expected to exceed 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP). On June 26, NATO member states agreed to spend 5% of their GDP on defense by 2035. Of this, 3.5% will be allocated to core military expenses (such as personnel, weapons, ammunition, and missiles), and 1.5% will be dedicated to military-adjacent infrastructure like roads and bridges, emergency healthcare, and cybersecurity.
Denmark is the third country in Europe to introduce conscription for women, following Norway and Sweden. Sweden applied conscription to both men and women in 2017, and Norway did so in 2013. Denmark, with a population of six million, has a military force of about 9,000 personnel. With the expansion of conscription, the number of annual conscripts is expected to increase from 4,700 last year to around 6,500 by 2033.
However, not all women subject to conscription will actually join the military. In Denmark, there are many voluntary enlistees, so all eligible conscripts are selected through a lottery system. If conscripted, individuals undergo five months of basic military training, followed by six months of military service and additional training. Last year, women who volunteered for military service accounted for about a quarter of Denmark's total military personnel.
However, it is reported that Denmark can no longer rely solely on voluntary enlistment, which is why the country opted for female conscription. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Denmark's Minister of Defense, stated in January 2024, "If things continue as they are, Denmark may not be able to defend itself independently," adding, "Everyone, including women, should be subject to conscription. An increase in female enlistment will benefit the military." Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, also said, "From now on, all young people will stand side by side on 'Defence Day,' regardless of gender," and added, "With expanded gender equality, the military will become more modern and reflect the diversity of our times."
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