Denmark Includes Women To Military Service

Denmark has taken a major step toward gender equality in defense, officially extending compulsory military service to women as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its national defense amid rising tensions in Europe.

Following legislation approved in June 2023, all women who turn 18 after July 1, 2025, will be required to participate in evaluation procedures to determine their eligibility for military conscription—mirroring the process already in place for young men.

Previously, women had the option to enlist voluntarily. As of last year, they represented roughly one-quarter of all individuals who joined the armed forces.

“In the world situation we’re in right now, it’s necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do,” Katrine, a current member of the Danish Royal Life Guard, said.

Military conscription in Denmark operates by enrolling volunteers first, followed by a lottery draw to fill remaining spots if necessary.

In preparation for a more inclusive force, the Danish military is working to upgrade its facilities and gear to better support female recruits.

“There are different things that they need to improve, especially in terms of equipment. Right now, it’s made for men, so perhaps the rucksacks are a bit too large and the uniforms are large as well,” said Katrine.

The move comes as Denmark—along with its NATO partners—committed to increasing its defense investments. Among the planned changes is a longer mandatory service period, which is set to rise from four months to eleven months by 2026. Authorities also aim to expand the annual number of conscripts from approximately 5,000 to 7,500 by the year 2033.