The data on countries and territories that mandate military service for their citizens is compiled by World Population Review based on several sources, including data from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Pew Research Center.
Russian soldiers parade in Red Square in May 2023.
After completing their military service, those citizens become members of the reserve forces and may be mobilized in wartime or emergency situations.
Military service is typically compulsory for young men who reach a certain age, usually 18. Each year, many eligible citizens around the world are called up for military service, which often lasts from a few months to several years. After the Cold War, many countries abolished compulsory military service, but others maintained it depending on their needs.
Which countries require young men to perform military service?
Some countries legally maintain this system but do not actually implement it because the number of volunteers for military service is already sufficient to meet the needs, according to Forces.net .
For example, in China, men aged 18-22 are required to register for compulsory military service for two years, with a selection process. The Chinese military sets the number of soldiers to be recruited and assigns quotas to each province. If the number of volunteers is insufficient to meet the quota, the local authorities may be forced to call up eligible individuals to serve in the military.
Similarly, in the US, men aged 18 and over must register with the recruitment agency and may be called up for military service if needed. However, the US has not used this mechanism since 1973 due to the high number of volunteers.
Here are some countries that have compulsory military service.
Russia
According to Russian law, all men aged 18 to 27 must perform military service for 12 months, or undergo equivalent training if they are university students. After completing their military service, they will serve in the reserves until the age of 50. Those who evade military service face up to two years in prison.
Russian reserve soldiers during a troop mobilization in Rostov in October 2022.
Ukrainian men aged 20-27 are required to perform military service. Before the conflict with Russia in February 2022, the mandatory military service period was 12-18 months depending on the branch of service. After the conflict, all non-exempt men aged 18-60 were required to register and undergo a medical examination in order to be called up.
Ukrainian soldiers in Odessa in January 2022.
Korean men aged 18-35 are required to perform mandatory military service for 18-36 months, depending on the branch of service. High-achieving athletes are exempt and only have to undergo basic training lasting a few weeks.
South Korean footballer Son Heung-min attends the ceremony marking the completion of his military training in Jeju in 2020.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
North Korea pursues a "military first" policy, prioritizing all resources for the military. Typically, high school graduates join the military at age 17-18. In 2003, the length of compulsory military service was reduced from 13 years to 10 years for men and from 10 to 7 years for women.
North Korean soldiers parade in Pyongyang in 2021.
Israel
The mandatory military service age is 18, and both men and women are required to participate. The duration is 32 months for men and approximately 24 months for women. The age at which the reserve period ends is 41-51 for men and 24 for women.
Israeli soldiers participating in the anti-Hamas campaign stand on tanks in the south of the country on January 1.
Iran
Iran mandates military service for men from the ages of 18 to 40, except for those with mental health issues or disabilities. The duration of service ranges from 18 to 24 months, depending on the unit.
Iranian soldiers during a military parade.
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