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5d ago

Denmark Implements Gender-Neutral Draft, Enrolling Women by Lottery

Volunteers are called up first; the government is adapting uniforms, gear, medical criteria to accommodate an expanded mixed-gender force.

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Overview

  • On July 1 the new conscription law took effect, bringing all 18-year-olds of both sexes into a volunteer-plus-lottery system.
  • Volunteers will be recruited before any draft lottery is held to fill remaining service slots for up to 11 months.
  • Denmark will extend mandatory service from four to 11 months in 2026 and aim to raise annual intake to 7,500 by 2033.
  • The Defence Ministry is overhauling health requirements and equipment design to ensure suitability for both men and women.
  • The reform aligns with NATO’s target of 5% GDP defence investment and follows Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s pledge to back Ukraine’s EU accession.