×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Monday
19
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 7°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

The State Of Military Conscription Around The World (infographic)

Greece has always had compulsory military conscription

Newsroom December 4 10:07

Britain ended conscription back in 1957 and many European countries have since followed suit.

Yet, many countries across the world, including Greece still enforce compulsory military service. The practice is controversial for many reasons including opposition on religious grounds or conscientious objection to military engagements.

Many democracies still have some form of mandatory military service, but a good number are not enforcing the rules to their full extent anymore, resulting in a practice of limited conscription where only a minority of those subject to the law are actually drafted. In these cases, exceptions are generously granted, and/or a large number of military-aged men and women are rejected as unfit on broad grounds. In many countries, draft-dodging through bribes and favors is also a possibility that lowers actual enrollment.

also read

Has Europe Broken the Second Wave? (infographic)

Immediate US sanctions against Turkey for S-400 system

Fewer than 30 countries still actually require whole age cohorts to complete military service. Among them are Cuba and Colombia in Latin America; Angola, Eritrea, and South Sudan in Africa as well as Finland, Austria, and Switzerland in Europe (where substitute community service programs exist). Military service for all is more common in the Middle East. Israel, where both men and women join the military without many exceptions for two to three years, is a well-known example of this practice.

In Asia, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and South Korea still require universal military service. The latter country recently exempted another group from mandatory conscription. K-Pop stars are now able to postpone or forego the draft similar to athletes and classical artists.

>Related articles

Breaking – Mandatory vaccination for those over 60 with a fine of 100 euros each month

Minors 12-17 only allowed to enter public indoor spaces by presenting negative rapid test for past 48h

Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for Fire Services members of EMAK

source statista

Infographic: The State Of Military Conscription Around The World | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#mandatory#military conscription
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Train Collision in Spain: 39 dead, “extremely strange accident,” says Transport Minister

January 19, 2026

Princess Irene: Funeral at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral (Live feed-photos)

January 19, 2026

35 MPs, alone, searching for a party: Which independents are “flirting” with President Maria and Tsipras

January 19, 2026

6+1 measures to clean up traffic chaos in Attica

January 19, 2026

Princess Irene: Who the eccentric revolutionary of the former royal family was – Today, the final farewell (videos-photos)

January 19, 2026

The 29 Best Restaurants Defining Thessaloniki’s Food Scene in 2026

January 19, 2026

Today’s meeting between Mitsotakis and the “farmer leaders” seen as a step toward de-escalation: Targeted improvements with no cost on the table

January 19, 2026

Fire rages at a plastics factory in Menidi: 112 alert sounded in the area (video-photos)

January 19, 2026
All News

> World

Train Collision in Spain: 39 dead, “extremely strange accident,” says Transport Minister

The last carriages of a train that had departed from Málaga to Madrid derailed near Adamuz, causing another train to collide with them—150 injured, many seriously

January 19, 2026

Trump undeterred despite Europe’s €93 billion retaliation plans: “Now is the time for Greenland, and it will happen”

January 19, 2026

High-speed train derailment in Spain: At least 24 dead and 73 injured, passengers say it was “like a horror movie”

January 19, 2026

Erfan Soltani confirmed alive by Iranian Human Rights Group after days of uncertainty

January 18, 2026

Piers Morgan recovering in hospital after serious fall in London

January 18, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα