In most countries around the world, joining the military requires a minimum age criteria to be met. The minimum age differs from one country to another, depending on various factors such as national laws, regulations, or even cultural factors.
For the United States of America, the minimum age to join the military is 17 years old, but those who join at that age require parental consent. Otherwise the minimum age is 18 years old for any branch. Currently, there is no conscription in place for the U.S. military. However, males aged 18-25 must register with the Selective Service in case conscription is reinstated.
To determine how old you have to be for military service in the 25 most populous countries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data compiled by the CIA World Factbook. Countries are listed in alphabetical order. Population figures came from the World Bank, and are for 2021. Military spending in current U.S. dollars and as a share of gross domestic product came from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and are also for 2021.
In China, the minimum age to join the military is 18 years old and is part of the country’s selective compulsory military service that comes with a two-year service obligation. The minimum age to join the military in other Asian countries such as India and Bangladesh is as low as 16 years old, but their service is entirely voluntary. (Here are countries with the most active military per person.)
With all eyes on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Red Army has instituted a compulsory service for men aged 18-27 years old for a 13-month service obligation. The Russian military takes roughly 260,000 conscripts each year in two semi-annual drafts. As of 2021, conscripts made up roughly 30% of the Russian military’s active-duty personnel. (These are NATO countries that have mandatory military service.)
While each country has a different perspective in building an army, there seems to be a broad consensus on age. There is, however, a wide variation on how to implement this military service across the world.
Click here to see the minimum age and obligation to serve in the military around the world.
1. Bangladesh
> Military service description: 16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required
> 2021 military spending: $4.9 billion — #44 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.3% — #44 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 169,356,250 — #8 most populous country
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2. Brazil
> Military service description: 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (women exempted); only 5%-10% of those inducted are required to serve; conscript service obligation is 10-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service
> 2021 military spending: $19.2 billion — #17 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.2% — #17 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 214,326,220 — #6 most populous country
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Source: ÐлекÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ Ð¡ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ½Ð¾Ð² / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
3. China
> Military service description: 18-22 years of age for men for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; women 18-19 years of age who are high school graduates and meet requirements for specific military jobs are subject to conscription; women may also volunteer; all officers are volunteers
> 2021 military spending: $293.4 billion — #2 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.7% — #2 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 1,412,360,000 — #1 most populous country
Source: RollingEarth / E+ via Getty Images
4. DR Congo
> Military service description: 18-45 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used
> 2021 military spending: $306 million — #103 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 0.6% — #103 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 95,894,120 — #16 most populous country
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5. Egypt
> Military service description: Voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and women; 18-30 years of age for conscript service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education
> 2021 military spending: $5.2 billion — #42 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.3% — #42 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 109,262,180 — #14 most populous country
Source: Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
6. Ethiopia
> Military service description: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (although the military may, when necessary, recruit a person more than 22 years old); no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory
> 2021 military spending: $488 million — #87 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 0.5% — #87 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 120,283,030 — #12 most populous country
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Source: Gwengoat / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
7. France
> Military service description: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 2001); 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat posts
> 2021 military spending: $56.6 billion — #6 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.9% — #6 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 67,749,630 — #21 most populous country
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Source: ewg3D / iStock via Getty Images
8. Germany
> Military service description: 17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); conscription ended July 2011; service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years; women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001
> 2021 military spending: $56.0 billion — #7 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.3% — #7 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 83,196,080 — #19 most populous country
Source: abhisheklegit / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. India
> Military service description: Ages vary by service, but generally 16.5-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription
> 2021 military spending: $76.6 billion — #3 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 2.7% — #3 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 1,407,563,840 — #2 most populous country
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Source: Yamtono_Sardi / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
10. Indonesia
> Military service description: 18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized (males, age 18), but not utilized; 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers)
> 2021 military spending: $8.3 billion — #28 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 0.7% — #28 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 273,753,190 — #4 most populous country
Source: Majid Saeedi / Getty Images
11. Iran
> Military service description: 18 years of age for men for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18-24 months, depending on the location of service (soldiers serving in places of high security risk and deprived areas serve shorter terms); women exempt from military service
> 2021 military spending: $24.6 billion — #14 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 2.3% — #14 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 87,923,430 — #17 most populous country
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12. Italy
> Military service description: 17-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (some variations on age depending on the military branch); voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in the Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross, the State Police, the Carabinieri, the Guardia di Finanza, the Penitentiary Police, or the National Fire Brigade; recruits can also volunteer for 4 years military service; conscription abolished 2004
> 2021 military spending: $32.0 billion — #11 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.5% — #11 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 59,109,670 — #25 most populous country
Source: Chris McGrath / Getty Images News via Getty Images
13. Japan
> Military service description: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (maximum enlistment age 32); no conscription
> 2021 military spending: $54.1 billion — #9 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.1% — #9 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 125,681,590 — #11 most populous country
Source: Azael Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
14. Mexico
> Military service description: 18 years of age for compulsory military service for males (selection for service determined by lottery); conscript service obligation is 12 months; those selected serve on Saturdays in a Batallón del Servicio Militar Nacional (National Military Service Battalion) composed entirely of 1-year Servicio Militar Nacional (SMN) conscripts; conscripts remain in reserve status until the age of 40; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment; cadets enrolled in military schools from the age of 15 are considered members of the armed forces; women are eligible for voluntary military service
> 2021 military spending: $8.7 billion — #27 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 0.7% — #27 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 126,705,140 — #10 most populous country
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15. Nigeria
> Military service description: 18-26 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription
> 2021 military spending: $4.5 billion — #46 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.0% — #46 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 213,401,320 — #7 most populous country
Source: John Moore / Getty Images
16. Pakistan
> Military service description: 16 (or 17 depending on service) to 23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; women serve in all three armed forces; reserve obligation to age 45 for enlisted men, age 50 for officers
> 2021 military spending: $11.3 billion — #22 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 3.8% — #22 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 231,402,120 — #5 most populous country
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. Philippines
> Military service description: 18-25 (enlisted) and 21-29 (officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription
> 2021 military spending: $4.1 billion — #47 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.0% — #47 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 113,880,330 — #13 most populous country
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18. Russia
> Military service description: 18-27 years of age for compulsory service for men; 18-40 for voluntary/contractual service; women and non-Russian citizens (18-30) may volunteer; men are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; 12-month service obligation (Russia offers the option of serving on a 24-month contract instead of completing a 12-month conscription period); reserve obligation for non-officers to age 50; enrollment in military schools from the age of 16
> 2021 military spending: $65.9 billion — #5 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 4.1% — #5 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 143,449,290 — #9 most populous country
Source: James Oatway / Getty Images
19. South Africa
> Military service description: 18-22 (18-26 for college graduates) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 2-year service obligation
> 2021 military spending: $3.3 billion — #52 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 0.9% — #52 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 59,392,250 — #24 most populous country
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
20. Tanzania
> Military service description: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; 6-year commitment (2-year contracts afterwards); selective conscription for 2 years of public service
> 2021 military spending: $742 million — #77 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.1% — #77 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 63,588,330 — #23 most populous country
Source: Paula Bronstein / Getty Images
21. Thailand
> Military service description: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; men register at 18 years of age; volunteer service obligation may be as short as 6 or 12 months, depending on educational qualifications; conscript service obligation also varies by educational qualifications, but is typically 24 months
> 2021 military spending: $6.6 billion — #32 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 1.3% — #32 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 71,601,100 — #20 most populous country
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Source: IC / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
22. Turkey
> Military service description: Mandatory military service for men, age 20-41; service can be delayed if in university or in certain professions (researchers, professionals, and athletic, or those with artistic talents have the right to postpone military service until the age of 35); 6-12 months service; women may volunteer
> 2021 military spending: $15.5 billion — #18 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 2.1% — #18 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 84,775,400 — #18 most populous country
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Source: ikholwadia / iStock via Getty Images
23. United Kingdom
> Military service description: Some variations by service, but generally 16-36 years of age for enlisted (with parental consent under 18) and 18-29 for officers; minimum length of service 4 years; women serve in all military services including combat roles; conscription abolished in 1963
> 2021 military spending: $68.4 billion — #4 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 2.2% — #4 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 67,326,570 — #22 most populous country
Source: MivPiv / iStock via Getty Images
24. United States
> Military service description: 18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; no conscription (currently inactive, but males aged 18-25 must register with Selective Service in case conscription is reinstated in the future); maximum enlistment age 34 (Army), 39 (Air Force), 39 (Navy), 28 (Marines), 31 (Coast Guard); 8-year service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active duty (Navy), 4 years active duty (Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard); all military occupations and positions open to women
> 2021 military spending: $800.7 billion — #1 most out of 153
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: 3.5% — #1 most out of 150
> Population, 2021: 331,893,740 — #3 most populous country
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Source: Photo by D. Myles Cullen / U.S. Department of Defense
25. Vietnam
> Military service description: 18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (in practice only men are drafted); service obligation is between 24 (Army, Air Defense) and 36 (Navy and Air Force) months
> 2021 military spending: Not available
> 2021 military spending as pct. of GDP: Not available
> Population, 2021: 97,468,030 — #15 most populous country
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