Table 5: Military Service Ages (part 1 of 4)

Military service ages
NB: general explanatory notes appear at the end of each Page
Country Compulsory military training in schools from: Optional school programme towards obligatory military service from: Admission to military training establishments from: Volunteers legally accepted for training from: become fully incorporated in active units Performance of military service optional from: Registration for obligatory military service Call-up for obligatory military service Liability until: Reserve duties until:
Afghanistan       22            
Albania               19 32 55
Algeria               19 30 50
Angola       18       20 45  
Argentina   (a)11 16 18       17/18 S    
Armenia             16 18 27 55
Australia       17       18 S    
Austria       17   17   18   50
Azerbaijan       17     16 18 35 50
Bangladesh       16            
Bahrein       15 17          
Belarus       17 20   14 18 27  
Belgium             15/16 18/19    
Benin       21       21    
Bolivia   15           18/19    
Brazil             17 18/19   46
Brunei       <17.5            
Bulgaria     <18         18 30 55
Burkina Faso       20       18    
Burundi               16    
Cameroon       18            
Cambodia             18   30  
Canada       16            
Cape Verde       17       18 35  
Chad       <18       20    
Chile     17 16   b<18 17/18      
China nk     <18     17/18   22 35
Colombia   14   16       18    
Croatia             17/18 18/19 27 55
Cuba nk   15         17 28  
Cyprus               18   50
Turkish Republic of North Cyprus       17       19 30  

Notes:

  • (a)Argentina - admission to military high schools from which students graduate as reserve 2nd Lieutenants ( subtenientes de reserva )
  • (b)Chile - Students in the third or fourth year of secondary education

General Explanations

  • S obligatory military service referred to currently suspended
  • nk precise age not known
  • 16/17 format used when the legislation refers to a calendar year of the seventeenth birthday or in similar circumstances.
  • <18 specific rules (usually of parental permission)  apply the age stated without their being an explicitly stated minimum age
  • ? evidence unclear or ambiguous