Kay Xander MellishExpert on Danish business culture

Drafting women into the Danish military

19 Jun 2025 · 1 min

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The video segment announces that, effective at the end of the month, Denmark will begin drafting women who turn 18, making the country’s conscription policy gender‑neutral. While Norway and Sweden have already allowed women to be drafted, Denmark’s change arrives later despite its strong reputation for gender equality—evidenced by women comprising the majority of doctors and priests and a female prime minister. Nevertheless, women represent only about 10% of the Danish armed forces, highlighting a lag in military gender balance.

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As of the end of this month, girls who turn 18 can be drafted into the Danish military. Now, this is new, even though girls in Norway and Sweden have been eligible for the draft for some time. Denmark is proud of its record on gender equality, so maybe it's a wonder it hasn't happened sooner. After all, more than half of the medical doctors in Denmark are female. More than half of the priests in Denmark are female. The Prime Minister is female. At only about 10% female, the military is clearly lagging behind.