Estonia plans to quadruple the number of female volunteers on term of service by 2035

Demographic pressure forces review of personnel policy

The Estonian state is preparing significant changes in the area of military recruitment: by 2035, the annual number of women voluntarily undergoing conscription is set to rise from 50 to 200. This was reported by the Estonian public broadcasting company ERR.

One of the reasons for reviewing approaches to military recruitment is the declining birth rate. This leads to a gradual reduction in the pool of young men of conscription age. To maintain the personnel potential of the Armed Forces, expanding women's participation is being considered as one way to address this issue.

Voluntarism remains the foundation

It is important to note that the planned reforms do not provide for the introduction of mandatory conscription for women. Currently, Estonia operates a system where men undergo conscription via mandatory draft, while women can join the army exclusively on a voluntary basis. The new plans are specifically aimed at increasing the number of women who consciously choose military service.

Strategic context of defence strengthening

Estonia's move comes against the backdrop of a general increase in attention to national security. The country, which shares a border with Russia and is a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, has been actively working in recent years to enhance its defence capabilities and train reservists. Increasing the number of women in conscription is expected to help compensate for the reduction in the potential draft contingent due to demographic changes.