Chapter LXXVIII: Part 78

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can
pose maritime hazards

Atlantic Ocean
icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and
the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from
October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September; hurricanes (May to December)

Australia
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Austria
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Azerbaijan
droughts

Bahamas, The
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive
flood and wind damage

Bahrain
periodic droughts; dust storms

Bangladesh
droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
inundated during the summer monsoon season

Barbados
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Belarus
NA

Belgium
flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed
coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Belize
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and
coastal flooding (especially in south)

Benin
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December
to March

Bermuda
hurricanes (June to November)

Bhutan
violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the
country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon;
frequent landslides during the rainy season

Bolivia
flooding in the northeast (March-April)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
destructive earthquakes

Botswana
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the
west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
visibility

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost
in south

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October)

Brunei
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Bulgaria
earthquakes, landslides

Burkina Faso
recurring droughts

Burma
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Burundi
flooding, landslides, drought

Cambodia
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional
droughts

Cameroon
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases
from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Canada
continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to
development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a
result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and
North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and
snow east of the mountains

Cape Verde
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces
obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Cayman Islands
hurricanes (July to November)

Central African Republic
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect
northern areas; floods are common

Chad
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic
droughts; locust plagues

Chile
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

China
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and
eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts;
land subsidence

Christmas Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
cyclone season is October to April

Colombia
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Comoros
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April);
Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
periodic droughts in south; Congo
River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley,
there are active volcanoes

Congo, Republic of the
seasonal flooding

Cook Islands
typhoons (November to March)

Coral Sea Islands
occasional tropical cyclones

Costa Rica
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and
landslides; active volcanoes

Cote d'Ivoire
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Croatia
destructive earthquakes

Cuba
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November
(in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other
year); droughts are common

Cyprus
moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Czech Republic
flooding

Denmark
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g.,
parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland)
that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Djibouti
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances
from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Dominica
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes
can be expected during the late summer months

Dominican Republic
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding;
periodic droughts

Ecuador
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts

Egypt
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods,
landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
dust storms, sandstorms

El Salvador
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes
destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible
to hurricanes

Equatorial Guinea
violent windstorms, flash floods

Eritrea
frequent droughts; locust swarms

Estonia
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Ethiopia
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

European Union
flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous
area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy;
periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
strong winds persist throughout
the year

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Finland
NA

France
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter
windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic
activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

French Polynesia
occasional cyclonic storms in January

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul
are inactive volcanoes; Iles Eparses subject to periodic cyclones;
Bassas da India is a maritime hazard since it is under water for a
period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and
surrounded by reefs

Gabon
NA

Gambia, The
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30
years)

Gaza Strip
droughts

Georgia
earthquakes

Germany
flooding

Ghana
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts

Gibraltar
NA

Greece
severe earthquakes

Greenland
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the
island

Grenada
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from
June to November

Guam
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Guatemala
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
dry season

Guinea-Bissau
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; brush fires

Guyana
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Haiti
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
periodic droughts

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is
on Heard Island

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely
susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean
coast

Hong Kong
occasional typhoons

Iceland
earthquakes and volcanic activity

India
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

Indian Ocean
occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in
southern reaches

Indonesia
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires

Iran
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Iraq
dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Ireland
NA

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts;
periodic earthquakes

Italy
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

Jamaica
hurricanes (especially July to November)

Jan Mayen
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred
in 1985

Japan
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Jersey
NA

Jordan
droughts; periodic earthquakes

Kazakhstan
earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty

Kenya
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Kiribati
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
sensitive to changes in sea level

Korea, North
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding;
occasional typhoons during the early fall

Korea, South
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Kuwait
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring
heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust
storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March
and August

Kyrgyzstan
NA

Laos
floods, droughts

Latvia
NA

Lebanon
dust storms, sandstorms

Lesotho
periodic droughts

Liberia
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
March)

Libya
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to
four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
NA

Luxembourg
NA

Macau
typhoons

Macedonia
high seismic risks

Madagascar
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Malawi
NA

Malaysia
flooding, landslides, forest fires

Maldives
low level of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise

Mali
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;
recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Malta
NA

Marshall Islands
infrequent typhoons

Mauritania
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in
March and April; periodic droughts

Mauritius
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Mayotte
cyclones during rainy season

Mexico
tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Micronesia, Federated States of
typhoons (June to December)

Moldova
landslides

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and
"zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Montenegro
destructive earthquakes

Montserrat
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions
(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Morocco
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Mozambique
severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in
central and southern provinces

Namibia
prolonged periods of drought

Nauru
periodic droughts

Navassa Island
hurricanes

Nepal
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and
famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the
summer monsoons

Netherlands
flooding

Netherlands Antilles
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are
subject to hurricanes from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are
south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened

New Caledonia
cyclones, most frequent from November to March

New Zealand
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity

Nicaragua
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes

Niger
recurring droughts

Nigeria
periodic droughts; flooding

Niue
typhoons

Norfolk Island
typhoons (especially May to July)

Northern Mariana Islands
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan;
typhoons (especially August to November)

Norway
rockslides, avalanches

Oman
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

Pacific Ocean
surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and
earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of
Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east
Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October);
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike
Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in
August and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in
the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western
Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure
icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the
northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Pakistan
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and
August)

Palau
typhoons (June to December)

Panama
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Papua New Guinea
active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring
of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis

Paracel Islands
typhoons

Paraguay
local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Peru
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic
activity

Philippines
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Pitcairn Islands
typhoons (especially November to March)

Poland
flooding

Portugal
Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Puerto Rico
periodic droughts; hurricanes

Qatar
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Romania
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic
structure and climate promote landslides

Russia
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia

Rwanda
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saint Helena
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in
1961

Saint Kitts and Nevis
hurricanes (July to October)

Saint Lucia
hurricanes and volcanic activity

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
persistent fog throughout the year can be
a maritime hazard

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on
the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Samoa
occasional typhoons; active volcanism

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
frequent sand and dust storms

Senegal
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Serbia
destructive earthquakes

Seychelles
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
short droughts possible

Sierra Leone
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Singapore
NA

Slovakia
NA

Slovenia
flooding and earthquakes

Solomon Islands
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically
active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic
activity; tsunamis

Somalia
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains
in summer; floods during rainy season

South Africa
prolonged droughts

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the South Sandwich
Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them
difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active
volcanism

Southern Ocean
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred
meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5
to 1 m thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with
large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf
floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances;
high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially
May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and
rescue

Spain
periodic droughts

Spratly Islands
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious
maritime hazard

Sri Lanka
occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Sudan
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Suriname
NA

Svalbard
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit
point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts
of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Swaziland
drought

Sweden
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf
of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Switzerland
avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Syria
dust storms, sandstorms

Taiwan
earthquakes and typhoons

Tajikistan
earthquakes and floods

Tanzania
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
drought

Thailand
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts

Timor-Leste
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones

Togo
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts

Tokelau
lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Tonga
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity
on Fonuafo'ou

Trinidad and Tobago
outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms

Tunisia
NA

Turkey
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Turkmenistan
NA

Turks and Caicos Islands
frequent hurricanes

Tuvalu
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there
were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to
changes in sea level

Uganda
NA

Ukraine
NA

United Arab Emirates
frequent sand and dust storms

United Kingdom
winter windstorms; floods

United States
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 2 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA

Uruguay
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes from weather fronts

Uzbekistan
NA

Vanuatu
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic
eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism
also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Venezuela
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Vietnam
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

Virgin Islands
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Wake Island
occasional typhoons

Wallis and Futuna
NA

West Bank
droughts

Western Sahara
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility

World
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),
natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions)

Yemen
sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Zambia
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

Zimbabwe
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2022 People - note

Cook Islands
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Cuba
illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to
depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien
smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use
non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to
Miami and over-land via the southwest border

Germany
second most populous country in Europe after Russia

Rwanda
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Trinidad and Tobago
in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago
estimated the population to be 1.3 million

Turks and Caicos Islands
destination and transit point for illegal
Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The
Bahamas, and the US

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2023 Area - comparative

Afghanistan
slightly smaller than Texas

Akrotiri
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Albania
slightly smaller than Maryland

Algeria
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

American Samoa
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Andorra
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Angola
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Anguilla
about half the size of Washington, DC

Antarctica
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Antigua and Barbuda
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Arctic Ocean
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Argentina
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Armenia
slightly smaller than Maryland

Aruba
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC

Atlantic Ocean
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Australia
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Austria
slightly smaller than Maine

Azerbaijan
slightly smaller than Maine

Bahamas, The
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Bahrain
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Bangladesh
slightly smaller than Iowa

Barbados
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Belarus
slightly smaller than Kansas

Belgium
about the size of Maryland

Belize
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Benin
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Bermuda
about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Bhutan
about one-half the size of Indiana

Bolivia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Bosnia and Herzegovina
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Botswana
slightly smaller than Texas

Bouvet Island
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Brazil
slightly smaller than the US

British Indian Ocean Territory
land area is about 0.3 times the size
of Washington, DC

British Virgin Islands
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Brunei
slightly smaller than Delaware

Bulgaria
slightly larger than Tennessee

Burkina Faso
slightly larger than Colorado

Burma
slightly smaller than Texas

Burundi
slightly smaller than Maryland

Cambodia
slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Cameroon
slightly larger than California

Canada
somewhat larger than the US

Cape Verde
slightly larger than Rhode Island

Cayman Islands
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Central African Republic
slightly smaller than Texas

Chad
slightly more than three times the size of California

Chile
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

China
slightly smaller than the US

Christmas Island
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Clipperton Island
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Colombia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Comoros
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
slightly less than one-fourth the
size of the US

Congo, Republic of the
slightly smaller than Montana

Cook Islands
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Coral Sea Islands
NA

Costa Rica
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cote d'Ivoire
slightly larger than New Mexico

Croatia
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cuba
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Cyprus
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Czech Republic
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Denmark
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Dhekelia
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Djibouti
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Dominica
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Dominican Republic
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Ecuador
slightly smaller than Nevada

Egypt
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

El Salvador
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Equatorial Guinea
slightly smaller than Maryland

Eritrea
slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Estonia
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Ethiopia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

European Union
less than one-half the size of the US

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Faroe Islands
eight times the size of Washington, DC

Fiji
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Finland
slightly smaller than Montana

France
slightly less than the size of Texas

French Polynesia
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et
Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC
Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC
Iles Kerguelen: a little larger than Delaware
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size
of The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of
Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of The
Mall in Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC

Gabon
slightly smaller than Colorado

Gambia, The
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Gaza Strip
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Georgia
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Germany
slightly smaller than Montana

Ghana
slightly smaller than Oregon

Gibraltar
a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island

Greece
slightly smaller than Alabama

Greenland
slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Grenada
twice the size of Washington, DC

Guam
three times the size of Washington, DC

Guatemala
slightly smaller than Tennessee

Guernsey
about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Guinea
slightly smaller than Oregon

Guinea-Bissau
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Guyana
slightly smaller than Idaho

Haiti
slightly smaller than Maryland

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
slightly more than two times the
size of Washington, DC

Holy See (Vatican City)
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Honduras
slightly larger than Tennessee

Hong Kong
six times the size of Washington, DC

Hungary
slightly smaller than Indiana

Iceland
slightly smaller than Kentucky

India
slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Indian Ocean
about 5.5 times the size of the US

Indonesia
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Iran
slightly larger than Alaska

Iraq
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Ireland
slightly larger than West Virginia

Isle of Man
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Israel
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Italy
slightly larger than Arizona

Jamaica
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Jan Mayen
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Japan
slightly smaller than California

Jersey
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Jordan
slightly smaller than Indiana

Kazakhstan
slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Kenya
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Kiribati
four times the size of Washington, DC

Korea, North
slightly smaller than Mississippi

Korea, South
slightly larger than Indiana

Kosovo
slightly larger than Delaware

Kuwait
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Kyrgyzstan
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Laos
slightly larger than Utah

Latvia
slightly larger than West Virginia

Lebanon
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Lesotho
slightly smaller than Maryland

Liberia
slightly larger than Tennessee

Libya
slightly larger than Alaska

Liechtenstein
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Lithuania
slightly larger than West Virginia

Luxembourg
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Macau
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Macedonia
slightly larger than Vermont

Madagascar
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Malawi
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Malaysia
slightly larger than New Mexico

Maldives
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Mali
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Malta
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Marshall Islands
about the size of Washington, DC

Mauritania
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Mauritius
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Mayotte
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Mexico
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Micronesia, Federated States of
four times the size of Washington,
DC (land area only)

Moldova
slightly larger than Maryland

Monaco
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Mongolia
slightly smaller than Alaska

Montenegro
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Montserrat
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Morocco
slightly larger than California

Mozambique
slightly less than twice the size of California

Namibia
slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Nauru
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Navassa Island
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Nepal
slightly larger than Arkansas

Netherlands
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Netherlands Antilles
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

New Caledonia
slightly smaller than New Jersey

New Zealand
about the size of Colorado

Nicaragua
slightly smaller than the state of New York

Niger
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Nigeria
slightly more than twice the size of California

Niue
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norfolk Island
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Northern Mariana Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norway
slightly larger than New Mexico

Oman
slightly smaller than Kansas

Pacific Ocean
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of
the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Pakistan
slightly less than twice the size of California

Palau
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Panama
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Papua New Guinea
slightly larger than California

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
slightly smaller than California

Peru
slightly smaller than Alaska

Philippines
slightly larger than Arizona

Pitcairn Islands
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Poland
slightly smaller than New Mexico

Portugal
slightly smaller than Indiana

Puerto Rico
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Qatar
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Romania
slightly smaller than Oregon

Russia
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Rwanda
slightly smaller than Maryland

Saint Barthelemy
less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

Saint Helena
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Lucia
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Martin
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
twice the size of Washington, DC

Samoa
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

San Marino
about one third times the size of Washington, DC

Sao Tome and Principe
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Saudi Arabia
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Senegal
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Serbia
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Seychelles
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Sierra Leone
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Singapore
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Slovakia
about twice the size of New Hampshire

Slovenia
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Solomon Islands
slightly smaller than Maryland

Somalia
slightly smaller than Texas

South Africa
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
slightly larger than
Rhode Island

Southern Ocean
slightly more than twice the size of the US

Spain
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
slightly larger than West Virginia

Sudan
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Suriname
slightly larger than Georgia

Svalbard
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Swaziland
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Sweden
slightly larger than California

Switzerland
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Syria
slightly larger than North Dakota

Taiwan
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Tajikistan
slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Tanzania
slightly larger than twice the size of California

Thailand
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Timor-Leste
slightly larger than Connecticut

Togo
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Tokelau
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Tonga
four times the size of Washington, DC

Trinidad and Tobago
slightly smaller than Delaware

Tunisia
slightly larger than Georgia

Turkey
slightly larger than Texas

Turkmenistan
slightly larger than California

Turks and Caicos Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Tuvalu
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Uganda
slightly smaller than Oregon

Ukraine
slightly smaller than Texas

United Arab Emirates
slightly smaller than Maine

United Kingdom
slightly smaller than Oregon

United States
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the
size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly
larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the
size of the European Union

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: about
two and a half times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Uruguay
slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Uzbekistan
slightly larger than California

Vanuatu
slightly larger than Connecticut

Venezuela
slightly more than twice the size of California

Vietnam
slightly larger than New Mexico

Virgin Islands
twice the size of Washington, DC

Wake Island
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Wallis and Futuna
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

West Bank
slightly smaller than Delaware

Western Sahara
about the size of Colorado

World
land area about 16 times the size of the US

Yemen
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Zambia
slightly larger than Texas

Zimbabwe
slightly larger than Montana

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)

Afghanistan
22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service
for a 4-year term (2005)

Albania
19 years of age (2004)

Algeria
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training,
12 months civil projects) (2006)

Angola
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)

Antigua and Barbuda
18 years of age for voluntary military service;
no conscription (2008)

Argentina
18-24 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21
requires parental permission); no conscription (2001)

Armenia
18-27 years of age for voluntary or compulsory military
service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2007)

Australia
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with
parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army
combat units in non-combat support roles (2008)

Austria
18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 7
months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2006)

Azerbaijan
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18
years of age for voluntary military service; length of military
service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Bahamas, The
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)

Bahrain
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of
age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)

Bangladesh
16 years of age for voluntary military service; 17 years
of age for officers (both with parental consent); conscription
legally possible in emergency, but has never been implemented (2008)

Barbados
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger
requires parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Belarus
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Belgium
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
suspended (2008)

Belize
18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow
for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription
has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available
positions by 3:1 (2008)

Benin
21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes
are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18
months (2006)

Bermuda
18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for
conscription as needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely
voluntary; term of service 39 months (2007)

Bhutan
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Bolivia
18 years of age for 12-month compulsory military service;
when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory
recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as
14; 15-19 years of age for voluntary premilitary service, provides
exemption from further military service (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
17 years of age for voluntary military
service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; conscription
abolished January 2006; 4-month service obligation (2006)

Botswana
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the
official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown
(2001)

Brazil
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)

Brunei
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service;
non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)

Bulgaria
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the
Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription
ended as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and Naval
Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)

Burkina Faso
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes;
forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited,
reportedly continues (2007)

Burundi
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; children as young as 10 years of age have been conscripted
into the armed forces; the enrollment of children is still not
prohibited (2007)

Cambodia
conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between
18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation
(2006)

Cameroon
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers
(2006)

Canada
17 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and
military college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent
residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service
obligation 3-9 years (2008)

Cape Verde
18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military
service; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Central African Republic
18 years of age for compulsory and
voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation
(2006)

Chad
20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation;
18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for
volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to 1 year
of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Chile
18-45 years of age for voluntary male and female military
service, although the right to compulsory recruitment is retained;
service obligation - 12 months for Army, 22 months for Navy and Air
Force (2008)

China
18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service,
with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary
service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women
high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military
jobs (2007)

Colombia
18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18-45 years of age for military
service

Congo, Republic of the
18 years of age for voluntary military
service; women allowed to serve (2007)

Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2008)

Croatia
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age with consent for voluntary service; 6-month conscript service
obligation; full conversion to professional military service by 2010
(2006)

Cuba
17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
service obligation; both sexes subject to military service (2006)

Cyprus
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for
compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of
age for voluntary service; females are not conscripted; age of
military eligibility 17 to 50; length of normal service is 25 months
with a minimum of 3 months (2006)

Czech Republic
18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 for
compulsory military service (2008)

Denmark
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies
from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are
assigned to mobilization units following completion of their
conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service
(2004)

Djibouti
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 16-25 years
of age for voluntary military training; no conscription (2008)

Dominican Republic
18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2007)

Ecuador
20 years of age for selective conscript military service;
12-month service obligation (2008)

Egypt
18-30 years of age for male conscript military service;
service obligation 12-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve
obligation (2008)

El Salvador
18 years of age for selective compulsory military
service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; service obligation -
8 months, but 11 months for officers and NCOs (2008)

Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military
service (2008)

Eritrea
18-40 years of age for male and female voluntary and
compulsory military service; 16-month conscript service obligation
(2006)

Estonia
compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;
conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon
leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a
different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to
retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and
Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17
years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60
(2006)

Ethiopia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; theoretically, no compulsory military service, but the
military can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance is
compulsory (2008)

Fiji
18 years of age for voluntary military service; reserve
obligation to age 45 (2006)

Finland
18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory national
military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months
(2008)

France
17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military
service); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve
in noncombat military posts (2005)

Gabon
20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service
(2007)

Gambia, The
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Georgia
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active
duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(2005)

Germany
18 years of age (conscripts serve a 9-month tour of
compulsory military service) (2004)

Ghana
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Greece
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during
wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year
of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years
of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 1 year for all
services; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2008)

Guatemala
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable
for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to
24 months; women can serve as officers (2007)

Guinea
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
conscript service obligation (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age for selective compulsory military
service (2006)

Guyana
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Honduras
18 years of age for voluntary 2 to 3-year military service
(2004)

Hungary
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004; 6-month service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 50 (2006)

India
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008)

Indonesia
18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary
military service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve
obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)

Iran
19 years of age 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 - 18 months; women exempt from military
service (2008)

Iraq
18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)

Ireland
17-25 years of age for male or female voluntary military
service (17-27 years of age for the Naval Service); enlistees 16
years of age can be recruited for apprentice specialist positions;
maximum obligation 12 years; 17-35 years of age for the Reserve
Defense Forces; EU citizenship or 5-year residence in Ireland
required (2008)

Israel
18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary
(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are
obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36
months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for
officers; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women) (2008)

Italy
18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch;
10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45
(Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006)

Jamaica
18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger
recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

Japan
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Jordan
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are
required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Kazakhstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers
NA (2004)

Kenya
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary service, with a 9-year
obligation (2007)

Korea, North
17 years of age (2004)

Korea, South
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service,
with middle school education required; conscript service obligation
- 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be
reduced to 18 months beginning 2016); 18-26 years of age for
voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted
to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from
artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 women
serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of
all officers (2008)

Kuwait
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training;
women have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Laos
15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum
18-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Latvia
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled
to serve in the armed forces for life (2006)

Lebanon
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2007)

Lesotho
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Liberia
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Libya
17 years of age (2004)

Lithuania
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18
years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation
(2006)

Luxembourg
17-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with
peacekeeping missions; no conscription; Luxembourg citizen or EU
citizen with 3-year residence in Luxembourg (2008)

Macedonia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Madagascar
18-25 years of age for male-only compulsory military
service; 18-month conscript service obligation (either military or
equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National
Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military
experience) (2008)

Malawi
18 years of age for voluntary military service; standard
obligation is 2 years of active duty and 5 years of reserve service
(2007)

Malaysia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Maldives
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Mali
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years (2008)

Malta
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Mauritania
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2
years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in
Air Force and Navy is voluntary (2006)

Mexico
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary enlistment; conscripts serve only in the Army; Navy and
Air Force service is all voluntary; women are eligible for voluntary
military service (2007)

Moldova
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month
service obligation (2006)

Mongolia
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense
forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5
percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed
overseas for military operations (2006)

Montenegro
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Morocco
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Mozambique
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
2-year service obligation (2006)

Namibia
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Nepal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of
age for military training; no conscription (2008)

Netherlands
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment;
no conscription (2004)

New Zealand
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2008)

Nicaragua
17 years of age for voluntary military service; tour of
duty 18-36 months (2008)

Niger
17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; 2-year
service term; women may serve in health care (2008)

Nigeria
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Norway
18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16
years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18
years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice
shortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18
and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called to
duty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age
for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2006)

Oman
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Pakistan
16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air
Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and
sailors (2006)

Papua New Guinea
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Paraguay
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy (2006)

Peru
18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military
service; no conscription (2008)

Philippines
18-25 years of age (officers 21-29) for compulsory and
voluntary military service; applicants must be single male or female
Philippine citizens (2007)

Poland
17 years of age for male compulsory military service after
January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for
voluntary military service; conscript service obligation shortened
from 12 to 9 months in 2005; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of
military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have
completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for
professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to
serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2006)

Portugal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory
military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on
naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some
combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)

Qatar
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Romania
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
officially ended October 2006; all military inductees (including
women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive 3-year terms until
the age of 36 (2006)

Russia
18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military
service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;
service obligation - 1 year; reserve obligation to age 50; as of
July 2008, a draft military strategy called for the draft to
continue up to the year 2030 (2008)

Rwanda
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2008)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 years of age for voluntary military
service; no conscription (2008)

San Marino
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force
(2006)

Sao Tome and Principe
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Saudi Arabia
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Senegal
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Serbia
19-35 years of age for compulsory military service; under a
state of war or impending war, conscription can begin at age 16;
conscription is to be abolished in 2010; 9-month service obligation,
with a reserve obligation to age 60 for men and 50 for women (2007)

Seychelles
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger
with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Sierra Leone
17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service
(younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Singapore
18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service;
16 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation,
with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers)
(2008)

Slovakia
17-30 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)

Slovenia
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2003 (2007)

South Africa
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women
have a long history of military service in noncombat roles dating
back to World War I (2004)

Spain
20 years of age (2004)

Sri Lanka
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2007)

Sudan
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year
service obligation (2006)

Suriname
18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with
personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)

Swaziland
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service; no conscription (2008)

Sweden
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force);
after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment
until age 47 (2006)

Switzerland
19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18
years of age for voluntary male and female military service; the
Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do
military service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days
in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory
training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training
during the next 10 years (2008)

Syria
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);
women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)