Denmark plans to conscript one in five young adults for military service

Denmark’s military aims to conscript up to 13,000 young men and women annually by the mid-2030s, requiring roughly one in five 18-year-olds to serve, according to internal government documents obtained by Danish broadcaster DR.

The expansion—described in the documents as a “significant increase” in conscripts—comes as the Danish Defence Command warns that current troop levels are insufficient to meet security needs. The Defence Ministry states that without adequate personnel, the military cannot fulfill its core tasks.

Under the accelerated plan, Denmark will raise its annual conscription target from the current 6,500 to 10,000 by 2033, three years ahead of the original schedule. The Defence Chief’s recommendation of 13,000 conscripts—proposed for 2035 by acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen—would mark a near-doubling of the 2030 goal.

The buildup follows years of personnel shortages, with the army lacking one in four soldiers and naval frigates operating with incomplete crews. The expansion is projected to cost a “double-digit billion” sum, part of a broader 25 billion kroner ($3.6 billion) plan to bolster troop numbers. The documents note that economic impacts, such as removing young adults from the workforce, remain unassessed.

Defence Command declined to comment, stating that military recommendations to political leaders are not disclosed publicly.