Falling birth rates could make male-only conscription harder to sustain

Estonia may struggle to meet its annual conscription target using men alone as the number of births falls, Defence Resources Agency Director General Anu Rannaveski told ERR. She said the country needs to find ways to involve more women in military service.

The commander of the Defence Forces sets the annual number of conscripts based on the reserve force required. In recent years, about 3,600 to 3,800 people have been called up annually. From next year, the target will rise to as many as 4,100.

About 50 women have entered conscription each year since they were first allowed to do so in 2013, Rannaveski said. The figure has varied from around 45 to 60, and women currently make up 1% to 2% of conscripts. Unlike men, who are actively contacted by the state, women must decide for themselves to volunteer.

Rannaveski said the number of boys born in Estonia is declining. While about 8,000 are born each year at present, she said, it will become increasingly difficult to reach the target of 4,100 conscripts. She added that more than half of society currently lacks an opportunity to contribute to national defence.

Women can serve in different units, and Rannaveski rejected the idea that they are suited only to specific roles. Physical abilities develop during service for both women and men; she noted that only about a third of young men entering conscription meet the required physical standards.

Women serve in the same barracks and rooms as the men in their units, using lockers to create private space. Hygiene facilities are generally separate.

Rannaveski said meeting the target with men alone could become difficult between 2035 and 2040, and that the system may need to become more compulsory. She hopes Estonia can develop a selection system similar to those in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, where not all women are required to serve and candidates are chosen according to motivation, knowledge, experience and skills the military needs.