ARCHIVE // KP // TIME-SERIES
Military service age and obligation
Korea, North — 21 years of data
Historical Values
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2006 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2007 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2008 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2009 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2010 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2011 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2012 | 17 years of age (2004) |
| 2013 | 18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012) |
| 2014 | 18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012) |
| 2015 | 18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012) |
| 2016 | 18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012) |
| 2017 | 17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017) |
| 2018 | 17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017) |
| 2019 | 17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2015) |
| 2020 | 17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2015) |
| 2021 | 17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (reportedly reduced in 2021 to 8 years for men and 5 years for women) (2021) |
| 2022 | 17 years of age for compulsory military service for men and women; service obligation 10 years for men, 5 years for women (some information indicates service for men was reduced in 2021 to 7-8 years) (2022) note: the bulk of the KPA is made up of conscripts; as many as 20% of North Korean males between the ages of 16 and 54 are in the military at a given time and possibly up to 30 percent of males between the ages of 18 and 27, not counting the reserves or paramilitary units |
| 2023 | 17 years of age for compulsory military service for men and women; service obligation varies from 5-13 years; reportedly up to 10 years (7 for women) for those serving in combat units and 13 years (7 for women) for specialized combat units, such as missile forces (2023) note: the bulk of the KPA is made up of conscripts; as many as 20% of North Korean males between the ages of 16 and 54 are in the military at a given time and possibly up to 30 percent of males between the ages of 18 and 27, not |
| 2024 | 17 years of age for compulsory military service for men and women; service obligation varies from 5-13 years; reportedly up to 10 years (7 for women) for those serving in combat units and 13 years (7 for women) for specialized combat units, such as missile forces (2024) note: the bulk of the KPA is made up of conscripts; as many as 20% of North Korean males between the ages of 16 and 54 are in the military at a given time and possibly up to 30 percent of males between the ages of 18 and 27, not |
| 2025 | compulsory military service for men (17-30 years of age) and women (17-23 years of age); service obligation is reportedly up to 10 years for men and up to 7 years for women (2025) |