Belgium

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Previous reports: 2024 | 2023/24




Conscription currently imposed? No

Suspended by law on 31 December 1992. Last conscripts were demobilised in March 1995.

Could be reinstated, but only by law.
Conscientious objection first recognised 1964 Law of 3rd June on Status of Conscientious Objectors
CO release of professional soldiers – No specific provision. Early release can be sought but may be denied for operational reasons.
Minimum recruitment age 18 (nominally) The formal requirement is to have completed mandatory education thus in fact a small number of 17 year olds are recruited each year.
Military expenditure1
$ (% change from 2024) Per capita % of GDP
14,532m (+58.7%) $1,237 2.0%

Principal EBCO concerns

  • No recognition of the right to conscientious objection for professional soldiers or reservists.

  • No full guarantee of international protection for conscientious objectors to military service who are at risk of persecution in their country of origin.

  • Exposure of minors to military programs and training.

Based on replies to EBCO’s questionnaire by the Ministry of Defence and public information:

Developments

By the end of 2025, all 17-year-olds had received a letter from the Ministry of Defence informing them of the possibility of enlisting for a year of voluntary military service with an income of 2000€/month. It will start in September 2026 for a selection of 500 young people (men and women). After their service, they will be member of the military reserve for a period of 10 years.2

Voluntary recruitment

Total first-time military recruitment in the years 2023 to 2025 is shown in the table below.3

Age

2023

2024

2025

Total

17

8

7

5

20

18

359

384

365

1108

19

484

472

453

1409

20

369

373

319

1061

21

279

253

267

799

22

207

197

201

605

23

195

193

158

546

24

159

190

147

496

25

143

171

170

484

26

113

150

139

402

27

99

125

122

346

28

49

82

110

241

29

59

70

61

190

30

45

69

44

158

31

26

44

33

103

32

16

31

34

81

33

14

23

29

66

34

1

1

0

2

35

0

0

1

1

36

1

0

0

1

40

0

0

1

1

Total

2626

2835

2659

8120


Gender

2023

2024

2025

Total

Female

362

411

404

1177

Male

2264

2424

2255

6943

Total

2626

2835

2659

8120

  1. Military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2026.↩︎
  2. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/08/belgium-to-follow-dutch-example-and-introduce-voluntary-military-service↩︎
  3. The numbers are different from those provided by the Ministry and included in the 2024 Annual Report. The Ministry has not provided an explanation for the discrepancy.↩︎