Estonia

Previous reports: 2024 | 2023/24

Based on information from EBCO’s Finnish member, AKL (Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto - the Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors):²

Developments

A government proposal adopted by the Estonian Ministry of Defence plans to extend compulsory military service to a uniform 12-month period for all conscripts starting January 1, 2027, replacing the current mixed system of 8- and 11-month periods.³

In late 2025, the Estonian parliament approved a change to the Military Service Act requiring conscripts to have at least B1 level Estonian language skills to be called up. Those without the required proficiency may defer service until age 28 and remain in conscript status with adjusted reserve placement terms.⁴

In public debate, several politicians have raised the possibility of assigning conscripts who do not have sufficient language skills to perform military service, to alternative service, which is currently only available to conscientious objectors.^5,6

Conscientious objection provisions and procedures

Unlike in previous years, no precise information on the number of applicants and those accepted for alternative service in 2024 and 2025 appears to be available from public sources.

An opinion text in Estonian media claimed that there are over 800 reservists of military age in Estonia who have completed alternative service. According to the same article, over 100 applications are submitted each year, but only 40-80 people are selected for service.⁷ AKL couldn’t verify the numbers from more reliable sources but previous reports support that they are approximately correct.

According to the Estonian Defence Resources Agency (Kaitseressursside Amet), “As of January 1, 2021, there were 70 persons in alternative service, which is 30 more than in the same period in 2019. In 2020, interest in completing alternative service remained high. A total of 174 applications for alternative service were submitted, which is similar to the previous reporting period (170 applications were submitted in 2019 and 174 in 2018). Due to budgetary constraints, only 74 persons were allowed to perform alternative service.”⁸

In 2023, the difference between the number of applicants and those accepted for alternative service was even greater: according to the same agency's annual report, 171 applications were received at that time, but only 43 people performed the service. The annual report did not comment on why not all applicants performed the service.⁹

Under Estonian conscription law, the Defence Resources Agency may verify alternative service applications by requesting explanations from the applicant and inquiring into their place of study or work, as well as the religious organisations they have cited.¹⁰ While public sources contain no documented cases of rejected applications resulting from these inquiries, such rejections cannot be ruled out.

Militarisation of the education system

Estonia maintains voluntary cadet and defence clubs that introduce youth to military and defence topics, but these are non-mandatory and remain extracurricular.¹¹

1. Military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2026.↩︎
2. More info about the organisation at: https://akl-web.fi↩︎
3. ERR News, 11 December 2025. Estonia plans to extend military service to 12 months from 2027. https://news.err.ee/1609882429/estonia-plans-to-extend-conscription-to-12-months-from-2027↩︎
4. ERR News, 27 November 2025 . Non-Estonian speakers excluded from conscription call-up from 2026. https://news.err.ee/1609869276/estonia-excludes-non-estonian-speakers-from-conscription-call-up-from-2026↩︎
5. Uued uudised, 18 December 2025. Varro Vooglaid: kui kutsealune ei suuda riigikeelt selgeks saada, tuleb ta saata asendusteenistusse. https://uueduudised.ee/varro-vooglaid-kui-kutsealune-ei-suuda-riigikeelt-selgeks-saada-tuleb-ta-saata-asendusteenistusse/↩︎
6. ERR Uudised, 15 December 2025. Stoicescu: president mõistab ajateenijate keelenõude vajadust. https://www.err.ee/1609885729/stoicescu-president-moistab-ajateenijate-keelenoude-vajadust↩︎
7. Äripäev, 13 April 2025. Olav Kersen: 800 meest ootab juhiseid ja väljaõpet, et panustada laiapindsesse riigikaitsesse. https://www.aripaev.ee/arvamused/2025/04/13/olav-kersen-800-meest-ootab-juhiseid-ja-valjaopet-et-panustada-laiapindsesse-riigikaitsesse↩︎

8. Estonian Defence Resources Agency (Kaitseressursside Amet). 2021.

   Aruanne kaitseväekohustuse täitmisest ja kaitseväeteenistuse korraldamisest 2020. aastal. https://kra.ee/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/aruanne_kaitsevaekohustuse_taitmisest_riigis_2020.pdf↩︎

9. Estonian Defence Resources Agency (Kaitseressursside Amet). 2024. Aruanne kaitseväekohustuse täitmisest ja kaitseväeteenistuse korraldamisest 2023. aastal. https://kra.ee/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20240513_VVAruanne23.pdf↩︎
10. Riikikogu 2012. Military Service Act. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/519092014003/consolide↩︎

11. Riigiportaal Eesti.ee 2025. Women's and youth organisations of the Estonian Defence League.

    https://www.eesti.ee/eraisik/en/artikkel/security-and-defense/voluntary-participation-in-national-defence/womens-and-youth-organisations-of-the-estonian-defence-league↩︎