Austria’s armed forces recorded a slight increase in conscripts and volunteers in 2024. Of 28,778 men deemed fit for service, about 16,361—around 57 percent—opted for compulsory military service, according to a statement issued Tuesday by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner of the ÖVP. In 2023, the figure was 15,771, or 54 percent. The number of men actually called up in 2024 and the number deemed fit remained almost unchanged year on year. The share of volunteers rose by 0.5 percentage points.
Slight increase in conscripts in 2024
Tanner said the figures show “that compulsory military service continues to be seen as a meaningful contribution to the country’s security.” Over the past ten years, only 2017 and 2018 saw slightly higher numbers of fit young men willing to serve—each with just under 16,800—reflecting the larger birth cohorts of those years and a comparable share of about 57 percent. While the absolute number of fit candidates has declined since then, the proportion deemed fit rose from 76 percent in 2018 to 79 percent in both 2023 and 2024.
Call-ups remain at a low level
However, the number of conscripts actually reporting for service remains low. In 2024, 14,661 conscripts began their six-month service—345 more than in 2023—but this is still the lowest level of the past decade. From 2015, when 19,122 conscripts reported for duty, to 2021, with 15,824 call-ups, the numbers fell steadily, briefly exceeding 16,000 again only in 2022. By contrast, volunteer registrations increased slightly by 0.5 percentage points, from 1,121 to 1,223. The peak was recorded in 2021 with 1,343 volunteers, while the lowest number—428—was seen in 2015.
According to the Defense Ministry, Austria’s armed forces—Austrian Armed Forces—currently comprise about 14,200 professional soldiers, 33,000 reservists, and 15,000 conscripts. While women still account for just 0.4 percent of the reserve, their numbers rose sharply from two in 2015 to nearly 120 by December 2025.
Possible referendum on military service
The publication of the figures comes amid a debate on extending compulsory service. The Wehrdienstkommission recommends an “8 plus 2” model: eight months of basic service followed by a total of two months of reserve training. Civilian service would last at least twelve months. The proposal is controversial within the coalition. Last Friday, Chancellor Christian Stocker unexpectedly announced plans to hold a referendum on the issue, a move that coalition partners SPÖ and NEOS said they had not been informed about. Commission chair Erwin Hameseder rejected the idea in an interview with Die Presse, calling instead for a “clear and immediate decision” by policymakers.
