Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defence League (Reserves); Ministry of Interior: Border Guards (2021)
National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (2021)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2019)
18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007); under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.33% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.03% of GDP (2019)
2.01% of GDP (2018)
2.01% of GDP (2017)
2.27% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.03% of GDP (2019)
2.06% of GDP (2018)
1.59% of GDP (2017)
1.44% of GDP (2016)
Military - note
Estonia officially became a member of NATO in 2004
Latvia officially became a member of NATO in 2004
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Estonian Defense Forces have approximately 6,500 active duty personnel (2021)
the National Armed Forces of Latvia have approximately 6,000 active duty troops (5,000 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Estonian Defense Forces have a limited inventory of Soviet-era and more recently acquired modern weapons systems, largely from France and the Netherlands (2020)
the Latvian military's inventory is limited and consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and more modern--mostly second-hand--European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from several European countries, as well as the US (2020)
