Survey shows Portuguese citizens agree with voluntary military service and compulsory service

Around 60% of the Portuguese population agrees with voluntary military service and 40% favours the return of compulsory service, a percentage that increases in groups over 45 years old, indicates a study by the National Defence Institute.

The survey, presented on Wednesday, is the result of a partnership between the Institute of National Defence (IDN), the Directorate General of National Defence Resources (DGRDN), the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ICS-ULisboa) and the Portuguese Institute of International Relations (IPRI-Nova).

Military service ceased to be compulsory in Portugal in 2004 and the majority of those polled (59.7%) agree with this model. However, a “relevant fringe” of around 40% show a preference for compulsory military service.

“Although the preference for voluntary service is greater in all age groups, it can be seen that as age increases, so does the percentage of the population in favour of compulsory military service”, the study points out.

There are significant variations when analysed by age group: the overwhelming majority of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 are in favour of voluntary service (74.1%), and between the ages of 25 and 44, this figure drops to 65.1%.

It is from the age of 45 onwards that the percentage of respondents who would prefer compulsory military service exceeds the average (42.9%), and above the age of 65 it is close to 50%.