Military branches:

Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (Marine Nationale, includes Naval Air), Air Force (Armee de l'Air, includes air defense), National Gendarmerie (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-40 years of age for male or female voluntary military service); no conscription; 12-month service obligation; women serve in noncombat military posts (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,646,427
females age 16-49: 14,379,630 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,110,718
females age 16-49: 11,849,988 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

males age 16-49: 401,379
females age 16-49: 382,409 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2005 est.)