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The data on military service member deaths
Yesterday’s Memorial Day provided an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices military personnel have made throughout US history. Studying the evolving nature of service member deaths from the 1700s onward provides insights into how warfare and other factors have influenced soldiers’ lives and deaths. Data records show how accidental, illness-related, and suicide [deaths among American soldiers]([link removed]) have changed over time.
[Line chart showing active-duty military deaths]([link removed])
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The US military recorded 1.19 million fatalities between 1775 and 1991, including 651,031 battle deaths and 539,054 deaths outside of combat.
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World War II was the deadliest conflict in both US and human history, resulting in approximately 1.08 million American deaths and injuries. That’s about 41% of US military casualties in major conflicts.
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As of February 2024, the global war on terror — which began in October 2001 — has led to 7,085 military fatalities and 53,533 wounded service members.
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There were 60,770 active-duty deaths from 1980 to 2022, with 50,789 from accidents, illness, and self-inflicted wounds. Accidental deaths, including those from vehicle crashes and alcohol or substance use, have fallen 83% since 1980. However, deaths from self-inflicted injuries have risen by 44.1%. They are currently the most common cause of death in the military.
[Learn more at USAFacts.org]([link removed]).
Data behind the news
Destructive storms struck Houston last week, killing at least eight people and leaving thousands without power during a spate of humid weather. Is the number of natural disasters in the US increasing? [Here’s the data]([link removed]).
The increased cost of natural disasters is one of the reasons [home insurance is getting more expensive]([link removed]).
The seafood restaurant chain Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy last week. [See how many businesses]([link removed]) and people filed for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 in recent years.
The Federal Reserve just released survey results regarding the household finances of thousands of Americans. While 72% of adults surveyed said they were doing at least “okay” financially, many cited [childcare]([link removed]) costs and [inflation]([link removed]) as concerns.
Last week, the Louisiana House passed a bill to classify abortion pills as controlled substances. [These are the states that ban the pill]([link removed]), which is also called mifepristone.
Test your knowledge of the latest government numbers with [our quiz]([link removed]).
One last fact
[Pie graph showing how military funding is allocated]([link removed])
Of the armed forces managed by the Defense Department, the Air Force is receiving the most direct funding from the [2024 defense budget]([link removed]): $216.1 billion. President Biden signed the $841.4 billion defense budget (slightly less than the initial request) into law on December 22, 2023.
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