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 have changed over time.

Line chart showing active-duty military deaths

The US military recorded 1.19 million fatalities between 1775 and 1991, including 651,031 battle deaths and 539,054 deaths outside of combat.
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.
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.

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.

Data behind the news

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Test your knowledge of the latest government numbers with our quiz.

One last fact

Pie graph showing how military funding is allocated

Of the armed forces managed by the Defense Department, the Air Force is receiving the most direct funding from the 2024 defense budget: $216.1 billion. President Biden signed the $841.4 billion defense budget (slightly less than the initial request) into law on December 22, 2023.