Every figure on this page is publicly documented by the relevant defence ministry. We do not estimate, do not extrapolate, and do not sensationalise. The purpose is informed consent — if you're about to sign a contract, you deserve to know what the historical record looks like for the military you're joining.
How we handle this
Casualty data is sourced exclusively from defence-ministry official records and casualty information systems (DMDC Casualty Analysis System for the US, UK MoD operational casualty statistics, Ministère des Armées rolls, CAF and AWM records, Bundeswehr, Difesa, IDF Spokesperson). We exclude commercial aggregator data and unofficial estimates. Ongoing operations (notably Israel since October 2023) are described as evolving rather than fixed.
Five principles for reading this page
01Numbers in this comparison are publicly documented and named. We do not estimate, infer, or extrapolate. If a number is uncertain or evolving (like Israel's ongoing operations), we say so directly.
02Casualty totals are not directly comparable across militaries without context — force size, operational role, rules of engagement, and combat tempo all matter. A small absolute total in a small force can represent a higher per-capita exposure.
03Roles within a single military experience radically different risk. An infantry rifleman, a SOF operator, and a logistics support specialist deployed to the same theatre carry different statistical exposure.
04Wounded figures (WIA) are systematically undercounted in early casualty reporting. Long-tail injuries — TBI, severe PTSD, hearing loss, musculoskeletal trauma — show up in later veterans' affairs filings, not battle-day reports.
05This is information you should have before you enlist. Not to discourage anyone — to inform consent. Recruiters do not lead with this data. They should be able to.
Country records
🇺🇸
United States
Current operational picture
Counter-terrorism operations continue in multiple AORs; no declared large-scale combat operations equivalent to Iraq/Afghanistan since 2021 withdrawal
Documented records
Operation Iraqi Freedom / New Dawn2003–2011
KIA
4,431 (including hostile and non-hostile in-theatre deaths recorded by DoD)
WIA
31,994 WIA reported by DoD Casualty Analysis System
Publicly named casualties announced by DoD; total significantly lower than OIF/OEF
WIA
Reported periodically by CENTCOM
Includes January 2024 Tower 22 (Jordan) attack — 3 US Army Reservists KIA
Roles disproportionately exposed
Highest losses historically concentrated in infantry (11B), combat engineer (12B), Marine 03xx, SOF, EOD, and convoy support roles. Aviation losses also significant, particularly rotary-wing.
Source: defense.gov DoD Casualty Status; DMDC Casualty Analysis System
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
Current operational picture
No declared combat operations comparable to Iraq/Afghanistan since UK combat operations ended in Afghanistan in 2014
Documented records
Operation TELIC (Iraq)2003–2011
KIA
179 British personnel killed (published by MoD)
WIA
Reported by MoD operational casualty tables
Includes 136 killed as a result of hostile action
Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan)2002–2014
KIA
457 British personnel killed (published by MoD)
WIA
Hospital admissions and very seriously injured/seriously injured categories published in MoD operational casualty statistics
Peak casualty period during Helmand operations 2006–2010
Roles disproportionately exposed
Concentrated in Infantry, Royal Marines, Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps EOD, and aviation. Helmand IED campaign drove the bulk of UK Afghan losses.
Source: gov.uk MoD Operational casualty statistics
🇫🇷
France
Current operational picture
Continuing CT operations; Sahel posture restructured after Barkhane ended November 2022
Documented records
Opération Serval / Barkhane (Sahel)2013–2022
KIA
59 French soldiers killed during Barkhane and Serval combined (Ministère des Armées published roll)
WIA
Wounded figures published by SSA/Ministère des Armées
Highest concentration of losses for a French expeditionary operation since the Indochina/Algeria eras
Opération Chammal (Levant)2014–present
KIA
Individual losses named; total significantly lower than Sahel
WIA
Periodic updates
Includes 2 commandos marine killed in Burkina Faso 2019 hostage rescue (Op Tristan)
Roles disproportionately exposed
Special operations forces (Commandos Marine, 1er RPIMa, GCM), Légion étrangère, and aviation crews represented disproportionately.
Source: defense.gouv.fr; État-major des armées
🇨🇦
Canada
Current operational picture
No active combat operations comparable to Afghanistan since 2014
Documented records
CAF Afghanistan mission2001–2014
KIA
158 CAF members killed (CAF official record) + diplomats/contractors
WIA
CAF published wounded totals for the mission
Highest per-capita losses among major NATO contributors in Afghanistan during the Kandahar tour period
Roles disproportionately exposed
Concentrated in PPCLI/RCR/R22eR infantry, combat engineers, and JTF2/CSOR. IED-related losses dominated.
41 Australian soldiers killed (ADF published roll of honour)
WIA
Hundreds wounded; ADF published categorical totals
Peak losses during operations in Uruzgan province
Iraq War 2003 + ongoing training2003 onward
KIA
Smaller numbers; published by ADF
WIA
Published by ADF
Australian combat role smaller-scale than US/UK
Roles disproportionately exposed
SASR, 2 Commando Regiment, and infantry battalions concentrated most heavily in combat losses.
Source: defence.gov.au; awm.gov.au Roll of Honour
🇩🇪
Germany
Current operational picture
No combat operations comparable to ISAF since 2014 withdrawal; Mali (MINUSMA) ended 2024
Documented records
Bundeswehr ISAF (Afghanistan)2002–2014
KIA
59 Bundeswehr personnel killed (Bundeswehr published total)
WIA
Published by Bundeswehr Operations Command
Largest German combat casualty toll since World War II
MINUSMA Mali2013–2024
KIA
Small number, including July 2017 Tiger helicopter crash (2 KIA)
WIA
Periodic
High-risk operation in the UN system
Roles disproportionately exposed
Fallschirmjäger, KSK, and combat engineers carried the heaviest combat exposure.
Source: bundeswehr.de Einsätze; bmvg.de
🇮🇹
Italy
Current operational picture
UNIFIL lead-nation role in Lebanon ongoing; Iraq training continues
Documented records
ISAF Afghanistan2002–2014
KIA
53 Italian soldiers killed (Difesa published roll)
WIA
Hundreds wounded
Italy ran Regional Command West in Herat
Operation Antica Babilonia (Iraq)2003–2006
KIA
33 KIA — including 19 killed in November 2003 Nasiriyah carabinieri barracks bombing
WIA
Substantial wounded in Nasiriyah attack
Highest single-incident Italian military loss since WWII
Roles disproportionately exposed
Alpini, Bersaglieri, Folgore paratroopers, Carabinieri MSU, and 9° Reggimento Col Moschin took heaviest exposure.
Source: difesa.it
🇮🇱
Israel
Current operational picture
Ongoing multi-front operational tempo since October 2023
Documented records
IDF operations October 2023 onward2023–present
KIA
IDF publishes individual losses via official spokesperson; cumulative totals updated regularly in MoD publications. Numbers are substantially elevated compared to the 2008–2022 baseline.
WIA
IDF publishes WIA tier counts (severe, moderate, light) periodically through official channels
Includes losses at the October 7 2023 attack itself (military and civilian casualties separately documented by Israeli authorities), Gaza ground operations, and northern-border engagements
Pre-2023 multi-year baseline2008–2022
KIA
Significantly lower per-year toll; reservist call-up and combat losses concentrated in specific operations (Cast Lead 2008-09, Pillar of Defense 2012, Protective Edge 2014, occasional escalations)
WIA
Per-operation tier counts published by IDF
Reserve service is part of the IDF risk picture and not captured by regular-force casualty rates
Roles disproportionately exposed
Combat brigades (Golani, Givati, Paratroopers, Kfir, Nahal), armoured corps (Merkava crews), engineers (Yahalom), and special operations units carry heaviest exposure.
Source: IDF Spokesperson; gov.il
If you've served and want to add context that families and prospective recruits should hear, submit anonymously through your country's landing page or email us.