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Updated July 1, 2020
Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
Summary of Deaths
Generally, servicemembers died as the result of accident,
Between 2006 and 2020, a total of 17,645 active-duty
self-inflicted wounds, or illness. Approximately 16%
personnel have died while serving in the U.S. Armed
(1,915) involved vehicles. Alcohol was a factor in 14% of
Forces. (Throughout this In Focus, the designation “active
all accidental deaths. The data do not indicate whether
duty” refers to all active duty troops, including mobilized
alcohol was also involved in deaths due to self-inflicted
Reserve and Guard components.) Of those that died, 26%
wounds, illness, or vehicles.
were killed while serving in OCO operations—primarily
within the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan. The remaining
OCO Deaths
74% died during operations classified in this In Focus as
Approximately 4,577 military personnel have died in OCO
Non-Overseas Contingency Operations, or Non-OCO.
operations in 25 countries (and locations at sea).
Figure 1 summarizes all service deaths since 2006.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) caused 45% of all
U.S. deaths in operational war zones. The lethality of IEDs
Figure 1. Active Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
closely tracked surges of troop deployments to OCO
operations, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Figure 2. Deaths in Overseas Contingency Operations

Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data
Center (DMDC), Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
to CRS, June 6, 2020.
Note: Dataset for 2020 is incomplete.


Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
Scope and References
to CRS, June 9, 2020.
Note: Primarily Iraq comprises Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and
Section 101 of Title 10, United States Code, defines a
Inherent Resolve; Primarily Afghanistan comprises Enduring Freedom
contingency operation as any Secretary of Defense-
and Freedom’s Sentinel. Includes casualties at al associated locations.
designated military operation “in which members of the
Dataset for 2020 is incomplete.
armed forces are or may become involved in military
actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the
Overall Deaths in Iraq
United States or against an opposing military force.” OCO
Since 2006, approximately 2,187 U.S. troops have died as
operations related to Afghanistan refer to: Operation
part of OCO operations in Iraq, with 48% of these military
Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
deaths attributable to IEDs (and their variants). Of those
OCO operations primarily related to Iraq include: Iraqi
who were not killed in IED related incidents, 37% died
Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve. Due to quality
under nonhostile conditions, primarily from accidents
issues with pre-2006 data, earlier years have been excluded
(including loss of aircraft or ground vehicle) or as the result
from this analysis.
of self-inflicted injury.
Non-OCO Deaths
Approximately 13,068 servicemembers have died in
circumstances unrelated to OCO operations since 2006. On
average, this amounts to approximately 913 non-war-
related deaths each year (excluding 2020). Personnel
perished in more than 70 countries (and at sea), with the
majority (93%) of deaths occurring in the United States.
Other locations included Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy, and
the United Kingdom.
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Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
Figure 3. Overall Deaths in Iraq
Figure 4. Overall Deaths in Afghanistan


Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
to CRS, June 6, 2020.
to CRS, June 6, 2020.
Note: Dataset for 2020 is incomplete.
Note: Dataset for 2020 is incomplete.
Overall Deaths in Afghanistan
Source of Casualty Data
Since 2006, approximately 2,000 U.S. troops have died in
Data in this In Focus were provided by the Defense
Afghanistan. Nearly half (46%) of all these military deaths
Manpower Data Center (DMDC). When a U.S. casualty
are attributable to IEDs and their variants, which took their
occurs, each service is required to complete a form (DD
greatest toll between 2009 and 2012. Most U.S. personnel
1300 Report of Casualty) that includes circumstances
not killed by IEDs during this period died as the result of
related to death. This information is subsequently entered
gunshot wounds, or after suffering other multiple physical
into the service’s Casualty and Mortuary Affairs database
trauma in action (529). From 2006 to June 6, 2020, a
(Defense Casualty Information Processing System, or
substantial number (166) have died in connection with the
DCIPS) which, in turn, is made accessible to DMDC.
loss of an aircraft or ground vehicle. Most such incidents
Casualty data are refreshed daily, and past records are
were classified as accidental (70%), and occurred under
subject to change. For details on casualty matters, policies,
nonhostile conditions.
and procedures, see Department of Defense Instruction
1300.18.
Table 1. U.S. Active-Duty Military Deaths (in all Countries), 2006-2020
Casualty
Sum of
Category
Category
Non-OCO
OCO
Category
(as % of Total)
Accident
5,120
485
5,605
31.8%
Self-inflicted
3,940
291
4,231
24.0%
Il ness / Injury
2,971
121
3,092
17.5%
Kil ed in Action
7
2,722
2,729
15.5%
Died of Wounds
1
889
890
5.0%
Homicide
514
42
556
3.2%
Undetermined
286
17
303
1.7%
Pending
211
4
215
1.2%
Terrorist
18
2
20
0.1%
While Captured
0
4
4
0.0%
Total
13,068
1
17,645
100%
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided to CRS, June 6, 2020.
Notes: The self-inflicted subcategory includes an apparent-suicide designation; for comprehensive statistics on this subject, please consult the
Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). Of the seven personnel kil ed in action during Non-OCO operations, four were kil ed in Niger, one
in Iraq, one in Kenya, and one in Somalia. Includes 35 alcohol or substance abuse related casualties during OCO operations. Dataset for 2020 is
incomplete.
Hannah Fischer, Information Research Specialist
Christopher T. Mann, Analyst in Defense Policy and
Trade
IF10899
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Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10899 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED