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Updated May 17, 2021
Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
Summary of Deaths
perished in approximately 75 countries (and at sea), with
Between 2006 and 2021, a total of 18,571 active-duty
the majority (93%) of deaths occurring in the United States.
personnel have died while serving in the U.S. Armed
Other locations included Germany, Japan, South Korea,
Forces. (Throughout this In Focus, the designation “active
Italy, and the United Kingdom.
duty” refers to all active duty troops, including mobilized
Reserve and Guard components.) Of those that died, 25%
Generally, servicemembers died as the result of accident,
were killed while serving in OCO operations—primarily
self-inflicted wounds, or illness. Approximately 15%
within the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan. The remaining
(2,146) involved vehicles. Alcohol or substance abuse was
75% died during operations classified in this In Focus as
a factor in 7% of all accidental deaths. The data do not
Non-Overseas Contingency Operations, or Non-OCO.
indicate whether alcohol and/or substance abuse was
Figure 1 summarizes all service deaths since 2006.
involved in deaths due to self-inflicted wounds, illness, or
vehicles.
Figure 1. Active Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
OCO Deaths
Approximately 4,602 military personnel have died in (or as
the result of) OCO operations in 28 countries and locations
at sea. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) caused
approximately half (45%) of all U.S. deaths in operational
war zones. The lethality of IEDs 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, April 6, 2021.
Note: Dataset for 2021 is incomplete.

Scope and References
Section 101 of Title 10, United States Code, defines a
contingency operation as any Secretary of Defense-
designated military operation “in which members of the
armed forces are or may become involved in military
actions, operations, or hostilities against an enemy of the
United States or against an opposing military force.” OCO
operations related to Afghanistan refers to: Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
President Biden has announced a drawdown of all 2,500

U.S. troops in that country beginning May 1 and concluding
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the war. OCO
to CRS, April 6, 2021.
operations primarily related to Iraq include Iraqi Freedom,
Notes: Primarily Iraq comprises Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and
New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve. On May 21, 2020,
Inherent Resolve; Primarily Afghanistan comprises Enduring Freedom
President Trump extended for one year the national
and Freedom’s Sentinel. Includes casualties at al associated locations.
emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq. Due to
Dataset for 2021 is incomplete.
quality issues with pre-2006 data, earlier years have been
excluded from this analysis.
Overall Deaths in Iraq
Since 2006, approximately 2,189 U.S. troops have died as
Non-OCO Deaths
part of OCO operations in Iraq, with 48% of these military
Approximately 13,969 servicemembers have died in
deaths attributable to IEDs (and their variants). Of those
circumstances unrelated to OCO operations since 2006. On
who were not killed in IED related incidents, 37% died
average, this amounts to approximately 918 non-war-
under nonhostile conditions, primarily from accidents
related deaths each year (excluding 2021). Personnel
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Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006
(including loss of aircraft or ground vehicle) or as the result
Figure 4. Overall Deaths in Afghanistan
of self-inflicted injury.
Figure 3. Overall Deaths in Iraq

Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided

to CRS, April 6, 2021.
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided
Note: Dataset for 2021 is incomplete.
to CRS, April 6, 2021.
Note: Dataset for 2021 is incomplete.
Source of Casualty Data
Data in this In Focus were provided by the Defense
Overall Deaths in Afghanistan
Manpower Data Center (DMDC). When a U.S. casualty
Since 2006, approximately 2,004 U.S. troops have died in
occurs, each service is required to complete a form (DD
Afghanistan. Nearly half (46%) of all these military deaths
1300 Report of Casualty) that includes circumstances
are attributable to IEDs and their variants, which took their
related to death. This information is subsequently entered
greatest toll between 2009 and 2012. Most U.S. personnel
into the service’s Casualty and Mortuary Affairs database
not killed by IEDs during this period died as the result of
(Defense Casualty Information Processing System, or
gunshot wounds, or after suffering other multiple physical
DCIPS) which, in turn, is made accessible to DMDC.
trauma in action (529). Between 2006 and 2021, a
Casualty data are refreshed daily, and past records are
substantial number (168) died in connection with the loss of
subject to change. For details on casualty matters, policies,
an aircraft or ground vehicle. Most such incidents were
and procedures, see Department of Defense Instruction
classified as accidental (70%), and occurred under
1300.18.
nonhostile conditions.
Table 1. U.S. Active-Duty Military Deaths in all Countries, 2006-2021 (April)
Casualty
Sum of
Category
Category
Non-OCO
OCO
Category
(as % of Total)
Accident
5,419
494
5,913
31.8%
Self-inflicted
4,315
297
4,612
24.8%
Il ness / Injury
3,133
128
3,261
17.6%
Kil ed in Action
6
2,723
2,729
14.7%
Died of Wounds
1
889
890
4.8%
Homicide
547
44
591
3.2%
Undetermined
295
18
313
1.7%
Pending
234
3
237
1.3%
Terrorist
19
2
21
0.1%
While Captured
0
4
4
0.0%
Total
13,969
4,602
18,571
100%
Source: DMDC Defense Casualty Analysis System report provided to CRS, April 6, 2021.
Notes: The self-inflicted subcategory includes an apparent-suicide designation; for comprehensive statistics on this subject, please consult the
Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). Non-OCO deaths between 2019-2020 saw a significant (136%) rise in deaths categorized as
“pending” or “uncategorized.” According to DMDC, these deaths may be recategorized at a later date.
Christopher T. Mann, Analyst in Defense Policy and
Hannah Fischer, Information Research Specialist
Trade
IF10899


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Trends in Active-Duty Military Deaths Since 2006


Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
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