Possible estimates on the number of people killed in the invasion and occupation of Iraq vary widely, and are highly disputed. For more info see Casualties of the conflict in Iraq since 2003. Estimates of casualties below include both the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the following Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present.
Iraqi deaths |
Estimates range from approximately 60,000 civilian deaths (Iraq Body Count project) to 655,000 total excess deaths due to the war (second Lancet survey of mortality).
The Iraq Body Count (IBC) project's figure of 59,720 to 65,573 civilian deaths reported in English-language media (including Arabic media translated into English) up to 25 March 2007 includes civilian deaths due to coalition and insurgent military action, sectarian violence and increased criminal violence. The IBC says the figure likely underestimates because: "It is likely that many if not most civilian casualties will go unreported by the media."[1]
The Lancet study's figure of 655,000 is based on surveys and sampling methods and estimates total excess deaths (civilian and non-civilian) up to July 2006, and includes those due to increased lawlessness, degraded infrastructure, poorer healthcare, etc.[2]
The United Nations reported that 34,452 violent civilian deaths occurred in 2006, based on data from morgues, hospitals, and municipal authorities across Iraq.[3] For comparison, the IBC reports approximately 24,500 civilian deaths in 2006.[4] The Lancet study's excess mortality rate figure of 14.2 deaths/1000/year as of June 2006 corresponds to approximately 370,000 deaths in 2006.[5]
A figure of 100,000 to 150,000 was estimated by Iraq's Health Minister in a November 2006 press conference, based on extrapolating the recent 2006 rate of 100 deaths per day recorded in hospitals and morgues backward to March 2003. War-related deaths (civilian and non-civilian), and deaths from criminal gangs.[6]
"At least 50,000 Iraqis have died violently"—as of June 2006. "Many more Iraqis are believed to have been killed but not counted because of serious lapses in recording deaths. ... The [Los Angeles] Times attempted to reach a comprehensive figure by obtaining statistics from the Baghdad morgue and the Health Ministry and checking those numbers against a sampling of local health departments for possible undercounts."[7]
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U.S. armed forces |
3,252 dead. 24,314 wounded in action, of which 10,841 were unable to return to duty within 72 hours. 6,991 non-hostile injuries and 19,197 diseases (both requiring medical air transport). As of 2 April 2007.[8][9] |
Coalition deaths by hostile fire. |
2,839 of the 3,512 coalition military deaths, including 2,643 of the 3,252 U.S. deaths. As of 2 April 2007.[10][11] |
Armed forces of other coalition countries |
See Multinational force in Iraq
259 total. Breakdown: Australia 2. Bulgaria 13. Denmark 6. El Salvador 5. Estonia 2. Hungary 1. Italy 33. Kazakhstan 1. Latvia 3. Netherlands 2. Poland 19. Romania 2. Slovakia 4. Spain 11. Thailand 2. Ukraine 18. United Kingdom 135. As of 2 April 2007.[12][13][14]
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Contractors. |
At least 769 deaths of various nationalities between March 2003 and December 31, 2006. 7,761 wounded or injured, of which 3,367 required 4 or more days off the job.[15][16] Contractors "cook meals, do laundry, repair infrastruture, translate documents, analyze intelligence, guard prisoners, protect military convoys, deliver water in the heavily fortified Green Zone and stand sentry at buildings - often highly dangerous duties almost identical to those performed by many U.S. troops."[17] Employees of U.S. government contractors and subcontractors.[18] |
Non-Iraqi civilians |
Not counting contractors, at least 201 mostly non-Iraqi individuals have been killed since the 2003 invasion (86 journalists, 37 media support workers, and 78 aid workers).[19][20][21][22]
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- References
- ↑ Bush, George W., "President Discusses War on Terror and Upcoming Iraqi Elections ". White House transcript. Dec. 12, 2005. Says 30,000 Iraqi dead.
- ↑ "Bush: Iraqi democracy making progress". CNN. Dec. 12, 2005. "I would say 30,000, more or less, have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis," Bush said. CNN writes: "White House spokesman Scott McClellan later said Bush was basing his statement on media reports, 'not an official government estimate.' "
- ↑ Iraq Body Count project. "Quick-FAQ" link on sidebar (source of quote on undercounting by media).
- ↑ "A Week in Iraq - Iraq Body Count". Week ending Dec. 31, 2006.
- ↑ "Iraqi death toll estimates go as high as 150,000". Taipei Times, Nov. 11, 2006.
- ↑ "War's Iraqi Death Toll Tops 50,000". Louise Roug and Doug Smith. Los Angeles Times. June 25, 2006.
- ↑ "Iraqi Death Toll Exceeded 34,000 in '06, U.N. Says". By Sabrina Tavernise. New York Times. Jan. 17, 2007.
- ↑ 2006 Lancet study. PDF file of Lancet article: "Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey"PDF. By Gilbert Burnham, Riyadh Lafta, Shannon Doocy, and Les Roberts. The Lancet, October 11, 2006.
- ↑ Supplement to 2006 Lancet study: "The Human Cost of the War in Iraq: A Mortality Study, 2002-2006"PDF. By Gilbert Burnham, Shannon Doocy, Elizabeth Dzeng, Riyadh Lafta, and Les Roberts.
- ↑ "Forces: U.S. & Coalition Casualties". CNN, From March 2003 onwards.
- ↑ iCasualties.org (was lunaville.org). Benicia, California. Patricia Kneisler, et al., "Iraq Coalition Casualties".
- ↑ iCasualties - "Deaths By Coalition Country".
- ↑ iCasualties - Journalist deaths in Iraq.
- ↑ iCasualties - Coalition fatalities by cause of death.
- ↑ iCasualties - "Iraq Coalition Casualties: Hostile - NonHostile Deaths".
- ↑ iCasualties - "U.S. Wounded By Week".
- ↑ iCasualties - "Iraq Coalition Casualties: Contractor Deaths". Incomplete list.
- ↑ "Contractor deaths in Iraq nearing 800". By David Ivanovich and Brett Clanton. Houston Chronicle. Jan. 28, 2007.
- ↑ "Iraq Contractor Deaths Go Little Noticed". By Michelle Roberts. The Guardian. Feb. 23, 2007.
- ↑ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). "IRAQ: Journalists in Danger".
- ↑ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). "Media support workers killed since March 2003".
- ↑ "NCCI - NGO coordination committee in Iraq". Aid workers killed in Iraq since 2003.
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