World War I casualties
counts of dead and wounded in WWI
The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I is estimated to be 15 to 22 million deaths and about 21 million wounded military personnel, making it one of the deadliest military conflicts in human history.
The total number of deaths includes nine to 11 million military personnel. The civilian death toll was about six to 13 million. The Triple Entente (also known as the Allies) lost about six million military personnel while the Central Powers lost about four million. At least two million died from diseases and six million went missing, presumed dead. This article lists the casualties of the belligerent powers based on official published sources.
About two-thirds of military deaths in World War I were in battle, unlike the conflicts that took place in the 19th century when most deaths were from disease. Nevertheless, disease, including the 1918 flu pandemic and deaths while held as prisoners of war, still caused about one third of total military deaths for all belligerents.
Classification of casualty statistics
Casualty statistics for World War I vary to a great extent; estimates of total deaths range from nine million to over 15 million. Military casualties reported in official sources list deaths due to all causes, including an estimated seven to eight million combat related deaths (killed or died of wounds) and another two to three million military deaths caused by accidents, disease and deaths while prisoners of war.
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