World War II was an excessively costly war, not just in terms of destruction and economic fallout, but also in terms of individual lives lost. This massive war involved over 70 countries and was the bloodiest conflict in global history. As the Allies fought the Axis powers over a five year period, many battles were waged and an unprecedented 75 million people died worldwide. In the United States, both soldier and civilian casualties were high, with an estimated 418,500 deaths. Though these numbers were tragic for American citizens, some nations suffered even greater losses.
Considering the several dozen countries that entered WWII, it is not surprising that the death toll was high in multiple regions around the world, while conflict was far reaching. Even countries like Canada saw fallout from the war. However, most of the combat was centered in Europe and the Pacific, and it was in these regions where the most casualties took place.
Here 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the casualties from World War II. To identify the countries with the most casualties in World War II, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed WWII casualty statistics from World War 2 Facts, an online database of WWII battles. We ranked countries based on total casualties. We included supplemental information regarding military deaths for each country as well as civilian deaths.
Why Are We Covering This?
World War II was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history with unprecedented deaths and casualties. The outcome of this war largely determined the world we know today, along with many of the current geopolitical and military relationships. Understanding how these countries were impacted by World War II and the casualties that resulted from it provides context for these alliances and greater insight into international relations in general.
Here is a look at the countries with the most casualties in World War II:
27. Denmark
- Total casualties: 3,200
- Military deaths: 2,100
- Civilian deaths: 1,000
26. Norway
- Total casualties: 9,500
- Military deaths: 3,000
- Civilian deaths: 5,800
25. New Zealand
- Total casualties: 11,900
- Military deaths: 11,900
- Civilian deaths: 0
24. South Africa
- Total casualties: 11,900
- Military deaths: 11,900
- Civilian deaths: 0
23. Spain
- Total casualties: 14,500
- Military deaths: 4,500
- Civilian deaths: 10,000
22. Bulgaria
- Total casualties: 25,000
- Military deaths: 22,000
- Civilian deaths: 3,000
21. Australia
- Total casualties: 40,500
- Military deaths: 39,800
- Civilian deaths: 0
20. Canada
- Total casualties: 45,300
- Military deaths: 45,300
- Civilian deaths: 0
19. Belgium
- Total casualties: 86,100
- Military deaths: 12,100
- Civilian deaths: 49,600
18. Finland
- Total casualties: 97,000
- Military deaths: 95,000
- Civilian deaths: 2,000
17. Netherlands
- Total casualties: 301,000
- Military deaths: 21,000
- Civilian deaths: 176,000
16. Czechoslovakia
- Total casualties: 345,000
- Military deaths: 25,000
- Civilian deaths: 320,000
15. Austria
- Total casualties: 384,700
- Military deaths: 261,000
- Civilian deaths: 58,700
14. United States
- Total casualties: 418,500
- Military deaths: 416,800
- Civilian deaths: 1,700
13. Great Britain
- Total casualties: 449,800
- Military deaths: 382,700
- Civilian deaths: 67,100
12. Italy
- Total casualties: 456,000
- Military deaths: 301,400
- Civilian deaths: 145,100
11. Greece
- Total casualties: 560,000
- Military deaths: 35,000
- Civilian deaths: 525,000
10. France
- Total casualties: 567,600
- Military deaths: 217,600
- Civilian deaths: 267,000
9. Hungary
- Total casualties: 580,000
- Military deaths: 300,000
- Civilian deaths: 280,000
8. Germany
- Total casualties: 772,800
- Military deaths: 5,533,000
- Civilian deaths: 2,035,000
7. Romania
- Total casualties: 833,000
- Military deaths: 300,000
- Civilian deaths: 64,000
6. Yugoslavia
- Total casualties: 1,027,000
- Military deaths: 446,000
- Civilian deaths: 514,000
5. India
- Total casualties: 2,087,000
- Military deaths: 87,000
- Civilian deaths: 2,000,000
4. Japan
- Total casualties: 2,700,000
- Military deaths: 2,120,000
- Civilian deaths: 580,000
3. Poland
- Total casualties: 5,700,000
- Military deaths: 240,000
- Civilian deaths: 2,400,000
2. China
- Total casualties: 15,000,000
- Military deaths: 3,500,000
- Civilian deaths: 11,500,000
1. Soviet Union
- Total casualties: 26,600,000
- Military deaths: 9,750,000
- Civilian deaths: 13,204,000
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The post This Nation’s Army Lost the Most Lives During WWII and It’s Not Even Close appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..