National Data | Chart | The Color of Cannon Fodder: Whites Bearing Burden in Iraq
04/03/2007
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Table 1:

U.S. Military Casualties in Iraq by Race/Ethnicity

(March 19, 2003 through March 24, 2007)

 

Total

Deaths

Wounded

 

Number

American Indian/Alaska Native

280

36

244

Asian

369

59

310

Black

2,313

313

2,000

Hispanic

1,895

347

1,548

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

173

33

140

White

20,137

2,400

17,737

Other(a)

2,375

40

2,335

Total

27,542

3,228

24,314

 

Percent of Total (%)

American Indian/Alaska Native

1.02%

1.12%

1.00%

Asian

1.34%

1.83%

1.27%

Black

8.40%

9.70%

8.23%

Hispanic

6.88%

10.75%

6.37%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

0.63%

1.02%

0.58%

White

73.11%

74.35%

72.95%

Other(a)

8.62%

1.24%

9.60%

Total

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

a. Includes multiple races, pending, or unknown.

Source: DOD Personnel and Procurement Statistics, Military Casualty Information.

Total Deaths PDF

Total Wounded PDF

Table 2:

Demographics of American War Deaths: Korea,

Vietnam, Iraq

 

Korean War

Vietnam

Iraq (a)

 

Number

American Indian/Alaska Native

104

226

36

Asian

241

139

59

Black

3,075

7,241

313

Hispanic

881

349

347

Native Hawaian or Pacific Islander

148

229

33

White

29,272

49,802

2,400

Other(b)

2,853

204

40

Total

36,574

58,190

3,228

 

Percent of Total (%)

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%

0.4%

1.1%

Asian

0.7%

0.2%

1.8%

Black

8.4%

12.4%

9.7%

Hispanic

2.4%

0.6%

10.7%

Native Hawaian or Pacific Islander

0.4%

0.4%

1.0%

White

80.0%

85.6%

74.3%

Other(b)

7.8%

0.4%

1.2%

Total

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

a. Through March 24, 2007.

b. More than one race or unknown.

Sources: Congressional Research Service, "American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics," July 13, 2005. Table 3. (Korea, Vietnam) http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf

 

DOD Personnel and Procurement Statistics, Military Casualty Information. (Iraq)

Total Deaths PDF

Total Wounded PDF

Table 3:

Demographics of U.S. Population, Military, and Iraqi Casualties

 

Racial/ethnic distribution of:

Race/ethnicity

2004 Population(a)

2004 U.S.Military Recruits

Iraqi Casualties (through 3/24/07)

Asian

4.23%

2.82%

1.34%

Black

12.17%

14.54%

8.40%

White

75.62%

73.12%

73.11%

Native Hawaian and Pacific Islander

0.14%

1.05%

0.63%

American Indian/Alaska native

0.75%

2.01%

1.02%

Hispanic

14.16%

15.43%

6.88%

non-Hispanic

85.94%

84.57%

93.12%

 

Population/Population Ratio

Recruit/Population Ratio

 Casualty/Population ratio

Asian

1.00

0.67

0.32

Black

1.00

1.19

0.69

White

1.00

0.97

0.97

Native Hawaian and Pacific Islander

1.00

7.50

4.50

American Indian/Alaska native

1.00

2.68

1.36

Hispanic

1.00

1.09

0.49

non-Hispanic

1.00

0.98

1.08

a. Population 18 and older from the 2004 American Community Survey.

Sources:

Tim Kane, "Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment, 2003-2005," ,Heritage Foundation, October 26, 2006. Tables 4 and 6. (population and recruits) [PDF]

DOD Personnel and Procurement Statistics, Military Casualty Information. (Casualties)

Total Deaths PDF

Total Wounded PDF

Edwin S. Rubenstein (email him) is President of ESR Research Economic Consultants in Indianapolis.

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