War on Terror's Toll Reaches 4.7 Million Deaths and $8 Trillion in Costs
The Costs of War Project reports that U.S. post-9/11 conflicts have caused roughly 4.7 million deaths and added about $8 trillion to U.S. liabilities.
In a feature coinciding with the quarter-century mark of the September 11 attacks, the Costs of War Project released a comprehensive accounting of the United States' war on terror. The researchers calculated that the wars have been linked to about 4.7 million deaths, encompassing both immediate combat fatalities and longer-term effects such as famine and disease. Financially, the conflicts have contributed an estimated $8 trillion to the national debt, reflecting the enormous spending on operations, equipment, and reconstruction.
The project also highlighted secondary consequences, including a larger overseas military footprint, heightened carbon emissions, and ongoing destabilization in affected regions. Co-founder Neta Crawford emphasized that these outcomes permeate many aspects of global and domestic policy, underscoring the far-reaching legacy of the post-9/11 interventions.
Why it matters
Understanding the scale of loss and spending helps gauge the long-term impact of U.S. war policies on societies and economies.
In this story
