The 20th century marked a new trend in the recording of war fatalities, where more attention was given to the impact of conflicts on civilian populations, and not just the military. During the Second World War, the extent of the atrocities committed, the large-scale bombing campaigns, and the various famines resulting from the war meant that the scope of the civilian death toll took place was unprecedented - the likes of which had never been seen before, or since. Almost two thirds of all deaths due to the Second World War were of civilians, yet the ratio of military to civilian deaths varied greatly by country. Many British dominions and the United States suffered little to no civilian deaths as they were not located in an active theater of war - civilian fatalities largely came from naval or aerial attacks (such as at Pearl Harbor). In contrast, there were several European colonies in the Asia-Pacific region where all, or at least 95 percent, of total fatalities were among civilians - some of these regions suffered millions of deaths due to famine and atrocities.

The First World War saw the mobilization of more than 65 million soldiers, and the deaths of almost 15 million soldiers and civilians combined. Approximately 8.8 million of these deaths were of military personnel, while six million civilians died as a direct result of the war; mostly through hunger, disease and genocide. The German army suffered the highest number of military losses, totaling at more than two million men. Turkey had the highest civilian death count, largely due to the mass extermination of Armenians, as well as Greeks and Assyrians. Varying estimates suggest that Russia may have suffered the highest number of military and total fatalities in the First World War. However, this is complicated by the subsequent Russian Civil War and Russia's total specific to the First World War remains unclear to this day.

Proportional deaths In 1914, Central and Eastern Europe was largely divided between the empires of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia, while the smaller Balkan states had only emerged in prior decades with the decline of the Ottoman Empire. For these reasons, the major powers in the east were able to mobilize millions of men from across their territories, as Britain and France did with their own overseas colonies, and were able to utilize their superior manpower to rotate and replace soldiers, whereas smaller nations did not have this luxury. For example, total military losses for Romania and Serbia are around 12 percent of Germany's total military losses; however, as a share of their total mobilized forces these countries lost roughly 33 percent of their armies, compared to Germany's 15 percent mortality rate. The average mortality rate of all deployed soldiers in the war was around 14 percent.

Unclarity in the totals Despite ending over a century ago, the total number of deaths resulting from the First World War remains unclear. The impact of the Influenza pandemic of 1918, as well as various classifications of when or why fatalities occurred, has resulted in varying totals with differences ranging in the millions. Parallel conflicts, particularly the Russian Civil War, have also made it extremely difficult to define which conflicts the fatalities should be attributed to. Since 2012, the totals given by Hirschfeld et al in Brill's Encyclopedia of the First World War have been viewed by many in the historical community as the most reliable figures on the subject.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified a total of 41,783 civilian casualties during Russia's invasion of Ukraine as of January 31, 2025. Of them, 29,178 people were reported to have been injured. However, OHCHR specified that the real numbers could be higher. How many people have died during the war in Ukraine? OHCHR has estimated the number of deaths of civilians, or non-armed individuals, in Ukraine at 12,605 since the start of the war on February 24, 2022. The highest death toll was recorded in March 2022, at over 3,900. The figures on soldier deaths are reported by Russia and Ukraine’s governmental authorities, but they cannot be verified at this point and thus need to be taken with caution. Conflict-related deaths in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021 After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Ukraine has seen a military conflict between the government and the Russia-supported separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. OHCHR estimates that between 14,200 and 14,400 people, including civilians and military personnel, were killed in relation to that conflict from April 14, 2014, to December 31, 2021. Of them, at least 3,400 were civilians.

The graph illustrates the number of personnel in each branch of the U.S. Military for the year 2024. The x-axis lists the military branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The y-axis represents the number of personnel, ranging from 9,446 to 449,816. Among the branches, the Army has the highest number of personnel with 449,816, followed by the Navy with 332,336 and the Air Force with 315,958. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard have 173,096 and 40,612 personnel, respectively, while the Space Force has the lowest number at 9,446. The data is displayed in a bar graph format, effectively highlighting the distribution of military personnel across the different branches.

Estimates for the total death count of the Second World War generally range somewhere between 70 and 85 million people. The Soviet Union suffered the highest number of fatalities of any single nation, with estimates mostly falling between 22 and 27 million deaths. China then suffered the second greatest, at around 20 million, although these figures are less certain and often overlap with the Chinese Civil War. Over 80 percent of all deaths were of those from Allied countries, and the majority of these were civilians. In contrast, 15 to 20 percent were among the Axis powers, and the majority of these were military deaths, as shown in the death ratios of Germany and Japan. Civilian deaths and atrocities It is believed that 60 to 67 percent of all deaths were civilian fatalities, largely resulting from war-related famine or disease, and war crimes or atrocities. Systematic genocide, extermination campaigns, and forced labor, particularly by the Germans, Japanese, and Soviets, led to the deaths of millions. In this regard, Nazi activities alone resulted in 17 million deaths, including six million Jews in what is now known as The Holocaust. Not only was the scale of the conflict larger than any that had come before, but the nature of and reasoning behind this loss make the Second World War stand out as one of the most devastating and cruelest conflicts in history. Problems with these statistics Although the war is considered by many to be the defining event of the 20th century, exact figures for death tolls have proven impossible to determine, for a variety of reasons. Countries such as the U.S. have fairly consistent estimates due to preserved military records and comparatively few civilian casualties, although figures still vary by source. For most of Europe, records are less accurate. Border fluctuations and the upheaval of the interwar period mean that pre-war records were already poor or non-existent for many regions. The rapid and chaotic nature of the war then meant that deaths could not be accurately recorded at the time, and mass displacement or forced relocation resulted in the deaths of many civilians outside of their homeland, which makes country-specific figures more difficult to find. Early estimates of the war’s fatalities were also taken at face value and formed the basis of many historical works; these were often very inaccurate, but the validity of the source means that the figures continue to be cited today, despite contrary evidence.

In comparison to Europe, estimate ranges are often greater across Asia, where populations were larger but pre-war data was in short supply. Many of the Asian countries with high death tolls were European colonies, and the actions of authorities in the metropoles, such as the diversion of resources from Asia to Europe, led to millions of deaths through famine and disease. Additionally, over one million African soldiers were drafted into Europe’s armies during the war, yet individual statistics are unavailable for most of these colonies or successor states (notably Algeria and Libya). Thousands of Asian and African military deaths went unrecorded or are included with European or Japanese figures, and there are no reliable figures for deaths of millions from countries across North Africa or East Asia. Additionally, many concentration camp records were destroyed, and such records in Africa and Asia were even sparser than in Europe. While the Second World War is one of the most studied academic topics of the past century, it is unlikely that we will ever have a clear number for the lives lost in the conflict.

Other research has shown (1) that civilians and the military differ in their views about when and how to use military force; (2) that the opinions of veterans track more closely with military officers than with civilians who never served in the military; and (3) that U.S. civil–military relations shaped Cold War policy debates. We assess whether this opinion gap “matters” for the actual conduct of American foreign policy. We examine the impact of the presence of veterans in the U.S. political elite on the propensity to initiate and escalate militarized interstate disputes between 1816 and 1992. As the percentage of veterans serving in the executive branch and the legislature increases, the probability that the United States will initiate militarized disputes declines. Once a dispute has been initiated, however, the higher the proportion of veterans, the greater the level of force the United States will use in the dispute.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Federal (CES9091000001) from Jan 1939 to Feb 2025 about establishment survey, federal, government, employment, and USA.

The global rigid wall shelters market is projected to reach XXX million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of XX% from 2025 to 2033. Key market drivers include the increasing demand for portable and rapidly deployable shelters for military and civilian applications, growing infrastructure development, and rising awareness of disaster preparedness. Major market trends include the adoption of innovative materials, advancements in design and functionality, and increasing investment in R&D for both military and civilian applications. The market is segmented based on application (military and civilian) and type (expandable and non-expandable). Military applications dominate the market due to the rising demand from defense forces worldwide for shelters that provide protection from harsh environments, ballistic threats, and CBRN hazards. Civilian applications, including construction, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief, are expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

CBRN Defense Market Size:

The global CBRN defense market size reached US$ 20.5 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 32.0 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% during 2024-2032. The market is driven by escalating global security concerns, technological advancements in detection and protective equipment, and the dual-use applicability of CBRN technologies in the military and civilian sectors.

CBRN Defense Market Analysis:

• Market Growth and Size: The global CBRN defense market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing geopolitical tensions, the need for national security, and the dual-use nature of CBRN technologies in both military and civilian applications. The expansion of the market is further fueled by substantial investments in research and development, aiming to enhance detection, protection, and decontamination capabilities against CBRN threats.
• Major Market Drivers: Key drivers include the rising demand for advanced CBRN defense equipment due to growing global security concerns and the need for preparedness against terrorist attacks, industrial accidents, and natural disasters. Additionally, technological advancements in materials science and sensor technology contribute to the development of more effective and efficient CBRN defense solutions.
• Key Market Trends: The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in CBRN defense systems for improved threat detection and analysis, alongside the development of next-generation protective gear featuring enhanced materials for better safety and mobility, represents leading trends. Furthermore, the increasing use of simulators for realistic training scenarios is crucial for preparedness and response enhancement.
• Geographical Trends: North America leads the global CBRN defense market, attributed to its high defense spending and technological innovation. However, the Asia Pacific region is showing rapid growth due to rising defense budgets and increased awareness of CBRN threats, with Europe maintaining a strong position through collaborative defense strategies and advanced research initiatives.
• Competitive Landscape: The market is characterized by the presence of key international defense contractors and specialized CBRN defense firms engaged in intense competition and collaboration. These entities are investing in innovation and forming strategic partnerships to expand their product offerings and global footprint, focusing on meeting the diverse needs of military, civil, and law enforcement agencies.
• Challenges and Opportunities: Challenges include the high cost of developing and deploying advanced CBRN defense technologies and the complexity of ensuring interoperability among diverse systems and international standards. Opportunities lie in the increasing investment in R&D activities to innovate new solutions, the rising consumption of nuclear energy requiring enhanced radiological defense mechanisms, and the growing demand for decontamination systems amid heightened awareness of CBRN threats.
  

CBRN Defense Market Drivers:

Continuing Demand Fueled by Dual Use of CBRN Element

The global CBRN defense market is witnessing sustained growth, primarily driven by the dual-use nature of CBRN elements. These elements are increasingly utilized in both military and civilian sectors, encompassing areas such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial manufacturing alongside traditional defense applications. This dual applicability has led to a consistent demand for CBRN defense mechanisms as nations and corporations strive to protect against both intentional threats and industrial accidents. The versatility of CBRN technologies has, therefore, become a pivotal factor in the expansion of the market, ensuring steady investment in research, development, and procurement to mitigate risks associated with CBRN incidents.

Development of Polymer Nano Fibers

The advancement in polymer nano fibers is revolutionizing the CBRN defense market, offering innovative solutions for protection and decontamination. These nano fibers, characterized by their high surface area to volume ratio and unique physical properties, are being incorporated into protective clothing, filtration systems, and sensors, significantly enhancing the efficacy and responsiveness of CBRN defense mechanisms. Their lightweight nature, coupled with the ability to capture and neutralize a broad spectrum of CBRN agents, positions polymer nano fibers as a critical component in the next generation of CBRN defense technologies. This development highlights the role of nanotechnology in shaping future defense capabilities.

Improved Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Procurement

The CBRN defense market is experiencing a notable shift toward the procurement of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. This trend is largely driven by the need for rapid deployment and cost-effectiveness, allowing defense and civilian entities to leverage existing technologies without the time and expense required for bespoke solutions. COTS products, ranging from detection devices to protective gear, are increasingly being adapted to meet specific CBRN defense requirements, facilitating a more agile and responsive approach to emerging threats. This improvement in COTS procurement strategies accelerates the availability of essential defense tools and promotes innovation by integrating commercial technology advancements into CBRN defense frameworks.

CBRN Defense Market Opportunities

Increasing Investment in Research and Development (R&D) Activities

The global CBRN defense market is experiencing significant growth opportunities due to rising investments in research and development activities. Governments and private entities are allocating substantial resources toward the innovation of advanced CBRN defense technologies. This rise in R&D investment is aimed at developing more effective, efficient, and rapid response solutions to CBRN threats, thereby enhancing national security and safety measures. The focus on innovation underscores the proactive stance of market players in adapting to evolving threats and underscores the critical role of cutting-edge research in driving market expansion.

Increasing Consumption of Nuclear Energy

As global demand for nuclear energy continues to rise, it highlights a significant market opportunity for CBRN defense solutions, particularly in the areas of radiological protection, emergency preparedness, and incident response. The expansion of nuclear facilities worldwide necessitates advanced defense measures to prevent, detect, and respond to potential radiological threats, positioning the CBRN defense market as a key player in ensuring the safe and secure use of nuclear energy.

Escalating Demand for Decontamination Systems

The global CBRN defense market is witnessing a rise in demand for decontamination systems. This trend is driven by the heightened awareness of the risks associated with CBRN incidents and the need for effective response mechanisms. Decontamination systems, designed to neutralize and remove hazardous substances, are increasingly in demand across military, first responder, and civilian sectors. This growing need reflects the response to the imperative for rapid, efficient, and comprehensive decontamination solutions, highlighting a significant area of opportunity for innovation and development within the CBRN defense sector.

Key Technological Trends & Development

Advanced Detection Systems

The global CBRN defense market is

Veterans by largest Race and Ethnicity categories, by Health and Human Services Service Area.

This indicator provides the provides the percentage of civilian veterans by race/ethnicity group.

Veterans are persons 18 years and over who ever served on active duty. A civilian veteran refers to persons 18 years or older who served on active duty in any military branch or served in the National Guard or military reserves (only those ever called or ordered to active duty were classified as veterans). It does not include persons currently in active duty.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S2101.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Government (USGOVT) from Jan 1939 to Feb 2025 about establishment survey, government, employment, and USA.

As of January 2024, China had the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with about 2 million active soldiers. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five largest armies. Difference between active and reserve personnel Active personnel, also known as active duty in the United States and active service in the United Kingdom, are those individuals whose full-time occupation is being part of a military force. Active duty is in contrast to a military’s reserve force, which are individuals who have both a military role and a civilian career. The number of active duty forces in the U.S. is much larger than its reserve membership. What is the strongest army? The strength of a country’s armed forces is not only determined by how many personnel they maintain, but also the number and quality of their military equipment. For example, looking only at personnel does not factor in the overwhelmingly higher number of nuclear warheads owned by Russia and the United States compared to other countries. One way to answer this question is to look at the total amount of money each country spends on their military, as spending includes both personnel and technology. In terms of countries with the highest military spending, the United States leads the world with an annual budget almost three times larger than second-placed China.

This indicator provides the median income and percent in poverty for civilian veterans in the population.

Veterans are persons 18 years and over who ever served on active duty. A civilian veteran refers to persons 18 years or older who served on active duty in any military branch or served in the National Guard or military reserves (only those ever called or ordered to active duty were classified as veterans). It does not include persons currently in active duty.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S2101.

In 2023, more than 36 percent of civilian and military officers in Brazil were white, followed by nearly 32 percent who were Pardo Brazilian. Almost 25 percent of the police force did not identify their ethnicity.

Over the course of the Second World War approximately 127.2 million people were mobilized. The world's population in 1940 was roughly 2.3 billion, meaning that between five and six percent of the world was drafted into the military in some capacity. Approximately one in every 25 people mobilized were women, who generally served in an administrative or medical role, although hundreds of thousands of women did see active combat. Largest armies In absolute numbers, the Soviet Union mobilized the largest number of people at just under 34.5 million, and this included roughly 35 percent of the USSR's male population. By the war's end, more Soviets were mobilized than all European Axis powers combined. However, in relative terms, it was Germany who mobilized the largest share of its male population, with approximately 42 percent of men serving. The USSR was forced to find a balance between reinforcing its frontlines and maintaining agricultural and military production to supply its army (in addition to those in annexed territory after 1941), whereas a large share of soldiers taken from the German workforce were replaced by workers drafted or forcibly taken from other countries (including concentration camp prisoners and PoWs). Studying the figures The figures given in these statistics are a very simplified and rounded overview - in reality, there were many nuances in the number of people who were effectively mobilized for each country, their roles, and their status as auxiliary, collaborative, or resistance forces. The British Empire is the only power where distinctions are made between the metropole and its colonies or territories, whereas breakdowns of those who fought in other parts of Asia or Africa remains unclear. Additionally, when comparing this data with total fatalities, it is important to account for the civilian death toll, i.e. those who were not mobilized.

In 2023, around 19.58 million people were working for state and local governments in the United States. This is much higher than the number of federal government (civilian) employees, which stood at about 2.87 million people in that year.

A total of 130 thousand new conscripts were ordered in Russia during the fall draft of 2023. Over the past decade, the highest annual conscription was recorded in 2014, at over 308 thousand. In September 2022, the Russian government announcement a military draft of reservists during the invasion of Ukraine. Military conscription in Russia There is a mandatory military service for men in Russia. Russian men aged 18 to 27 years are conscripted for one year of active military service, usually twice a year. The spring draft is from April 1 to July 15, and the fall draft is from October 1 to December 31 of each year. Conscription of university students can be postponed until they complete their studies. Furthermore, some people might not get conscripted due to health conditions. Russian conscripts also have an option to apply for alternative civilian service. Other countries that have military conscription include Brazil, Eritrea, South Korea, and Vietnam, among others. How big is the Russian Army? The Russian Army consists of around two million soldiers, of which more than one million are servicemen. In 2022, Russia had the fifth-largest number of active military personnel worldwide, which was measured at 850 thousand. Other staff included paramilitary and reserve military personnel. The number of active-duty military personnel, including paramilitary staff, significantly increased in 2015.

Almost 80 percent of veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001 and who responded to the annual Wounded Warrior Project Survey in 2022 stated they experienced sleep problems, while 76 percent had PTSD. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a U.S. charity and veteran organization for veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. veteran and active service members of the Wounded Warrior Project experiencing select injuries and health problems during military service after 9/11 as of 2022.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a U.S. charity and veteran organization for veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. In 2022, a survey of members of the Wounded Warrior Project found that about 76 percent of U.S. veteran and active service survey respondents who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001 stated they have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

During the Second World War, the German invasion of Denmark took place on April 9, 1940, as part of Operation Weserübung. The primary aim of this campaign was the annexation of Norway, as control of the Scandinavian coast protected Germany's iron supply from Sweden and gave a tactical advantage for naval operations against the UK. Heavily outmanned and outgunned, the Danish government surrendered within a few hours, and this was the least-costly German invasion of the war (not including Austria), with just 16 Danish military fatalities on the day. Overall, modern estimates suggest that more than 6,600 Danes died as a direct result of the Second World War. Roughly half of these fatalities were civilian deaths, including upwards of 1,000 sailors killed by German submarines, and over 750 resistance fighters. However a significant share of Danes were also killed in the service of both the Axis or Allied Powers.

Danes in the service of Germany Almost one third of Danish fatalities were in the service of the German military, as over 6,000 Danish military volunteered to join the German war effort on the Eastern Front, alongside an unknown number of ethnic German volunteers (possibly 2,000) from Schleswig, along the German border. Almost 500 Danes were also killed for informing or collaborating with German authorities during the occupation; most of these were killed by the resistance during the occupation, although many were also executed after the war's conclusion.

The Danish resistance and the rescue of Denmark's Jews When compared with resistance movements in other countries, the rapid annexation of Denmark and the non-removal of the Danish government by Nazi authorities resulted in the Danish movement developing more slowly. The Danish government discouraged its citizens from rising up, and the restrictions imposed by Germany were initially less severe than in many other territories. However, resistance groups (including many military personnel) quickly formed and relayed a significant amount of information to the Allies in early years, before their actions became more violent in later years. Alongside numerous sabotage and assassination missions, a major operation of the Danish resistance was the rescue of Denmark's Jewish population. In early September 1943, German diplomat Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz learned of Hitler's order to arrest and deport Denmark's Jewish population, and secretly organized their reception in Sweden, before leaking the information to Danish authorities. Just days before the order was given, the resistance, with aid from Danish authorities, Jewish leaders, and many ordinary citizens, then smuggled over 7,000 Danish Jews and their families to Sweden. Several hundred Danish Jews were ultimately transported to concentration camps, although the majority were eventually rescued by the Danish-Swedish "white bus" missions just before the war's end. More than 99 percent of Denmark's Jews would ultimately survive the Holocaust. Duckwitz was named as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by the Israeli government in 1971, however, the Danish resistance requested not to be honored individually by Yad Vashem as theirs was a collective effort.