Introduction
World War II (WWII) was the largest and deadliest conflict in world history. The conflict started in 1939 when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. The war involved the vast majority of the world’s countries and ended in 1945 when Germany and Japan surrendered. While the war was fought between the Allies (Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union) and the Axis (Germany, Italy, and Japan); casualties were taken by countries across the world and between both soldiers and civilians. In fact, in countries like the Soviet Union, nearly twice as many civilians died as soldiers. It is estimated that a total of 70 to 85 million people died during the conflict.
A country’s casualties are the total number of persons – both military and civilian – who were hurt or killed during World War II. This number may be broken down to differentiate deaths versus injuries and/or civilians versus soldiers. Military casualties include battle deaths and injuries, missing military, accidents, diseases and deaths of prisoners. Civilian casualties include Holocaust victims, war crimes, population transfers, and war-related famine and diseases.
Learn for yourself about World War II casualties by country by investigating the map and charts.
| # | Country | World War II Deaths | D-Day Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 130,000,016 | |
| 2 | Russia | 11,000,000 | |
| 3 | Germany | 3,500,000 | 6,000 |
| 4 | People's Republic of China | 1,310,224 | |
| 5 | Romania | 300,000 | |
| 6 | United States of America | 292,131 | 2,501 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 264,443 | 1,449 |
| 8 | Italy | 242,232 | |
| 9 | France | 213,324 | |
| 10 | Hungary | 200,000 | |
| 11 | Poland | 123,178 | |
| 12 | Greece | 88,300 | |
| 13 | Finland | 82,000 | |
| 14 | Canada | 37,476 | 391 |
| 15 | Philippines | 27,000 | |
| 16 | India | 24,338 | |
| 17 | Australia | 23,365 | |
| 18 | Belgium | 12,000 | |
| 19 | New Zealand | 10,033 | |
| 20 | Bulgaria | 10,000 | |
| 21 | Netherlands | 7,900 | |
| 22 | South Africa | 6,840 | |
| 23 | Norway | 3,000 | |
| 24 | Denmark | 1,800 | |
| 25 | Brazil | 943 |
World War II Deaths by Country
Australia
World War II Deaths
23,365
Ranked in the World
#17
Belgium
World War II Deaths
12,000
Ranked in the World
#18
Brazil
World War II Deaths
943
Ranked in the World
#25
Bulgaria
World War II Deaths
10,000
Ranked in the World
#20
Canada
World War II Deaths
37,476
Ranked in the World
#14
D-Day Casualties
391
Ranked in the World
#4
Denmark
World War II Deaths
1,800
Ranked in the World
#24
Finland
World War II Deaths
82,000
Ranked in the World
#13
France
World War II Deaths
213,324
Ranked in the World
#9
Germany
World War II Deaths
3,500,000
Ranked in the World
#3
D-Day Casualties
6,000
Ranked in the World
#1
Greece
World War II Deaths
88,300
Ranked in the World
#12
Hungary
World War II Deaths
200,000
Ranked in the World
#10
India
World War II Deaths
24,338
Ranked in the World
#16
Italy
World War II Deaths
242,232
Ranked in the World
#8
Japan
World War II Deaths
130,000,016
Ranked in the World
#1
Netherlands
World War II Deaths
7,900
Ranked in the World
#21
New Zealand
World War II Deaths
10,033
Ranked in the World
#19
Norway
World War II Deaths
3,000
Ranked in the World
#23
People's Republic of China
World War II Deaths
1,310,224
Ranked in the World
#4
Philippines
World War II Deaths
27,000
Ranked in the World
#15
Poland
World War II Deaths
123,178
Ranked in the World
#11
Romania
World War II Deaths
300,000
Ranked in the World
#5
Russia
World War II Deaths
11,000,000
Ranked in the World
#2
South Africa
World War II Deaths
6,840
Ranked in the World
#22
United Kingdom
World War II Deaths
264,443
Ranked in the World
#7
D-Day Casualties
1,449
Ranked in the World
#3
United States of America
World War II Deaths
292,131
Ranked in the World
#6
D-Day Casualties
2,501
Ranked in the World
#2
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