Analysis: Death by the numbers

NEW YORK The U.S. military death toll in Iraq reached 3,000 on Sunday, with the reported deaths of two more Americans. It came on the day after the execution of Saddam Hussein.

President Bush, at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, mourned the death of the 3,000th U.S. soldier, the White House said.

More Americans have died this month -- at least 110 -- than in any month since November 2004. Spc. Dustin R. Donica, 22, of Spring, Texas, was killed Thursday by small arms fire in Baghdad, the Defense Department said Sunday, making him the 3000th to die.

The New York Times put up a special Web interactive feature showing the faces and background on the fallen. It also profile a soldiers who left behind a 200-page journal for his family to prepare them for his death.

The Washington Post focused on one particular tragedy, involving a young soldier killed in Iraq and his 19-year-old widow at home, with a photo gallery online.

To mark or mourn this grim milestone, here is an E&P summary, based on official sources and the Iraq Coaliton Casualty Count web site, of the death tally so far.


Deaths by hostile fire: 2422 80.9%
Non-hostile: 578

Age 18-20: 517 17.2%
Age 21-30: 1813 60.9%

U.S. deaths since Bush said "Bring them on": 2,793
Coalition deaths since first January 2005 Iraqi election: 1,653

Days since invasion: 1,382
Average U.S. deaths per day: 2.36
Average last three months: 3.24

Death by IED attack: 1086 36%

Women killed: 62

White: 74%
Hispanic: 11%
Black: 10%

U.S. Army: 1549 51.9%
U.S. Marine: 755
National Guard and Reserves: 596

U.K. deaths: 127
From other countries: 123

Total wounded: over 22,000
Wounded this year: over 5,600

Estimate of Iraqi deaths since killing of Zarqawi in June 2006: 13,588

Total Iraqi deaths since invasion: 100,000 to 600,000.

U.S. deaths by state:

California 305 10.2%
Texas 266
Pennsylvania 144
New York 139
Ohio 130
Florida 125
Michigan 118

From Editor & Publisher