Joan of Arc monument in Philadelphia

World War I: Troop Statistics

The following is a breakdown of the number of troops that fought, died, and were wounded in World War I, as recorded in Michael Clodfelter’s Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Reference to Casualty and other Figures. The number of civilians killed have been counted as well. This article is only a quick analysis of man power in the first World War. It does not cover other important logistics such as supplies, funding, etc.

Troop Strength

In the long run, the Central Powers had nearly half the amount of troops fight in World War I. When Russia exited the war in 1917, the Central Powers fought on more even ground and in some arenas had the numerical advantage, but troops trickling in from America would change this scenario in the end.

World War I Troop Strength (by alliance)

World War I Troop Stats (Central Powers)

CountryTroopsMilitary KIAMilitary WIACivilian Dead
Austria-Hungary7,800,000922,5003,620,000300,000
Bulgaria1,200,000101,344152,390275,000
Germany11,000,0001,808,5464,247,143760,000
Ottoman Empire2,850,000325,000400,0002,150,000
Totals:22,850,0003,157,3908,419,5333,485,000

World War I Troop Stats (Allied Powers)

CountryTroopsMilitary KIAMilitary WIACivilian Dead
America4,743,826 120,144 198,059
Belgium267,000 13,715 44,686 30,000
British Empire ((Includes Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.))8,904,467 908,371 2,090,212 30,633
France8,410,000 1,365,735 4,266,000 40,000
Greece230,000 5,000 21,000 132,000
Italy5,615,000 46,2391 953,886
Japan800,000 300907
Montenegro50,000 3,000 10,000
Portugal65,166 7,222 13,751
Romania750,000 33,5706 120,000 275,000
Russia12,000,000 1,700,000 4,950,000 2,000,000
Serbia707,343 125,000 133,148 650,000
Totals:42,542,802 5,046,584 12,801,649 3,157,633

Nearly half of the troop strength for the Central Power came from Germany. Austria-Hungary and Germany together provided more than 80% of the troops.

World War I Troop Strength (Central Powers)

While 12,000,000 Russians suited up to fight in the war, the country would exit the war in 1917 to enter into a Civil War. Also, any reference to the British Empire includes Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

World War I Troop Strength (Allied Powers)

Military Casualties

The following represents all participants in the war.

World War I Military Casualties

World War I Military Casualties (Central Powers)

World War I Military Casualties (Allied Powers)

Civilian Casualties

World War I Civilian Casualties

Further Reading

Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Reference to Casualty and other Figures by Michael Clodfelter

Notes


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