The U.S. government reports the war in Afghanistan has cost taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars, but a Costs of War Project estimate, which includes the cost of health care for veterans and interest on war-related borrowing, is twice that.

Department of Defense war operations make up most of the spending, with about 15 percent allocated for reconstruction efforts.

War ($734 billion)

Reconstruction ($130 billion)

War budgets shown here begin in October 2001, when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, and run through September 30, 2020. Full-year 2021 data is not yet available.

1

20

Total $21 billion

3

10

13

War spending increases by $45 billion from 2009 to 2011 as the U.S. military presence surges from 66,000 to 110,000 troops.

12

3

15

51

10

41

101

86

15

89

13

$102 billion

56

6

62

6

37

43

5

35

40

$41 billion

39

2

Afghanistan suffered more than 3,000 civilian deaths from armed conflict in each of the last seven years. In 2020, 43 percent of the dead were women and children. In the last two years, about 30 to 40 Afghan forces were killed daily. Taliban and other opposition deaths are estimated at more than 50,000 since the war began.

Killed

U.S. troops

Injured

Coalition troops

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces

Civilians

44

145

153

278

402

592

1,984

2,200

9,550

14,632

15,633

14,379

14,873

15,467

18,158

19,533

18,589

19,133

21,521

19,746

Data for civilians starts In 2009, for Afghan Forces in 2007. Afghan Forces’ casualties, classifiedas Of 2017, are not available to the public and are estimates.

At the deployment’s height, NATO had more than 150,000 troops from 50 nations, including the U.S., in Afghanistan, supported by more than 300,000 Afghan forces.

*Afghan force numbers before 2010 are less reliable because of reporting and data inconsistencies.

Monica Serrano, Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff. Lawson Parker

Sources: Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction; DOD; World Bank; Costs Of War Project, Brown University; Unama; NATO

The U.S. government reports the war in Afghanistan has cost taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars, but a Costs of War Project estimate, which includes the cost of health care for veterans and interest on war-related borrowing, is twice that.

Department of Defense war operations make up most of the spending, with about 15 percent allocated for reconstruction efforts.

101

$102

War spending increases by $45 billion from 2009 to 2011 as the U.S. military presence surges from 66,000 to 110,000 troops.

War ($734 billion)

86

89

Reconstruction ($130 billion)

War budgets shown here begin in October 2001, when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, and run through September 30, 2020. Full-year 2021 data is not yet available.

62

51

56

43

$41

40

41

37

39

35

Total

$21 billion

15

13

20

12

15

10

13

10

6

6

2

5

1

3

3

Afghanistan suffered more than 3,000 civilian deaths from armed conflict in each of the last seven years. In 2020, 43 percent of the dead were women and children. In the last two years, about 30 to 40 Afghan forces were killed daily. Taliban and other opposition deaths are estimated at more than 50,000 since the war began.

21,521

19,746

U.S. troops

18,158

Coalition troops

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces

14,632

Civilians

Killed

Injured

402

44

Data for civilians starts In 2009, for Afghan Forces in 2007. Afghan Forces’ casualties, classifiedas Of 2017, are not available to the public and are estimates.

At the deployment’s height, NATO had more than 150,000 troops from 50 nations, including the U.S., in Afghanistan, supported by more than 300,000 Afghan forces.

*Afghan force numbers before 2010 are less reliable because of reporting and data inconsistencies.

Monica Serrano, Christine Fellenz, NGM Staff. Lawson Parker

Sources: Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction; DOD; World Bank; Costs Of War Project, Brown University; Unama; NATO