The State of the Empire
A high-level overview of America's military footprint — spending, casualties, overseas presence, and the true cost of 248 years of war.
$11.5T
Total Cost (All Wars)
1,049,463
US Deaths
5.2M+
Civilian Deaths
750
Overseas Bases
$886B/yr
Annual Budget
36
Conflicts
26
Undeclared Wars
5
Ongoing
17/day
Veteran Suicides
$8T
War on Terror Cost
38M
People Displaced
248 Years at War
The United States has been at war for roughly 225 of its 248 years. Since WWII, 26 of its conflicts have been fought without a formal declaration of war. The War on Terror alone — triggered by an attack carried out by 19 men — expanded to 78 countries, cost $8T, killed an estimated 940,000+ people, and displaced 38 million.
Today, 173,000 American troops are stationed in 80 countries. The military burns $886B per year — $2.4B per day, $28,095 per second. The Pentagon has never passed an audit.
Military Spending (Billions $)
Overseas Bases by Country
Cost by Conflict
Deaths by Conflict
Explore the Data
All Conflicts
36 wars & interventions
Timeline
1775 to present
Military Spending
$886B/yr budget
Casualties
1,049,463 Americans killed
Overseas Bases
750 bases in 80 countries
Defense Contractors
Who profits from war
Arms Sales
$238B/yr in weapons
Foreign Aid
$68B/yr
Opportunity Cost
What else $8T could buy
Covert Operations
CIA coups & secret wars
Analysis
Deep dives & essays
Your Tax Receipt
Your personal war cost
⚡ Quick Navigation
💡 By the Numbers
- • $28,095/second on defense
- • 36 conflicts since 1775
- • 26 undeclared wars (no congressional authorization)
- • 469 foreign interventions since WWII
- • 17 veteran suicides per day
- • 750 bases in 80 countries
- • Pentagon CO₂ footprint exceeds 55 countries
- • F-35 lifetime cost: $1.7T