War Deaths/Population

Data suggest that war deaths due both to direct combat and landmines hit hardest in Africa (top) when compared to a map depicting world population (bottom).

But experts with WHO note that casualties of war are especially difficult to tally.

"The estimates are based on a range of sources, primarily databases that collect reported deaths and, for some conflicts, surveys that have asked about deaths," Mathers said.

According to the best available data, war took the lives of 171,319 peopleor 0.3 percent of all deathsin 2002.

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