The Human Cost
14,700
disputed broad estimate
The 14,700 display allocation is disputed. British and colonial military returns are stronger than Zulu records; estimates of Zulu battle deaths, wounded who later died, and civilian losses vary substantially.
Each dot below represents 1,000 human lives. Scroll to watch the scale unfold.
Working allocation: 11,700 soldiers killed in combat, from wounds, or from disease. Each = 1,000 lives.
3,000 civilians killed — from violence, famine, disease, and displacement. Wars are not fought only by soldiers.
incl. 100 civilians
How Anglo-Zulu War's dead compare to other conflicts and events.
1,300 dead
1,300 — British and allied dead at Isandlwana alone; the worst colonial defeat of the Victorian era
1,800 dead
1,800 — total British and allied military dead; the small size reflects the war's short duration and decisive British recovery
14,700 dead
14,700 — estimated total dead; the Zulu casualties at Kambula and Ulundi reflected the lethality of cavalry pursuit against retreating infantry