The Human Cost
14,700
estimated total dead
Each dot below represents 1,000 human lives. Scroll to watch the scale unfold.
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