HISTORY
War
Costliest Wars
This list features the wars that have generated the most financial damage in history.
RANK | WAR | COST (adjusted) | YEARS | PARTIES INVOLVED |
1 | Cold War | $5.8 trillion | 1947–1991 | United States vs. Soviet Union |
2 | World War II | $4.7 trillion | 1939–1945 | Allied Powers vs. Axis Powers |
3 | World War I | $3.3 trillion | 1914–1918 | Allied Powers vs. Central Powers |
4 | War of 1812 | $2.8 million | 1812–1815 | United States vs. Great Britain |
5 | War in Afghanistan | $2.3 trillion | 2001–2021 | United States and allies vs. Taliban |
6 | Iraq War | $1.9 trillion | 2003–2011 | United States and allies vs. Iraq |
7 | Vietnam War | $1 trillion | 1955–1975 | United States and allies vs. North Vietnam |
8 | Korean War | $308 billion | 1950–1953 | United Nations (mainly US) vs. North Korea |
9 | American Civil War | $87 billion | 1861–1865 | Union vs. Confederacy |
10 | Second Sino-Japanese War | $1.3 billion | 1937–1945 | China vs. Japan |
References
