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K O R E A N  W A R  S T A T I S T I C S
(June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 Veteran Stats)

KOREAN CONFLICT - Wounded soldiers are evacuated (foreground) as M-4 tanks of the 5th RCT move to the front in the Kumchun area in Korea 6, Oct. 1950. Korea. Signal Corps Photo #FEC-50-20137 (Chang) Photo from Center of Military History.

A grief stricken American infantryman whose buddy has been killed in action is comforted by another soldier. In the background a corpsman methodically fills out casualty tags, Haktong-ni area, Korea. August 28, 1950. Sfc. Al Chang. (Army)

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Historical Facts
(Re-Published from VA Web Site)

Actual hostilities occurred from June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953.  However, the war period was extended to January 31, 1955 by Congress to define a period of benefit eligibility in the wake of uneasy peace negotiations after July 27, 1953.

There were 6.8 million American men and women who served during the Korean War period, June 27,1950 to January 31, 1955.

There were 54,200 deaths to Americans in service during the period of hostilities, June 27,1950 to July 27, 1953.  Of these, 33,700 were actual battle deaths.

There were 7,140 POW’s during the Korean War.  Of these, 4,418 returned to the United States, 2,701 died, and 21 refused repatriation.

There have been 131 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor among Korean War veterans.

Demographic Characteristics  
In mid-calendar year 2000:    

There are an estimated 3.9 million Korean War veterans in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, down about 21 percent from the nearly 5 million Korean War veterans in 1990.

Korean War veterans make up nearly 16 percent of the 24.4 million total veterans.  

An estimated 848,000 Korean War veterans also served in other war periods: 171,000 in both WWII and Vietnam, 404,000 only in WWII, and 273,000 only in Vietnam.

An estimated 86,300 Korean War veterans are women, making up 7 percent of the estimated number of all female veterans.

The median age of Korean War veterans is estimated to be 69 years, with an estimated 336,500 under age 65, 3.25 million aged 65 to 74, and an estimated 363,600 aged 75 or older.

The top five states with respect to the estimated number of Korean War veterans are: California (430,800); Florida (294,000); Texas (243,300); New York (220,100); and Pennsylvania (201,400), reflecting the geographic distribution of the veteran population in general. (See table for state veteran populations.)

According to the March 1999
Current Population Survey:  

Eighty percent of male Korean War veterans were married at the time of the survey, a proportion similar to non-veteran males of comparable age (65-74).

Between July 1999 and June 2000:

• There were an estimated 117,600 deaths among Korean War veterans.
• According to the 1990 Census:
• The racial composition of the 4.9 million Korean War veterans in the U.S. was: 
• 4.5 million white (92 percent); 
• 339,400 African American (7 percent); 
• 30,400 American Indian (less than 1 percent), Eskimo or Aleut; 
• 39,300 Asian or Pacific Islander (less than 1 percent); and 
• 35,000 of other races (less than 1 percent).  
• There were an estimated 133,500 Hispanics (3 percent), 
  who may be of any race, among Korean War veterans.

For more statistics go to the: VA Website