document_title: Zimmermann Telegram

question_text: what was the goal of the zimmerman note

question_tokens: what was the goal of the zimmerman note

text: Zimmermann Telegram

text: Content[edit]

text: This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: The message came in the form of a coded telegram dispatched by Arthur Zimmermann, a Staatssekretär (i.e. a top level civil servant) in the Foreign Office of the German Empire on 19 January 1917. The message was sent to the German ambassador to Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt. Zimmermann sent the telegram in anticipation of the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare by Germany on 1 February, an act the German government presumed would almost certainly lead to war with the United States. The telegram instructed Ambassador Eckardt that if the United States appeared certain to enter the war, he was to approach the Mexican Government with a proposal for military alliance with funding from Germany.

text: The decoded telegram is as follows:

text:
We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace.
Signed, ZIMMERMANN

text: Mexican response[edit]

text: The Zimmermann Telegram was part of an effort carried out by the Germans to postpone the transportation of supplies and other war materials from the United States to the Allies of World War I that were at war with Germany.[4] The main purpose of the telegram was to make the Mexican government declare war on the United States in hopes of tying down American forces and slowing the export of American arms.[5] The German High Command believed they would be able to defeat the British and French on the Western Front and strangle Britain with unrestricted submarine warfare before American forces could be trained and shipped to Europe in sufficient numbers to aid the Allies. The Germans were encouraged by their successes on the Eastern Front into believing that they would be able to divert large numbers of troops to the Western Front in support of their goals.

text: Mexican President Venustiano Carranza assigned a military commission to assess the feasibility of the Mexican takeover of their former territories contemplated by Germany.[6] The generals concluded that it would be neither possible nor even desirable to attempt such an enterprise for the following reasons:

text:
Mexico was in the midst of a civil war and Carranza's position was far from secure. A declaration of war by his regime would have provided an opportunity for opposing factions to align with the U.S. and Allied Powers in exchange for diplomatic recognition. More importantly, the United States was far stronger militarily than Mexico was. Even if Mexico's military forces were completely united and loyal to a single regime, no serious scenario existed under which they could win a war against the United States.
Germany's promises of "generous financial support" were very unreliable. The German government had already informed Carranza in June 1916 that they were unable to provide the necessary gold needed to stock a completely independent Mexican national bank.[7] Even if Mexico received financial support, the arms, ammunition, and other needed war supplies would presumably have to be purchased from the ABC nations (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile), which would strain relations with them, as explained below.
Even if by some chance Mexico had the military means to win a conflict against the United States and reclaim the territories in question, Mexico would have severe difficulty accommodating and/or pacifying a large English-speaking population that was better supplied with arms than most civilian populations.
Other foreign relations were at stake. The ABC nations organized the Niagara Falls peace conference in 1914 to avoid a full-scale war between the United States and Mexico over the United States occupation of Veracruz. If Mexico were to enter war against the United States, it would strain relations with those nations.

text: The Carranza government was recognized de jure by the United States on 31 August 1917 as a direct consequence of the Zimmermann telegram, since recognition was necessary to ensure Mexican neutrality in World War I.[8][9] After the military invasion of Veracruz in 1914, Mexico would not participate in any military excursions with the United States in World War I,[10] thus ensuring Mexican neutrality was the best outcome that the United States could hope for, even if Mexican neutrality would allow German companies to keep their operations in Mexico open.[11]

text: British interception[edit]

text: The telegram was sent to the German embassy in the United States for re-transmission to Eckardt in Mexico. It has traditionally been claimed that the telegram was sent over three routes: transmitted by radio and also sent over two trans-Atlantic telegraph cables operated by neutral governments (the United States and Sweden) for the use of their diplomatic services. But it has been established that only one method was used. The message was delivered to the United States Embassy in Berlin and then transmitted by diplomatic cable first to Copenhagen and then to London for onward transmission over transatlantic cable to Washington.[12] The misinformation about the "three routes" was spread by William Reginald Hall, then the head of Room 40, to try to conceal from the United States the fact that Room 40 was intercepting its cable traffic.

text: Direct telegraph transmission of the telegram was not possible because the British had cut the German international cables at the outbreak of war. However, the United States allowed limited use of its diplomatic cables for Germany to communicate with its ambassador in Washington. The facility was supposed to be used for cables connected with President Woodrow Wilson's peace proposals.[12]

text: The Swedish cable ran from Sweden, and the United States cable from the United States embassy in Denmark. However, neither cable ran directly to the United States. Both cables passed through a relay station at Porthcurno, near Land's End, the westernmost tip of England. Here the signals were boosted for the long trans-oceanic jump. All traffic through the Porthcurno relay was copied to British intelligence, in particular to the codebreakers and analysts in Room 40 at the Admiralty.[13] After their telegraph cables had been cut, the German Foreign Office appealed to the United States for use of their cable for diplomatic messages. President Wilson agreed to this, in the belief that such cooperation would sustain continued good relations with Germany, and that more efficient German-American diplomacy could assist Wilson's goal of a negotiated end to the war. The Germans handed in messages to the United States embassy in Berlin, which were relayed to the embassy in Denmark and then to the United States by American telegraph operators. However, the United States placed conditions on German usage, most notably that all messages had to be in clear (i.e., uncoded). The Germans assumed that the United States cable was secure and used it extensively.[13]

text: Obviously, Zimmermann's note could not be given to the United States in clear. The Germans therefore persuaded Ambassador James W. Gerard to accept it in coded form, and it was transmitted on 16 January 1917.[13]

text: In Room 40, Nigel de Grey had partially deciphered the telegram by the next day.[12] Room 40 had previously obtained German cipher documents, including the diplomatic cipher 13040 (captured in the Mesopotamian campaign), and naval cipher 0075, retrieved from the wrecked cruiser SMS Magdeburg by the Russians, who passed it to the British.[14]

text: Disclosure of the Telegram would obviously sway public opinion in the United States against Germany, provided the Americans could be convinced it was genuine. But Room 40 chief William Reginald Hall was reluctant to let it out, because the disclosure would expose the German codes broken in Room 40 and British eavesdropping on the United States cable. Hall waited three weeks. During this period, Grey and cryptographer William Montgomery completed the decryption. On 1 February Germany announced resumption of "unrestricted" submarine warfare, an act which led the United States to break off diplomatic relations with Germany on 3 February.[13]

text: Hall passed the telegram to the Foreign Office on 5 February, but still warned against releasing it. Meanwhile, the British discussed possible cover stories: to explain to the Americans how they got the ciphertext of the telegram without admitting to their ability to intercept American diplomatic communications (which they would continue to do for another twenty-five years); and to explain how they got the cleartext of the telegram without letting the Germans know their codes were broken. Furthermore, the British needed to find a way to convince the Americans the message was not a forgery.[2]

text: For the first story, the British obtained the ciphertext of the telegram from the Mexican commercial telegraph office. The British knew that the German Embassy in Washington would relay the message by commercial telegraph, so the Mexican telegraph office would have the ciphertext. "Mr. H", a British agent in Mexico, bribed an employee of the commercial telegraph company for a copy of the message. (Sir Thomas Hohler, then British ambassador in Mexico, claimed to have been "Mr. H", or at least involved with the interception, in his autobiography.) This ciphertext could be shown to the Americans without embarrassment. Moreover, the retransmission was enciphered using the older cipher 13040, so by mid-February the British had not only the complete text, but also the ability to release the telegram without revealing the extent to which the latest German codes had been broken—at worst, the Germans might have realized that the 13040 code had been compromised, but weighed against the possibility of United States entry into the war, that was a risk worth taking. Finally, since copies of the 13040 ciphertext would also have been deposited in the records of the American commercial telegraph, the British had the ability to prove the authenticity of the message to the United States government.[3]

text: As a cover story, the British could publicly claim that their agents had stolen the telegram's deciphered text in Mexico. Privately, the British needed to give the Americans the 13040 cipher so that the United States government could verify the authenticity of the message independently with their own commercial telegraphic records; however the Americans agreed to back the official cover story. The German Foreign Office refused to consider a possible code break, and instead sent Ambassador Eckardt on a witch-hunt for a traitor in the embassy in Mexico. (Eckardt indignantly rejected these accusations, and the Foreign Office eventually declared the embassy exonerated.)[13]

text: Use[edit]

text: On 19 February, Hall showed the Telegram to Edward Bell, secretary of the United States Embassy in Britain. Bell was at first incredulous and thought it to be a forgery. Once Bell was convinced the message was genuine, he became enraged. On 20 February, Hall informally sent a copy to United States Ambassador Walter Hines Page. On 23 February, Page met with British Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour and was given the ciphertext, the message in German, and the English translation. Page then reported the story to President Woodrow Wilson, including details to be verified from telegraph company files in the United States. Wilson released the text to the media on 28 February 1917.

text: Effect in the United States[edit]

text: Popular sentiment in the United States at that time was anti-Mexican as well as anti-German, while in Mexico there was considerable anti-American sentiment.[15] General John J. Pershing had long been chasing the revolutionary Pancho Villa and carried out several cross-border raids. News of the telegram further inflamed tensions between the United States and Mexico.

text: On the other hand, there was also a notable anti-British sentiment in the United States, particularly among German- and Irish-Americans. Many Americans wished to avoid the conflict in Europe. Since the public had been told (untruthfully) that the telegram had been stolen in a deciphered form in Mexico, the message was widely believed at first to be an elaborate forgery perpetrated by British intelligence. This belief, which was not restricted to pacifist and pro-German lobbies, was promoted by German and Mexican diplomats and by some American newspapers, especially the Hearst press empire. This presented the Wilson administration with a dilemma. With the evidence the United States had been provided confidentially by the British, Wilson realized the message was genuine—but he could not make the evidence public without compromising the British codebreaking operation.

text: Any doubts as to the authenticity of the telegram were removed, however, by Arthur Zimmermann himself. First at a press conference on 3 March 1917, he told an American journalist, "I cannot deny it. It is true." Then, on 29 March 1917, Zimmermann gave a speech in the Reichstag in which he admitted the telegram was genuine.[16] Zimmermann hoped Americans would understand the idea was that Germany would only fund Mexico's war with the United States in the prior event of American entry into World War I.

text: On 1 February 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships in the Atlantic bearing the American flag, both passenger and merchant ships. Two ships were sunk in February, and most American shipping companies held their ships in port. Besides the highly provocative war proposal to Mexico, the telegram also mentioned "ruthless employment of our submarines." Public opinion demanded action. Wilson had previously refused to assign US Navy crews and guns to the merchant ships. However, once the Zimmermann note was public, Wilson called for arming the merchant ships, but anti-war elements in the United States Senate blocked his proposal.[17]

text: Previous German efforts to promote war[edit]

text: Germany had long sought to incite a war between Mexico and the United States, which would have tied down American forces and slowed the export of American arms to the Allies.[18] The Germans had engaged in a pattern of actively arming, funding and advising the Mexicans, as shown by the 1914 Ypiranga Incident[19] and the presence of German advisors during the 1918 Battle of Ambos Nogales. The German Naval Intelligence officer Franz von Rintelen had attempted to incite a war between Mexico and the United States in 1915, giving Victoriano Huerta $12 million for that purpose.[20] The German saboteur Lothar Witzke — responsible for the March 1917 munitions explosion at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the San Francisco Bay Area,[21] and possibly responsible for the July 1916 Black Tom explosion in New Jersey — was based in Mexico City. The failure of United States troops to capture Pancho Villa in 1916 and the movement of President Carranza in favor of Germany emboldened the Germans to send the Zimmermann note.[22]

text: The German provocations were partially successful. Woodrow Wilson ordered the military invasion of Veracruz in 1914 in the context of the Ypiranga Incident and against the advice of the British government.[23] War was prevented thanks to the Niagara Falls peace conference organized by the ABC nations, but the occupation was a decisive factor in Mexican neutrality in World War I.[10] Mexico refused to participate in the embargo against Germany and granted full guarantees to the German companies for keeping their operations open, specifically in Mexico City.[11] These guarantees lasted for twenty-five years — coincidentally, it was on 22 May 1942 that Mexico declared war on the Axis Powers following the loss of two Mexican-flagged tankers that month to Kriegsmarine U-boats. Woodrow Wilson considered another military invasion of Veracruz and Tampico in 1917–1918,[24][25] so as to take control of the Tehuantepec Isthmus and Tampico oil fields,[25][26] but this time the relatively new Mexican President Venustiano Carranza threatened to destroy the oil fields in case the Marines landed there.[27][28] The government of Japan, another nation mentioned in the Zimmerman Telegram, was already involved in World War I, on the side of the Allies against Germany, and later released a statement that Japan was not interested in changing sides and attacking America.[29]

text: In October 2005, it was reported that an original typescript of the deciphered Zimmermann Telegram had recently been discovered by an unnamed historian who was researching and preparing an official history of the United Kingdom's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The document is believed to be the actual telegram shown to the American ambassador in London in 1917. Marked in Admiral Hall's handwriting at the top of the document are the words: "This is the one handed to Dr Page and exposed by the President." Since many of the secret documents in this incident had been destroyed, it had previously been assumed that the original typed "decrypt" was gone forever. However, after the discovery of this document, the GCHQ official historian said: "I believe that this is indeed the same document that Balfour handed to Page."[30]


document_title: List of wars involving the United States

question_text: in which country is the united states actively fighting

root

text: 18th century wars[edit]

text:
Conflict
Combatant 1
Combatant 2
Result

American Revolution
(1775–1783) Location: Eastern North America, Gibraltar, India, Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic

The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which began negotiations between Great Britain and the United States.

 United States
 France

 Canadian Auxiliaries

 Spain
 Iroquois

 Oneida
 Tuscarora

Watauga Association
Catawba
 Lenape
 Choctaw

 Dutch Republic

 Mysore

 Great Britain
 Loyalists
 German Auxiliaries
 Iroquois

 Onondaga
 Mohawk
 Cayuga
 Seneca

 Cherokee

Victory

Treaty of Paris
Britain recognizes the independence of the United States of America

Chickamunga War
(1776–1795)
Location: Old Southwest

Abduction of Daniel Boone's daughter by the Cherokee

 United States
 Cherokee
Victory

Northwest Indian War
(1785–1793)
Location: Northwest Territory

The Battle of Fallen Timbers

 United States
Chickasaw
Choctaw
Western Confederacy

List

Council of Three Fires
 Iroquois Confederacy
Seven Nations of Canada
Wabash Confederacy (Wea, Piankashaw, and others)
Illini Confederacy
Wyandot
Mississaugas
Menominee
Shawnee
Lenape
Miami
Kickapoo
Kaskaskia
Chickamauga Cherokee (or "Lower Cherokee")
Upper Muscogee

 Great Britain

 British North America

Victory

Treaty of Greenville
British withdrawal
American occupation of the Northwest Territory

Shays' Rebellion
(1786–1787)
Location: Massachusetts

Shays' troops are repulsed from the armory at Springfield, Massachusetts in early 1787.

 United States
Anti-Government Protesters
Victory

Problems with the Articles of Confederation spur U.S. Constitutional Convention

Whiskey Rebellion
(1791–1794)
Location: Western Pennsylvania

George Washington reviews troops before their march to suppress the rebellion in western Pennsylvania.

 United States
Frontier tax protesters
Victory

Armed resistance eliminated
Minor tax evasion

Quasi-War
(1798–1800)
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Location: Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean

USS Constellation vs. L'Insurgente

 United States
Co-belligerent:
 Great Britain

 France

 Guadeloupe

Victory

Peaceful cessation of Franco-American alliance
End of French privateer attacks on American shipping
American neutrality and renunciation of claims by France

tag: table

text: 19th century wars[edit]

text:
Conflict
Combatant 1
Combatant 2
Result for the United States and/or its Allies

First Barbary War
(1801–1805)
Part of the Barbary Wars
Location: Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tripoli.

Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon at Derna, April 1805.

 United States
 Sweden
 Eyalet of Tripolitania
 Sultanate of Morocco
Victory

Peace treaty

1811 German Coast Uprising
(1811)
Location: Territory of Orleans

 United States
Rebel slaves
Supported by:
 Haiti

Victory

Suppression and later trials

Tecumseh's War
(1811)
Location: Northwest River Ohio

The Battle of Tippecanoe

 United States
Tecumseh's Confederacy

List

Shawnee
Red Sticks
Ojibway
Chickamauga
Meskwaki
 Iroquois
Miami
Mingo
Odawa
Kickapoo
Lenape
Mascouten
Potawatomi
Sauk
Wyandot

Victory

Peace treaty

War of 1812
(1812–1815)
Location: Eastern and Central North America

General Andrew Jackson stands on the parapet of his makeshift defenses as his troops repulse attacking Highlanders, by painter Edward Percy Moran in 1910.

 United States
Choctaw
Cherokee Nation
Creek Allies
 United Kingdom

 British North America

Tecumseh's Confederacy

List

Shawnee
Red Sticks
Ojibway
Chickamauga
Meskwaki
 Iroquois
Miami
Mingo
Odawa
Kickapoo
Lenape
Mascouten
Potawatomi
Sauk
Wyandot

 Spain (1814)
Stalemate
Treaty of Ghent; Status quo ante bellum with no boundary changes

British assault on Sacket's Harbor repulsed
American invasions of British North America repulsed
British invasions of the United States repulsed
Defeat of Tecumseh's Confederacy

Creek War
(1813–1814)
Location: Southern United States

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 1814

 United States
Lower Creeks
Cherokee Nation
Choctaw
Red Stick Creek
Victory

Treaty of Fort Jackson

Second Barbary War
(1815)
Part of the Barbary Wars
Location: Mediterranean Sea and the Barbary states.

Decatur's Squadron off Algiers.

 United States
 Regency of Algiers
Victory

Peace treaty

First Seminole War
(1817–1818)
Location: Pensacola, Florida

Barracks and tents at Fort Brooke near Tampa Bay.

 United States
Seminole

 Spanish Florida

Victory

Texas–Indian Wars
(1820–1875)
Location: Texas

A Kiowa ledger drawing depicting a battle between Southern Plains Indians and the U.S. Army during the Red River War.

 Spain

 Mexico

 Republic of Texas
 United States

 Comanche
Victory

Arikara War
(1823)
Location: Missouri River

 United States
Arikara
Victory

The Arikara eventually settled with the Mandan and Hidatsa on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota

Aegean Sea Anti-Piracy Operations
(1825–1828)
Location: Off Greece, Aegean Sea

Greek pirate boats attacking the HMS Comet.

 United States
 Greek Pirates
Victory

Defeat of Greek pirates
HMS Comet liberated by American forces
Message of thanks issued to Louis Goldsborough from the British government

Winnebago War
(1827)
Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory

 United States
Prairie La Crosse Ho-Chunks
with a few allies
Victory

Ho-Chunks cede lead mining region to the United States

First Sumatran expedition
(1832)
Location: Aceh Sultanate

U.S. Infantry assaulting the Acehnese forts at Kuala Batu in 1832.

 United States
 Netherlands
Chiefdom of Kuala Batee
Victory

Black Hawk War
(1832)
Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory

Native women and children fleeing the Battle of Bad Axe.

 United States
Ho-Chunk
Menominee
 Dakota
Potawatomi
Black Hawks British Band
Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi allies
Victory

Second Seminole War
(1835–1842)
Location: Florida, United States

U.S. Marines search for Seminoles in the Everglades

 United States
Seminole
Victory

3,800 Seminoles transported to the Indian Territory
300 remain in Everglades

Second Sumatran expedition
(1838)
Location: Aceh Sultanate

 United States
 Netherlands
Chiefdom of Kuala Batee
Victory

Aroostook War
(1838)
Location: Maine & New Brunswick

 United States
 United Kingdom

 British North America

Compromise
Webster–Ashburton Treaty

Modern border of Maine and New Brunswick agreed upon
British (Canadian) withdrawal from territory claimed by the United States

Mexican–American War
(1846–1848)
Location: Texas, New Mexico, California, and Mexico

2nd Dragoons charge the enemy at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, 1846.

 United States
 California Republic
 Mexico
Victory

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexican Cession
Mexican recognition of Texas and California (among other territories) as independent; end of conflict between Mexico and Texas

Cayuse War
(1847–1855)
Location: Oregon

 United States
Cayuse
Victory

Apache Wars
(1851–1900)
Location: Southwestern United States

US Cavalry dash for cover while fighting Apaches, by F. Remington

 United States
Apache
Ute
Yavapai
Victory

Apaches moved to reservations

Puget Sound War
(1855–1856)
Location: Washington

 United States
Snoqualmie
Nisqually
Muckleshoot
Puyallup
Klickitat
Haida
Tlingit
Victory

Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde, and Coast Reservations

First Fiji Expedition
(1855)
Location: Fiji

 United States
Fiji
Victory

Rogue River Wars
(1855–1856)
Location: Rogue Valley

 United States
Rogue River people
Victory

Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde, and Coast Reservations

Third Seminole War
(1855–1858)
Location: Pensacola, Florida

 United States
Seminole
Victory

Yakima War
(1855–1858)
Location: Washington Territory

Seattleites evacuate to the town blockhouse as USS Decatur opens fire on advancing tribal forces.

 United States
Snoqualmie
Yakama
Walla Walla tribe
Umatilla tribe
Nez Perce tribe
Cayuse tribe
Victory

Peace treaty

Second Opium War
(1856–1859)
Location: China

Palikao's bridge, on the evening of the battle, by Émile Bayard

 British Empire
 French Empire
 United States
 Qing dynasty
Victory

Treaties of Tientsin
Southern Kowloon ceded to the United Kingdom

Utah War
(1857–1858)
Location: Utah Territory and Wyoming

 United States
Deseret / Utah Mormons (Nauvoo Legion)
Compromise

Resolution through negotiation
Brigham Young replaced as governor of the territory
Full amnesty for charges of sedition and treason issued to the citizens of Utah Territory by President James Buchanan on the condition that they accept American Federal authority

Navajo Wars
(1858–1866)
Location: New Mexico

Fort Defiance

 United States
Navajo
Victory

Long Walk of the Navajo
Navajos moved to reservations

Second Fiji Expedition
(1859)
Location: Fiji

 United States
Fiji
Victory

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
(1859)
Location: West Virginia

Harper's Weekly illustration of U.S. Marines attacking John Brown's "Fort" Teresa Baine

 United States
Abolitionist Insurgents
Victory

First and Second Cortina War
(1859–1861)
Location: Texas and Mexico

 United States

 Confederate States

 Mexico
Victory

Paiute War
(1860)
Location: Pyramid Lake, Nevada

 United States
Paiute
Shoshone
Bannock
Victory

American Civil War
(1861–1865)
Location: United States

The Battle of Antietam, by Kurz & Allison.

 United States
 Confederate States
Victory

Territorial integrity preserved
Dissolution of the Confederacy
Slavery abolished
Lincoln assassinated
Beginning of the Reconstruction Era

Yavapai Wars
(1861–1875)
Location: Arizona

 United States
Yavapai
Apache
Yuma
Mohave
Victory

Dakota War of 1862
(1862)
Location: Minnesota and Dakota

The Siege of New Ulm, Minnesota on August 19, 1862

 United States
 Dakota Sioux
Victory

Colorado War
(1863–1865)
Location: Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska

 United States
 Cheyenne
 Arapaho
 Sioux
Victory

Military and congressional hearings against John Chivington

Shimonoseki War
(1863–1864)
Location: Kanmon Straits

Capture of a Choshu battery at Shimonoseki by British sailors and marines.

 British Empire
 Dutch Empire
 French Empire
 United States
 Chōshū Domain
Victory

Chōshū pays an indemnity of $3,000,000.

Snake War
(1864–1868)
Locations: Oregon, Nevada, California, and Idaho

 United States
Paiute
Bannock
Shoshone
Victory

Powder River War
(1865)
Location: Powder River State

 United States
 Sioux
 Cheyenne
 Arapaho
Stalemate

Red Cloud's War
(1866–1868)
Location: Powder River State

The Fetterman Massacre

 United States
 Lakota
 Cheyenne
 Arapaho
Defeat

Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868)
Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to Native Americans
Creation of the Great Sioux Reservation (including the Black Hills)

Formosa Expedition
(1867)
Location: Southern Formosa

US Marines and Sailors attack Formosan pirates.

 United States
Paiwan
Defeat

American withdrawal after Marine commander killed, subsequent Formosan retreat[1]
No other casualties

Comanche Campaign
(1867–1875)
Location: Western United States

Battle of Beecher Island. One soldier and three horses have fallen, while others continue to wage the battle.

 United States
 Cheyenne
 Arapaho
 Comanche
Kiowa
Victory

United States expedition to Korea
(1871)
Location: Ganghwado

American forces after capturing the Deokjin Fort during the Battle of Ganghwa in 1871.

 United States
 Joseon Dynasty
Victory

United States-Korea Treaty of 1882

Modoc War
(1872–1873)
Location: California and Oregon

Engraving of soldiers recovering the bodies of the slain May 3, 1873.

 United States
 Modoc
Victory

Red River War
(1874–1875)
Location: Texas

 United States
 Cheyenne
 Arapaho
 Comanche
Kiowa
Victory

End to the Texas-Indian Wars

Las Cuevas War
(1875)
Location: Texas and Mexico

Texan soldiers.

 United States
 Mexico
Victory

Cattle returned to Texas

Great Sioux War of 1876
(1876–1877)
Location: Montana, Dakota and Wyoming

Custer's last stand at Little Bighorn.

 United States
 Lakota
 Dakota Sioux
 Northern Cheyenne
 Arapaho
Victory

Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to the United States

Buffalo Hunters' War
(1876–1877)
Location: Texas and Oklahoma

 United States
 Comanche
Apache
Victory

Nez Perce War
(1877)
Location: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana

Chief Joseph's band in the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain

 United States
Nez Perce
Palouse
Victory

Bannock War
(1878)
Location: Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming

 United States
Bannock
Shoshone
Paiute
Victory

Cheyenne War
(1878–1879)
Location: Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Montana

Aftermath of the Battle of "The Pit."

 United States
 Cheyenne
Victory

Sheepeater Indian War
(1879)
Location: Idaho

 United States
Shoshone
Victory

Victorio's War
(1879–1881)
Location: Mexico

 United States
 Mexico
Apache
Victory

White River War
(1879–1880)
Location: Colorado

 United States
Ute
Victory

Pine Ridge Campaign
(1890–1891)
Location: South Dakota

Mass grave for the dead Lakota after the conflict at Wounded Knee Creek.

 United States
 Sioux
Victory

Garza Revolution
(1891–1893)
Location: Texas and Mexico

3rd Cavalry Troopers searching a suspected Revolutionist, 1892

 Mexico
 United States
Garzistas
Victory

Yaqui Wars
(1896–1918)
Location: Arizona and Mexico

10th Cavalry soldiers holding Yaqui prisoners at their camp in Bear Valley, January 9, 1918.

 United States
 Mexico
 Yaqui
Pima
Opata
Victory

Second Samoan Civil War
(1898–1899)
Location: Samoa

Samoan warriors and American servicemen during the Siege of Apia in March 1899.

Samoa
 United States
Mataafans
 Germany
Compromise

Allies and Rebels compromise for peace Tripartite Convention
United States acquires American Samoa
United Kingdom withdraws claim in exchange for concessions in the Solomon Islands
Germany acquires German Samoa
Mata'afa Iosefo becomes paramount chief of Samoa

Spanish–American War
(1898)
Location: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam

Teddy Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders" charge Spanish positions during the Battle of San Juan Hill.

 United States
 Cuban Revolutionaries
 Filipino Revolutionaries
 Spain

 Cuba
 Guam
 Philippines
 Puerto Rico

Victory

Treaty of Paris
Protectorate over Cuba
Collapse of the Spanish Empire
Generation of '98 among Spanish intellectuals

Philippine–American War
(1899–1902)
Location: Philippines

Kurz & Allison print of the Battle of Quingua.

1899-1902
 United States

 Military Government

1902-1906
 United States

 Civil Government

1899-1902
 Philippine Republic

 Negros Republic
 Zamboanga Republic

Limited Foreign Support:
 Empire of Japan

Shishi

1902-1906
 Tagalog Republic

Irrenconcilables

Victory

Occupation of the Philippines
Establishment of the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands
General Emilio Aguinaldo captured and exiled
Dissolution of the First Philippine Republic

Moro Rebellion
(1899–1913)
Philippines

The 8th Infantry Regiment defeat the Moros in the four-day battle of Bagsak Mountain on Jolo Island in the Philippines.

 United States
 Moro
 Remnants of the Sulu Sultanate
Victory

Boxer Rebellion
(1899–1901)
Location: China

Corporal Titus, of the 14th Infantry Regiment, scaling the walls of Peking.

 United Kingdom
 Russia
 Japan
 France
 United States
 Germany
 Italy
 Austria-Hungary
 Righteous Harmony Society (Boxers)
 China
Victory

Rebellion suppressed
Signing of the Boxer Protocol
Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing

text: 20th century wars[edit]

text:
Conflict
Combatant 1
Combatant 2
Result for the United States and/or its Allies

Crazy Snake Rebellion
(1909)
Location: Oklahoma

Creek prisoners of war.

 United States
Creek
Victory

Border War
(1910–1919)
Part of the Mexican Revolution
Location: Mexico–United States border

American troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment rest for the night on 27 May 1916

 United States
 Mexico
 Germany
Victory

Seditionist insurgency suppressed
Permanent border wall established
Pancho Villa's troops no longer an effective fighting force[2]

Negro Rebellion
(1912)
Part of the Banana Wars
Location: Cuba

USS Mississippi in Cuba

 Cuba
 United States
 Cuban PIC
Victory

Rebellion suppressed
Dissolution of the PIC

Occupation of Nicaragua
(1912–1933)
Part of the Banana Wars
Location: Nicaragua

US Marines holding a captured Sandinista flag.

 United States
 Nicaragua
 Nicaraguan Liberals
 Sandinistas
Victory

Nicaragua occupied until 1933.
Great Depression marked US withdrawal in 1933.
Change of regime in Nicaragua.

Bluff War
(1914–1915)
Location: Utah and Colorado

Prisoners of the Bluff War in Thompson, Utah, waiting to board a train for their trial in Salt Lake City.

 United States
Ute
Paiute
Victory

Occupation of Veracruz
(1914)
Part of the Mexican Revolution
Location: Mexico

American ships at Veracruz

 United States
 Mexico
Victory

Veracruz occupied

Occupation of Haiti
(1915–1934)
Part of the Banana Wars
Location: Haiti

2nd Marine Regiment in Haiti

 United States
 Haiti
 Haitian Rebels
Victory

Haiti occupied

Occupation of the Dominican Republic
(1916–1924)
Part of the Banana Wars
Location: Dominican Republic

US Marines in the Occupation of the Dominican Republic.

 United States
 Dominican Republic
Victory

Dominican Republic occupied

World War I
(1914–1918)
Location: Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and coast of North and South America

Two US troops pass by dead German soldiers on a battlefield.

 France
 British Empire

 United Kingdom
 Canada
 Newfoundland
 Australia
 New Zealand
 India
 South Africa

 Russia
 United States
 China
 Italy
 Japan
 Serbia
 Montenegro
 Romania
 Belgium
 Greece
 Portugal
 Brazil

 Germany
 Austria-Hungary
 Ottoman Empire
 Bulgaria
Victory

End of the German, Russian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires
Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East
Transfer of German colonies and regions of the former Ottoman Empire to other powers
Establishment of the League of Nations

Russian Civil War
(1918–1920)
Location: Russia, Mongolia, and Iran

US troops march through Russia before the Battle of Romanovka.

 White Movement
 British Empire

 United Kingdom
 Canada
 Australia
 India

 Japan
 Czechoslovakia
 Greece
 Poland
 United States
 France
 Romania
 Serbia
 Italy
 China

 Russian SFSR
 Far Eastern Republic
 Latvian SSR
 Ukrainian SSR
 Commune of Estonia
 Mongolian Communists
Defeat with some objectives completed‘‘‘

Allied withdrawal from Russia
Bolshevik victory over White Army
Some Supplies captured at Vladivostok
Humanitarian effort

Last Indian Uprising
(1923)
Location: Utah

Ute and Paiute prisoners of war.

 United States
Ute
Paiute
Victory

World War II
(1939–1945)
Location: Europe, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Mediterranean, North Africa, North and South America

U.S. Army Soldiers advancing at dawn in the cover of a M4 Sherman tank, during the Battle of Bougainville, 1944.

 Soviet Union
 United States
 United Kingdom
 China
 France
 Poland
 Canada
 Australia
 New Zealand
 India
 South Africa
 Yugoslavia
 Greece
 Denmark
 Norway
 Netherlands
 Belgium
 Luxembourg
 Czechoslovakia
 Brazil
 Mexico
 Ethiopia
 Mongolia
 Philippines
 Viet Minh
 KLA
 Albania
 Germany
 Japan
 Italy
 Hungary
 Romania
 Bulgaria
 Finland
 Thailand
 Manchukuo
 Mengjiang
 Croatia
 Slovakia
Victory

Collapse of the Third Reich
Fall of Japanese and Italian Empires
Creation of the United Nations
Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers
Beginning of the Cold War

Korean War
(1950–1953)
Part of the Cold War
Location: Korea

American soldiers in the Korean war with the Browning M1919A6 LMG.

 South Korea
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 Belgium
 Canada
 France
 Philippines
 Colombia
 Ethiopia
 Greece
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 New Zealand
 South Africa
 Thailand
 Turkey
 North Korea
 China
 Soviet Union
Stalemate

North Korean invasions of South Korea repelled
Subsequent United Nations invasion of North Korea repelled
Subsequent Chinese-North Korean-Soviet invasion of South Korea repelled
Korean Armistice Agreement. Although this ended the actual fighting in the Korean Peninsula, the war is not (technically) over because a peace treaty was never signed

Laotian Civil War
(1953–1975)
Part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War
Location: Laos

A U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1P from the 20th Special Operations Squadron "Green Hornets" at a base in Laos, 1970.

 Kingdom of Laos
 United States
 South Vietnam
 Thailand
Supported by:
 Philippines
 Taiwan

 Pathet Lao
 North Vietnam
Supported by:
 Soviet Union
 China

Defeat

Establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Lebanon Crisis
(1958)
Location: Lebanon

US Marine sits in a foxhole and points his machine gun toward Beirut.

 Lebanon
 United States
 Lebanese Opposition:

 INM
 LCP
 PSP

Victory

US-Lebanese occupation of the port and international airport of Beirut
Withdrawal of US forces

Bay of Pigs Invasion
(1961)
Part of the Cold War
Location: Cuba

 CDRF
 United States
 Cuba
Defeat

Invasion of Cuba suppressed

Vietnam War
(1965–1973[a], 1975[b])
Part of the Cold War and Indochina Wars
Location: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

1st Cavalry Division, Battle of Ia Drang, 1965.

 South Vietnam
 United States
 South Korea
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Thailand
 Philippines
 Khmer Republic
 Kingdom of Laos
 North Vietnam
 Viet Cong
 Khmer Rouge
 Pathet Lao
 North Korea

Supported by:
 China
 Soviet Union

Defeat

Withdrawal of American forces from Indochina
North Vietnamese victory over South Vietnam
Dissolution of the Republic of Vietnam
Communist governments take power in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
South Vietnam is annexed by North Vietnam

Korean DMZ Conflict
(1966–1969)
Part of the Korean conflict and the Cold War
Location: Korean Demilitarized Zone

ROK and US troop stationed at the DMZ, 1967.

 South Korea
 United States
 North Korea
Victory

North Korean failure to launch an insurgency in South Korea

Dominican Civil War
(1965)
Location: Dominican Republic

US soldiers push a child underneath a Jeep to protect him during a firefight in Santo Domingo on May 5, 1965.

 Dominican Loyalists
 United States
 Inter-American Peace Force

 Brazil
 Paraguay
 Nicaragua
 Costa Rica
 El Salvador
 Honduras

 Dominican Constitutionalists
Victory

Fall of the Bosch regime
Joaquín Balaguer elected as the new president

Insurgency in Bolivia
(1966–1967)
Part of the Cold War
Location: Bolivia

 Bolivia
 United States

 CIA

 Ejército de Liberación Nacional
Victory

CIA supported Bolivian armed groups oppress Che Guevara's guerrilla forces
Che Guevara captured and executed

Cambodian Civil War
(1967–1975)
Location: Cambodia

US troops and tanks entering town in Cambodia.

 Kingdom of Cambodia (1967–1970)
 Khmer Republic (1970–1975)
 United States
 South Vietnam
Other Supports

 Australia
 Canada
 France
 India
 Thailand

 National United Front of Kampuchea
 Khmer Rouge
 Khmer Rumdo
 Khmer Việt Minh
 North Vietnam
 Việt Cộng
Other Supports

 China
 Czechoslovakia
 Soviet Union

Defeat

Fall of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Creation but eventual collapse of the Khmer Republic
Creation of the Democratic Kampuchea
Beginning of the Cambodian genocide

War in South Zaire
(1978)
Location: Zaire

 Zaire
 France
 Belgium
 United States
 Morocco
 Front for the National Liberation of the Congo

Supported by:
 Angola
 Cuba
 Soviet Union

Victory

FNLC forces repelled
Thousands of civilians evacuated from Kolwezi

Operation Eagle Claw
(1980)
Part of the Iranian hostage crisis
Location: Iran

Wreckage at the Desert One base in Iran.

 United States
 Iran
Blunder

1 helicopter and 1 transport aircraft destroyed
5 helicopters abandoned/captured

Gulf of Sidra encounter
(1981)
Location: Gulf of Sidra

 United States
 Libya
Victory

Deterioration of US-Libyan relation

Lebanese Civil War
(1982–1984)
Location: Lebanon

US Marines on patrol in Beirut, April 1983

 Lebanese Armed Forces

 UNIFIL
Multinational Force in Lebanon:

 United States
 France
 Italy

 Syria

 Arab Deterrent Force

 Saudi Arabia
 Sudan
 UAE
 Libya
 South Yemen

 Lebanese National Movement
 Jammoul
 PLO

 Amal Movement

 Iran

 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

 Hezbollah

 Islamic Unification Movement

 Lebanese Front
 Army of Free Lebanon
SLA
Supported by:
 Ba'athist Iraq

 Israel
Defeat

Multinational forces fail to prevent collapse of Lebanese Army into sectarian militias.[3][4]
Taif Agreement
Multinational forces evacuated after the US embassy and US Marine barracks are bombed by the Islamic Jihad Organization.
Multinational forces oversee withdrawal of Palestine Liberation Organization.
PLO expelled from Lebanon
Southern Lebanon goes into crisis
Civil war continues until 1990
President Hafez al-Assad continues his occupation Lebanon until his son and later president Bashar al-Assad orders a with withdrawal from the country

Invasion of Grenada
(1983)
Part of the Cold War
Location: Grenada

American soldiers in mortar positions in Grenada.

 United States
 Barbados
 Jamaica
 Antigua and Barbuda
 Dominica
 Saint Kitts and Nevis
 Saint Lucia
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 PRG of Grenada
 Cuba
Military advisors:

List

 Soviet Union
 North Korea
 East Germany
 Libya

Victory

Military dictatorship of Hudson Austin deposed
Defeat of Cuban military presence
Restoration of Constitutional Government

Action in the Gulf of Sidra
(1986)

Libyan corvette obliterated after attempting to fire on US forces

 United States
 Libya
Victory

Libyan naval forces damaged or destroyed
Libyan air defenses damaged

Bombing of Libya
(1986)
Part of the Cold War
Location: Libya

USAF F-111 taking off for Libya

 United States
 United Kingdom
 Libya
Victory

Ground targets destroyed.
Failed Libyan Scud missile response
Muammar Gaddafi survived

Tanker War
(1987–1988)
Location: Persian Gulf

Iranian frigate Sahand after being attacked by U.S. aircraft.

 United States
 Iran
Victory

Successful operations against Iran during the Iran–Iraq War

Tobruk encounter
(1989)
Location: Mediterranean Sea

Gun camera depicting the last remaining MiG-23 fighters exploding after being shot down.

 United States
 Libya
Victory

Two Libyan MiG-23 fighters shot down

Invasion of Panama
(1989–1990)
Location: Panama

U.S. troops prepare to take a neighborhood in Panama City, December 1989.

 United States
 Panamanian Opposition
 Panama
Victory

Dictator Manuel Noriega deposed

Gulf War
(1990–1991)
Location: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel

M1 Abrams tanks of the 3rd Armored Division advance on Medina Ridge.

 Kuwait
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Saudi Arabia
 France
 Canada
 Egypt
 Syria
 Qatar
 Bahrain
 United Arab Emirates
 Oman
 Bangladesh
 Iraq
Victory

Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait; Emir Jaber III restored
Sanctions against Iraq

Iraqi No-Fly Zone Enforcement
(1991–2003)
Location: Iraq

A Tomahawk cruise missile is fired from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.

 United States
 United Kingdom
 France
 Australia
 Belgium
 Netherlands
 Saudi Arabia
 Turkey
 Italy
 Iraq
Victory

Various bombings of Iraqi forces both arial and naval
Mass numbers of Iraqi targets killed or destroyed
Reduction in Iraqi air defense
Beginning of the Iraq War

Intervention in the Somali Civil War
(1992–1995)
Location: Somalia

US Marines on patrol in Somalia.

 United States
 United Kingdom
 Spain
 Saudi Arabia
 Malaysia
 Pakistan
 Italy
 India
 Greece
 Germany
 France
 Canada
 Botswana
 Belgium
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Somali National Alliance
Defeat

Failure to capture SNA leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Withdrawal of US forces following losses in Battle of Mogadishu.
The UN mandate saved close to 100,000 lives, before and after US withdrawal.
Civil war is ongoing.

Bosnian War
(1992–1995)
Part of the Yugoslav Wars
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Russian and American troops on a joint patrol around the Bosnian town of Zvornik on the afternoon of 29 February 1996.

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Herzeg-Bosnia
 Croatia

 United States
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Portugal
 Spain
 Turkey
 United Kingdom

 Republika Srpska
 YPA
 Serbian Krajina
 Western Bosnia
 FR Yugoslavia
Stalemate

Dayton Accords
Internal partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Over 101,000 dead, 65,000 Bosniaks, 28,000 Serbs, 8,000 Croats
Deployment of NATO-led IFOR to uphold the peace agreement
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina established to implement the peace agreement.

Intervention in Haiti
(1994–1995)
Location: Haiti

US troops arrive in Haiti.

 United States
 Poland
 Argentina
 Haiti
Victory

Reinstatement of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president of Haiti

Kosovo War
(1998–1999)
Part of the Yugoslav Wars
Location: Serbia

Bombing of Novi Sad.

 KLA
 AFRK
 Albania
 Croatia
 United States
 Belgium
 Canada
 Czech Republic
 Denmark
 France
 Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Portugal
 Poland
 Spain
 Turkey
 United Kingdom
 FR Yugoslavia
Blunder

Yugoslav forces pull out of Kosovo
De facto separation of Kosovo from FR Yugoslavia under UN administration
UN Resolution 1244 confirming Kosovo as part of FRY
Return of Albanian refugees
Ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo
KLA veterans join the UÇPMB, starting the Preševo insurgency
Russia uses Kosovo as pretext for Crimea, Abhasia and South Osetia interventions

Operation Infinite Reach
(1998)
Location: Sudan and Afghanistan

al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan.

 United States
 al-Qaeda
 Sudan

Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
 Lashkar-e-Taiba
Blunder

al-Qaeda suffers damage and casulties however its senior leaders survive the strikes
Al-Shifa pharmaceutical plant destroyed
Al-Qaeda propaganda victory leads to Osama bin Laden's image be praised in the Muslim world as a symbol of resistance

text:
^ Direct U.S. involvement ended in 1973 with the Paris Peace Accords. Air Force and Special Ops continued some operations until April 1975; President Ford in a televised speech on April 23, 1975 declared the end of Vietnam War.
^ The war reignited on 13 December 1974 with offensive operations by North Vietnam, leading to victory over South Vietnam in under two months.

tag: ol

text: 21st century wars[edit]

text:
Conflict
Combatant 1
Combatant 2
Result for the United States and/or its Allies

War in Afghanistan
(2001–present)
Part of the War on Terror
Location: Afghanistan

101st Airborne Division firefight in Kunar Province

 Resolute Support Mission
 Afghanistan
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Australia
 Croatia
 Czech Republic
 Georgia
 Germany
 Italy
 Romania
 Spain
 Turkey

Formerly:
 ISAF
 Taliban

Islamic Jihad Union
Haqqani network

Allied groups
 HIG
 al-Qaeda
 IJU[5]

IMU

Taliban splinter groups

Fidai Mahaz

 IS-Affiliates:

Wilayat Khorasan (ISIL-K)

2001 invasion:
 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Talibani Army
Salafist extremists
055 Brigade

Ongoing

American-led coalition invasion and occupation of Afghanistan
Destruction of al-Qaeda training camps
Fall of the Taliban government
Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan under the Karzai administration
Start of Taliban insurgency
Osama bin Laden killed by US Navy SEALs inside his compound in a raid in Pakistan
NATO implements a support mission
Escape of Ayman al-Zawahiri
Withdrawal halted and prolonged presence in region set in place

Iraq War
(2003–2011)
Part of the Iraqi Insurgency and War on Terror
Location: Iraq

M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks in Baghdad during the Occupation of Iraq

 United States
 Iraq
 United Kingdom
 South Korea
 Italy
 Poland
 Australia
 New Zealand
 Denmark
 Georgia
 Azerbaijan
 Ukraine
 Estonia
 Netherlands
 Portugal
 Spain
 MNF–I
 Ba'ath Loyalists
 Islamic State of Iraq
 al-Qaeda in Iraq
 Mahdi Army
 Special Groups
 IAI
 Ansar al-Sunnah

 Ba'athist Iraq

Victory

Invasion and occupation of Iraq
Overthrow of Ba'ath Party government and execution of Saddam Hussein
Iraqi insurgency, emergence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Sectarian Violence and another civil war[6][7]
Subsequent reduction in violence and depletion of al-Qaeda in Iraq[8][9]
Establishment of democratic elections and formation of new democratic government
U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
Withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011
Stronger Iranian influence in Iraq[dubious – discuss][10][11][12]
Escalation of sectarian insurgency after U.S. withdrawal leading to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the successor of al-Qaeda in Iraq[7][13]
Iraqi Civil War (2014-2017)
Return of US forces to Iraq in 2014 to combat ISIL

War in North-West Pakistan
(2004–present)
Part of the War on Terror
Location: Pakistan

Airstrike on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan.

 Pakistan

 United States
 United Kingdom

 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
 al-Qaeda
 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
 Turkistan Islamic Party
 Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi

 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Khorasan
Jundallah
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar

Ongoing

On going insurgency in the Northern tribal regions of Pakistan as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Ongoing drone attacks by the United States

Somali Civil War
(2009–present)
Location: Somalia and North Eastern Kenya

Marine unit preparing to land abroad a US vessel near the Somali coast.

 Somalia
 United States
 United Kingdom
 AMISOM
 Kenya
 Al-Shabaab
 Hizbul Islam

 Islamic State in Somalia
Supported by:
 Eritrea

Ongoing

Newly formed federal government established in 2012
Merger and split between/of Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab forces
Power struggle within Al-Shabaab between moderate factions and pro-al-Qaeda members
Continued insurgency
Expanded American military operations
Continued drone strikes and raids by Special Forces

Operation Ocean Shield
(2009–2016)
Part of the OEF–Horn of Africa
Location: Indian Ocean

A tall plume of black smoke rises from a destroyed pirate vessel that was struck by the USS Farragut in March 2010.

 NATO
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Denmark
 Netherlands
 Spain
 Greece
 Germany
 Belgium
 Canada
 Italy
 Portugal
 Turkey
 Norway
Somali Pirates
Victory

Number of pirate attacks have decreased dramatically since the start of such operations, however attacks still occur near the coast waters of Oman, Yemen, Kenya, and Somalia
The US Office of Naval Intelligence have officially reported that in 2013, only 9 incidents of piracy were reported and that neither of them were successfully hijacked
Piracy drops 90% [14]

Libyan Civil War
(2011)
Part of the Libyan Crisis
Location: Libya

US vessels launch missiles in support of the Libyan Civil War.

States enforcing UNSC Resolution 1973:

 United States
 United Kingdom
 Belgium
 Bulgaria
 Canada
 Denmark
 France
 Greece
 Italy
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Romania
 Spain
 Turkey
 Sweden
 Jordan
 Qatar
 United Arab Emirates

 Libya
Victory

Overthrow of Gaddafi government and Death of Muammar Gaddafi
Assumption of interim control by National Transitional Council (NTC)
Diplomatic recognition of NTC as sole governing authority for Libya by 105 countries, UN, EU, AL and AU
Post-civil war violence in Libya, leading to the ongoing civil war in 2014[15]

American-led Intervention in Iraq
(2014–2017)
Part of the Iraqi Civil War, Spillover of the Syrian Civil War, and War on ISIS
Location: Iraq

A Royal Danish Air Force F-16, October 2016

 United States
 Iraq
 Kurdistan
 Australia
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 France
 Germany
 Jordan
 Morocco
 Netherlands
 United Kingdom
 Turkey

 Iran
 Hezbollah

 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Victory

Over 10,000 American airstrikes conducted in Iraq since 2014
Heavy damaged caused to ISIS forces resulting in loses of about 40% of its held territory by 2016, and by December 2017, its remaining strongholds were destroyed leaving small pockets of fleers.
Multinational humanitarian support to civilians and arming of local ground troops and militias
Advising and training of Iraqi forces
Massive numbers of war crimes committed by ISIS including ethnic cleansing, murder, rape, and enslavement. Additionally there are reports of organ trafficking

American intervention in Syria
(2014–present)
Part of the Syrian Civil War and War on ISIS
Location: Syria

Aleppo, Karm al Jabal neighborhood, 2013

 United States
 Australia
 Denmark
 Netherlands
 France
 Germany
 Jordan
 United Kingdom
 Canada
 Bahrain
 Belgium
 Saudi Arabia
 Qatar
 Morocco
 Turkey
 United Arab Emirates

 Syrian Democratic Forces
 Free Syrian Army (2011-2017)

 Israel (only against Hezbollah)

 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

 al-Qaeda
 al-Nusra Front
 Khorasan group
 Tahrir al-Sham
 Jaysh al-Sunna
 Jund al-Aqsa
 Ahrar al-Sham

Partial Support:
 Saudi Arabia
 Bahrain
 Qatar

 Syria

Supported by:
 Russia
 Iran
 Hezbollah
 China
Ongoing

Over 11,200 American and allied airstrikes hit ISIS and other extremist groups within Syria
Thousands of ISIS targets destroyed/militants killed
Chemical attack in Ghouta results in thousands of casualties, the perpetrators is still yet to be officially determined; While Russia and the Syrian government claim it was initiated by rebels, Western powers blame Bashar al-Assad's forces for the attack
U.S and allies provide support to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces
US rebel training program ongoing
Deployment of US marines and special forces
In the response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack, president Donald Trump ordered the launch of 60 tomahawk cruise missiles against the Shayrat airbase which was believed to have been the base that initiated the chemical attack
Various attacks against the Syrian government for retaliation or for breaches in de-confliction zones.
Syrian SU-17 shot down by American FA-18 after it was reported that it conducted airstrikes on Syrian Democratic Forces; this marked the first time in 18 years that the US engaged in an air-to-air combat
Skirmishes and encounters between Syrian and Israeli armed forces

Yemeni Civil War
(2015–present)
Location: Yemen

Yemeni capital Sanaa after airstrikes, 9 October 2015.

 Hadi Loyalists

Saudi-led Coalition:
 Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates
 Bahrain
 Kuwait
 Egypt
 Jordan
 Morocco
 Senegal
 Sudan
 United States
 United Kingdom

Supported by:
 Canada
 Australia
 Turkey
 China
 Germany
 France
 Supreme Political Council
 Houthis
 Ahrar al-Najran

Supported by:
 Iran
 Hezbollah
 Qatar
 North Korea

 Ansar al-Sharia
 AQAP

 Wilayah al-Yaman

Ongoing

Yemen's capital city of Sana'a falls under Houthi control
Saudi Arabia and its coalition begin to bomb Houthi rebel positions
Aden becomes the new capital for the Hadi loyalist government
Yemen experiences a cholera outbreak in 2016
Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh killed in fire fight by a sniper during the ongoing battle in Sana'a
The United States and the CIA continue its targeted killing program against radical groups in the region
US Naval blockade in place against Iranian vessels trying to move weapons into Houthi territory
2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis leads to restoring full diplomatic relations with Iran
Several raids against al-Qaeda initiated by US Special Forces
Famine caused by war is affecting over 17 million people leaving 50,000 children to be a risk of dying in 2017

American intervention in Libya
(2016–present)
Part of the Second Libyan Civil War
Location: Libya

Harrier Jump Jet prepares for takeoff to Sirte, Libya.

 United States
 Libya
 Islamic State in Libya

Wilayat Tripolitania
Wilayah Barqah
Wilayah al-Fizan

Ongoing

American air strikes and drone operations help liberate the city of Sirte from ISIS affiliated forces
About 500 airstrikes carried in Libya
Continued civil war


document_title: World population

question_text: when did the world population reach 5.9 billion

question_tokens: when did the world population reach 5.9 billion

text: World population

text: Population by region[edit]

text: Six of the Earth's seven continents are permanently inhabited on a large scale. Asia is the most populous continent, with its 4.3 billion inhabitants accounting for 60% of the world population. The world's two most populated countries, China and India, together constitute about 37% of the world's population. Africa is the second most populated continent, with around 1 billion people, or 15% of the world's population. Europe's 733 million people make up 12% of the world's population as of 2012, while the Latin American and Caribbean regions are home to around 600 million (9%). Northern America, primarily consisting of the United States and Canada, has a population of around 352 million (5%), and Oceania, the least-populated region, has about 35 million inhabitants (0.5%).[21] Though it is not permanently inhabited by any fixed population, Antarctica has a small, fluctuating international population based mainly in polar science stations. This population tends to rise in the summer months and decrease significantly in winter, as visiting researchers return to their home countries.[22]

tag: p

text: Population by continent[edit]

text:
Population by continent (2016 estimates)

Continent
Density
(inhabitants/km2)
Population
(millions)
Most populous country
Most populous city (metropolitan area)

Asia
96.4
4,436
1,382,300,000[note 1] -  China
35,676,000/13,634,685 -  Greater Tokyo Area/Tokyo Metropolis

Africa
36.7
1,216
0186,987,000 -  Nigeria
21,000,000 -  Lagos

Europe
72.9
738
0145,939,000 -  Russia;
approx. 112 million in Europe)
19,468,664 -  Moscow

North America[note 2]
22.9
579
0324,991,600 -  United States
23,723,696/08,537,673 -  New York Metropolitan Area/New York City

South America
22.8
422
0209,567,000 -  Brazil
27,640,577/11,316,149 -  Metro Area/São Paulo City

Oceania
4.5
39.9
0024,458,800 -  Australia
05,005,400 -  Sydney

Antarctica
0.0003
(varies)
0.004 in summer
(non-permanent, varies)[22]
N/A[note 3]
0000001,200 (non-permanent, varies) - McMurdo Station

text: History[edit]

text: Estimates of world population by their nature are an aspect of modernity, possible only since the Age of Discovery. Early estimates for the population of the world[23] date to the 17th century: William Petty in 1682 estimated world population at 320 million (modern estimates ranging close to twice this number); by the late 18th century, estimates ranged close to one billion (consistent with modern estimates).[24] More refined estimates, broken down by continents, were published in the first half of the 19th century, at 600 to 1000 million in the early 1800s and at 800 to 1000 million in the 1840s.[25]

text: Antiquity and Middle Ages[edit]

text: Estimates of the population of the world at the time agriculture emerged in around 10,000 BC have ranged between 1 million and 15 million.[26][27] Even earlier, genetic evidence suggests humans may have gone through a population bottleneck of between 1,000 and 10,000 people about 70,000 BC, according to the Toba catastrophe theory. By contrast, it is estimated that around 50–60 million people lived in the combined eastern and western Roman Empire in the 4th century AD.[28]

text: The Plague of Justinian, which first emerged during the reign of the Roman emperor Justinian, caused Europe's population to drop by around 50% between the 6th and 8th centuries AD.[29] The population of Europe was more than 70 million in 1340.[30] The Black Death pandemic of the 14th century may have reduced the world's population from an estimated 450 million in 1340 to between 350 and 375 million in 1400;[31] it took 200 years for population figures to recover.[32] The population of China decreased from 123 million in 1200 to 65 million in 1393,[33] presumably due to a combination of Mongol invasions, famine, and plague.[34]

text: Starting in AD 2, the Han Dynasty of ancient China kept consistent family registers in order to properly assess the poll taxes and labor service duties of each household.[35] In that year, the population of Western Han was recorded as 57,671,400 individuals in 12,366,470 households, decreasing to 47,566,772 individuals in 9,348,227 households by AD 146, towards the End of the Han Dynasty.[35] At the founding of the Ming Dynasty in 1368, China's population was reported to be close to 60 million; toward the end of the dynasty in 1644, it may have approached 150 million.[36] England's population reached an estimated 5.6 million in 1650, up from an estimated 2.6 million in 1500.[37] New crops that were brought to Asia and Europe from the Americas by Portuguese and Spanish colonists in the 16th century are believed to have contributed to population growth.[38][39][40] Since their introduction to Africa by Portuguese traders in the 16th century,[41] maize and cassava have similarly replaced traditional African crops as the most important staple food crops grown on the continent.[42]

text: The pre-Columbian North American population probably numbered somewhere between 2 million and 18 million.[43] Encounters between European explorers and populations in the rest of the world often introduced local epidemics of extraordinary virulence.[44] According to the most extreme scholarly claims, as many as 90% of the Native American population of the New World died due to Old World diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenza.[45] Over the centuries, the Europeans had developed high degrees of immunity to these diseases, while the indigenous peoples had no such immunity.[46]

text: Modern era[edit]

text: During the European Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, the life expectancy of children increased dramatically.[49] The percentage of the children born in London who died before the age of five decreased from 74.5% in 1730–1749 to 31.8% in 1810–1829.[50][51] Between 1700 and 1900, Europe’s population increased from about 100 million to over 400 million.[52] Altogether, the areas populated by people of European descent comprised 36% of the world's population in 1900.[53]

text: Population growth in the West became more rapid after the introduction of vaccination and other improvements in medicine and sanitation.[54] Improved material conditions led to the population of Britain increasing from 10 million to 40 million in the 19th century.[55] The population of the United Kingdom reached 60 million in 2006.[56] The United States saw its population grow from around 5.3 million in 1800 to 106 million in 1920, exceeding 307 million in 2010.[57]

text: The first half of the 20th century in Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union was marked by a succession of major wars, famines and other disasters which caused large-scale population losses (approximately 60 million excess deaths).[58][59] After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's population declined significantly – from 150 million in 1991 to 143 million in 2012[60] – but by 2013 this decline appeared to have halted.[61]

text: Many countries in the developing world have experienced extremely rapid population growth since the early 20th century, due to economic development and improvements in public health. China's population rose from approximately 430 million in 1850 to 580 million in 1953,[62] and now stands at over 1.3 billion. The population of the Indian subcontinent, which was about 125 million in 1750, increased to 389 million in 1941;[63] today, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are collectively home to about 1.63 billion people.[64] Java had about 5 million inhabitants in 1815; its present-day successor, Indonesia, now has a population of over 140 million.[65] In just one hundred years, the population of Brazil decoupled (x10), from about 17 million in 1900, or about 1% of the world population in that year, to about 176 million in 2000, or almost 3% of the global population in the very early 21st century. Mexico's population grew from 13.6 million in 1900 to about 112 million in 2010.[66][67] Between the 1920s and 2000s, Kenya's population grew from 2.9 million to 37 million.[68]

text: Milestones by the billions[edit]

text:
World population milestones in billions

Population
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Year
1804
1927
1960
1974
1987
1999
2011
2024
2042

Years elapsed
––
123
33
14
13
12
12
13
18

text: It is estimated that the world population reached one billion for the first time in 1804. It was another 123 years before it reached two billion in 1927, but it took only 33 years to reach three billion in 1960.[69] Thereafter, the global population reached four billion in 1974, five billion in 1987, six billion in 1999 and, according to the United States Census Bureau, seven billion in March 2012.[70] The United Nations, however, estimated that the world population reached seven billion in October 2011.[71][72][73]

text: According to current projections, the global population will reach eight billion by 2024, and will likely reach around nine billion by 2042. Alternative scenarios for 2050 range from a low of 7.4 billion to a high of more than 10.6 billion.[74] Projected figures vary depending on underlying statistical assumptions and the variables used in projection calculations, especially the fertility variable. Long-range predictions to 2150 range from a population decline to 3.2 billion in the "low scenario", to "high scenarios" of 24.8 billion.[74] One extreme scenario predicted a massive increase to 256 billion by 2150, assuming the global fertility rate remained at its 1995 level of 3.04 children per woman; however, by 2010 the global fertility rate had declined to 2.52.[10][75]

text: There is no estimation for the exact day or month the world's population surpassed one or two billion. The points at which it reached three and four billion were not officially noted, but the International Database of the United States Census Bureau placed them in July 1959 and April 1974 respectively. The United Nations did determine, and commemorate, the "Day of 5 Billion" on July 11, 1987, and the "Day of 6 Billion" on October 12, 1999. The Population Division of the United Nations declared the "Day of 7 Billion" to be October 31, 2011.[76]

text: Global demographics[edit]

text:
80+
  77.5+
  75+
  72.5+
  70+
  67.5+
  65+

  60+
  55+
  50+
  45+
  40+
  less than 40

text: As of 2012, the global sex ratio is approximately 1.01 males to 1 female. The greater number of men is possibly due to the significant sex imbalances evident in the Indian and Chinese populations.[78][79] Approximately 26.3% of the global population is aged under 15, while 65.9% is aged 15–64 and 7.9% is aged 65 or over.[78] The median age of the world's population was estimated to be 29.7 years in 2014,[80] and is expected to rise to 37.9 years by 2050.[81]

text: According to the World Health Organization, the global average life expectancy is 70.5 years as of 2012, with women living an average of 73 years and men approximately 68 years.[77] In 2010, the global fertility rate was estimated at 2.52 children per woman.[75] In June 2012, British researchers calculated the total weight of Earth's human population as approximately 287 million tonnes, with the average person weighing around 62 kilograms (137 lb).[82]

text: The CIA estimated nominal 2013 gross world product at US$74.31 trillion, giving an annual global per capita figure of around US$10,500.[83] Around 1.29 billion people (18.4% of the world population) live in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than US$1.25 per day;[84] approximately 870 million people (12.25%) are undernourished.[85] 83% of the world's over-15s are considered literate.[78] In June 2014, there were around 3.03 billion global Internet users, constituting 42.3% of the world population.[86]

text: The Han Chinese are the world's largest single ethnic group, constituting over 19% of the global population in 2011.[87] The world's most-spoken first languages are Mandarin Chinese (spoken by 12.44% of the world's population), Spanish (4.85%), English (4.83%), Arabic (3.25%) and Hindustani (2.68%).[78] The world's largest religion is Christianity, whose adherents account for 33.35% of the global population; Islam is the second-largest religion, accounting for 22.43%, and Hinduism the third, accounting for 13.78%.[78] In 2005, around 16% of the global population were reported to be non-religious.[88]

text: Largest populations by country[edit]

text:
10 most populous countries

Rank
Country / Territory
Population
Date
Approx. % of world
population
Source

1
 China[note 4]
1,389,510,000
March 1, 2018
18.3%
[89]

2
 India
1,328,560,000
March 1, 2018
17.5%
[90]

3
 United States
326,712,000
March 1, 2018
4.3%
[91]

4
 Indonesia
261,600,000
October 31, 2016
3.44%
[92]

5
 Pakistan
210,751,000
March 1, 2018
2.77%
[93]

6
 Brazil
208,724,000
March 1, 2018
2.74%
[94]

7
 Nigeria
188,500,000
October 31, 2016
2.48%
[95]

8
 Bangladesh
164,079,000
March 1, 2018
2.16%
[96]

9
 Russia[note 5]
146,773,226
June 1, 2017
1.93%
[97]

10
 Japan
126,670,000
September 1, 2017
1.67%
[98]

text: Approximately 4.3 billion people live in these ten countries, representing around 58% of the world's population as of March 2016. Approximately 3.7 billion people, or half of the world population, live in the six most populous countries.[99]

text: Most densely populated countries[edit]

text: The tables below list the world's most densely populated countries, both in absolute terms and in comparison to their total populations.

text:
10 most densely populated countries (with population above 5 million)

Rank
Country
Population
Area (km2)
Density
(Pop. per km2)

1
 Singapore
5,612,300
710
7,905

2
 Bangladesh
164,080,000
143,998
1,139

3
 Taiwan
23,562,318
36,190
651

4
 South Korea
51,446,201
99,538
517

5
 Lebanon
6,082,000
10,452
582

6
 Rwanda
11,809,295
26,338
448

7
 Netherlands
17,200,000
41,526
414

8
 Haiti
10,911,819
27,065
403

9
 India
1,328,560,000
3,287,240
404

10
 Israel
8,820,000
22,072
400

text:
Countries ranking highly in both total population (more than 20 million people) and population density (more than 250 people per square kilometer):

Rank
Country
Population
Area (km2)
Density
(Pop. per km2)
Notes

1
 India
1,328,560,000
3,287,240
404
Growing population

2
 Pakistan
210,750,000
803,940
262
Rapidly growing population

3
 Bangladesh
164,080,000
143,998
1,139
Rapidly growing population

4
 Japan
126,670,000
377,873
335
Declining population[100]

5
 Philippines
105,510,000
300,000
352
Growing population

6
 Vietnam
93,700,000
331,689
282
Growing population

7
 United Kingdom
65,648,100
243,610
269
Slowly growing population

8
 South Korea
51,446,201
99,538
517
Slowly growing population

9
 Taiwan
23,562,318
36,190
651
Steady population

10
 Sri Lanka
21,444,000
65,610
327
Growing population

text: Fluctuation[edit]

text: Population size fluctuates at differing rates in differing regions. Nonetheless, population growth is the long-standing trend on all inhabited continents, as well as in most individual states. During the 20th century, the global population saw its greatest increase in known history, rising from about 1.6 billion in 1900 to over 6 billion in 2000. A number of factors contributed to this increase, including the lessening of the mortality rate in many countries by improved sanitation and medical advances, and a massive increase in agricultural productivity attributed to the Green Revolution.[101][102][103]

text: In 2000, the United Nations estimated that the world's population was growing at an annual rate of 1.14% (equivalent to around 75 million people),[104] down from a peak of 88 million per year in 1989. By 2000, there were approximately ten times as many people on Earth as there had been in 1700. Globally, the population growth rate has been steadily declining from its peak of 2.19% in 1963, but growth remains high in Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.[105]

text:
7–8 children
  6–7 children

  5–6 children
  4–5 children

  3–4 children
  2–3 children

  1–2 children
  0–1 children

text: During the 2010s, Japan and some countries in Europe began to encounter negative population growth (i.e. a net decrease in population over time), due to sub-replacement fertility rates.[100]

text: In 2006, the United Nations stated that the rate of population growth was visibly diminishing due to the ongoing global demographic transition. If this trend continues, the rate of growth may diminish to zero by 2050, concurrent with a world population plateau of 9.2 billion.[106] However, this is only one of many estimates published by the UN; in 2009, UN population projections for 2050 ranged between around 8 billion and 10.5 billion.[107] An alternative scenario is given by the statistician Jorgen Randers, who argues that traditional projections insufficiently take into account the downward impact of global urbanization on fertility. Randers' "most likely scenario" reveals a peak in the world population in the early 2040s at about 8.1 billion people, followed by decline.[108] Adrian Raftery, a University of Washington professor of statistics and of sociology, states that "there’s a 70 percent probability the world population will not stabilize this century. Population, which had sort of fallen off the world’s agenda, remains a very important issue."[109]

text:
Estimated world population figures, 10,000 BC–AD 2000

Estimated world population figures, 10,000 BC–AD 2000 (in log y scale)

World population figures, 1950–2000

Estimated global growth rates, 1950–2050

Estimated and projected populations of the world and its continents (except Antarctica) from 1950 to 2100. The shaded regions correspond to the range of projections by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

tag: ul

text: Population growth by region[edit]

text: The table below shows historical and predicted regional population figures in millions.[110][111][112] The availability of historical population figures varies by region.

text:
World historical and predicted populations (in millions)[113][114][115]

Region
1500
1600
1700
1750
1800
1850
1900
1950
1999
2008
2010
2012
2050
2150

World
585
660
710
791
978
1,262
1,650
2,521
6,008
6,707
6,896
7,052
9,725
9,746

Africa
86
114
106
106
107
111
133
221
783
973
1,022
1,052
2,478
2,308

Asia
282
350
411
502
635
809
947
1,402
3,700
4,054
4,164
4,250
5,267
5,561

Europe
168
170
178
190
203
276
408
547
675
732
738
740
734
517

Latin America[Note 1]
40
20
10
16
24
38
74
167
508
577
590
603
784
912

North America[Note 1]
6
3
2
2
7
26
82
172
312
337
345
351
433
398

Oceania
3
3
3
2
2
2
6
13
30
34
37
38
57
51

text:
World historical and predicted populations by percentage distribution[113][114]

Region
1500
1600
1700
1750
1800
1850
1900
1950
1999
2008
2010
2012
2050
2150

World
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Africa
14.7
17.3
14.9
13.4
10.9
8.8
8.1
8.8
13.0
14.5
14.8
15.2
25.48
23.7

Asia
48.2
53.0
57.9
63.5
64.9
64.1
57.4
55.6
61.6
60.4
60.4
60.3
54.16
57.1

Europe
28.7
25.8
25.1
20.6
20.8
21.9
24.7
21.7
11.2
10.9
10.7
10.5
7.55
5.3

Latin America[Note 1]
6.8
3.0
1.4
2.0
2.5
3.0
4.5
6.6
8.5
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.06
9.4

North America[Note 1]
1.0
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.7
2.1
5.0
6.8
5.2
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.45
4.1

Oceania
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.59
0.5

text: Past population[edit]

text: The following table gives estimates of population in the past. The data for 1750 to 1900 are from the UN report "The World at Six Billion"[116] whereas the data from 1950 to 2015 are from a UN data sheet.[20]

text:
Year
World
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America & Carib.[Note 1]
North America[Note 1]
Oceania
Notes

70,000 BC
< 0.015

[117]

10,000 BC
4

[118]

8000 BC
5

6500 BC
5

5000 BC
5

4000 BC
7

3000 BC
14

2000 BC
27

1000 BC
50
7
33
9

[citation needed]

500 BC
100
14
66
16

AD 1
200
23
141
28

1000
400
70
269
50
8
1
2

1500
458
86
243
84
39
3
3

1600
580
114
339
111
10
3
3

1700
682
106
436
125
10
2
3

1750
791
106
502
163
16
2
2

1800
1,000
107
656
203
24
7
3

1850
1,262
111
809
276
38
26
2

1900
1,650
133
947
408
74
82
6

1950
2,525
229
1,394
549
169
172
12.7
[119]

1955
2,758
254
1,534
577
193
187
14.2

1960
3,018
285
1,687
606
221
204
15.8

1965
3,322
322
1,875
635
254
219
17.5

1970
3,682
366
2,120
657
288
231
19.7

1975
4,061
416
2,378
677
326
242
21.5

1980
4,440
478
2,626
694
365
254
23.0

1985
4,853
550
2,897
708
406
267
24.9

1990
5,310
632
3,202
721
447
281
27.0

1995
5,735
720
3,475
728
487
296
29.1

2000
6,127
814
3,714
726
527
314
31.1

2005
6,520
920
3,945
729
564
329
33.4

2010
6,930
1,044
4,170
735
600
344
36.4

2015
7,349
1,186
4,393
738
634
358
39.3

text: Using the above figures, the change in population from 2010 to 2015 was:

text:
World: +420 million
Africa: +142 million
Asia: +223 million
Europe: +3 million
Latin America and Caribbean: +35 million
Northern America: +14 million
Oceania: +2.9 million

text: ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Northern America comprises the northern-most countries and territories of North America: Canada, the United States, Greenland, Bermuda, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. Latin America comprises Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

text: Projections[edit]

text: Long-term global population growth is difficult to predict. The United Nations and the US Census Bureau both give different estimates – according to the UN, the world population reached seven billion in late 2011,[110] while the USCB asserted that this occurred in March 2012.[121] The UN has issued multiple projections of future world population, based on different assumptions. From 2000 to 2005, the UN consistently revised these projections downward, until the 2006 revision, issued on March 14, 2007, revised the 2050 mid-range estimate upwards by 273 million.

text: Average global birth rates are declining fast, but vary greatly between developed countries (where birth rates are often at or below replacement levels) and developing countries (where birth rates typically remain high). Different ethnicities also display varying birth rates. Death rates can change rapidly due to disease epidemics, wars and other mass catastrophes, or advances in medicine.

text:
UN (medium variant – 2012 revision) and US Census Bureau (June 2015) estimates[122][123]

Year
UN est.
(millions)
Difference
USCB est.
(millions)
Difference

2005
6,514
–
6,473
–

2010
6,916
402
6,866
393

2015
7,324
408
7,256
390

2020
7,717
393
7,643
380

2025
8,083
366
8,007
363

2030
8,425
342
8,341
334

2035
8,743
318
8,646
306

2040
9,039
296
8,926
280

2045
9,308
269
9,180
254

2050
9,551
243
9,408
228

text:
UN 2012 estimates and medium variant projections (in millions)[122]

Year
World
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America/Caribbean
Northern America
Oceania

2010
6,916
4,165 (60.2%)
1,031 (14.9%)
740 (10.7%)
596 (8.6%)
347 (5.0%)
37 (0.5%)

2015
7,324
4,385 (59.9%)
1,166 (15.9%)
743 (10.1%)
630 (8.6%)
361 (4.9%)
39 (0.5%)

2020
7,717
4,582 (59.4%)
1,312 (17.0%)
744 (9.6%)
662 (8.6%)
376 (4.9%)
42 (0.5%)

2025
8,083
4,749 (58.8%)
1,468 (18.2%)
741 (9.2%)
691 (8.5%)
390 (4.8%)
45 (0.6%)

2030
8,425
4,887 (58.0%)
1,634 (19.4%)
736 (8.7%)
717 (8.5%)
403 (4.8%)
47 (0.6%)

2035
8,743
4,997 (57.2%)
1,812 (20.7%)
730 (8.3%)
739 (8.5%)
415 (4.8%)
50 (0.6%)

2040
9,039
5,080 (56.2%)
1,999 (22.1%)
724 (8.0%)
757 (8.4%)
426 (4.8%)
52 (0.6%)

2045
9,308
5,136 (55.2%)
2,194 (23.6%)
717 (7.7%)
771 (8.3%)
436 (4.7%)
55 (0.6%)

2050
9,551
5,164 (54.1%)
2,393 (25.1%)
709 (7.4%)
782 (8.2%)
446 (4.7%)
57 (0.6%)

2055
9,766
5,168 (52.9%)
2,595 (26.6%)
700 (7.2%)
788 (8.1%)
456 (4.7%)
59 (0.6%)

2060
9,957
5,152 (51.7%)
2,797 (28.1%)
691 (6.9%)
791 (7.9%)
465 (4.7%)
61 (0.6%)

2065
10,127
5,120 (50.6%)
2,998 (29.6%)
681 (6.7%)
791 (7.8%)
474 (4.7%)
63 (0.6%)

2070
10,277
5,075 (49.4%)
3,195 (31.1%)
673 (6.5%)
788 (7.6%)
482 (4.7%)
64 (0.6%)

2075
10,409
5,019 (48.2%)
3,387 (32.5%)
665 (6.4%)
783 (7.5%)
490 (4.7%)
66 (0.6%)

2080
10,524
4,957 (47.1%)
3,570 (33.9%)
659 (6.3%)
776 (7.4%)
496 (4.7%)
67 (0.6%)

2085
10,626
4,894 (46.1%)
3,742 (35.2%)
653 (6.1%)
767 (7.2%)
502 (4.7%)
68 (0.6%)

2090
10,717
4,833 (45.1%)
3,903 (36.4%)
649 (6.1%)
757 (7.1%)
506 (4.7%)
69 (0.6%)

2095
10,794
4,773 (44.2%)
4,051 (37.6%)
644 (6.0%)
747 (6.9%)
510 (4.7%)
69 (0.6%)

2100
10,854
4,712 (43.4%)
4,185 (38.6%)
639 (5.9%)
736 (6.8%)
513 (4.7%)
70 (0.6%)

text: Mathematical approximations[edit]

text: In 1975, Sebastian von Hoerner proposed a formula for population growth which represented hyperbolic growth with an infinite population in 2025.[124] The hyperbolic growth of the world population observed until the 1970s was later correlated to a non-linear second order positive feedback between demographic growth and technological development. This feedback can be described as follows: technological advance → increase in the carrying capacity of land for people → demographic growth → more people → more potential inventors → acceleration of technological advance → accelerating growth of the carrying capacity → faster population growth → accelerating growth of the number of potential inventors → faster technological advance → hence, the faster growth of the Earth's carrying capacity for people, and so on.[125] The transition from hyperbolic growth to slower rates of growth is related to the demographic transition.

text: According to the Russian demographer Sergey Kapitsa,[126] the world population grew between 67,000 BC and 1965 according to the following formula:

text: where

text:
N is current population
T is the current year
C = (1.86±0.01)·1011
T0 = 2007±1

τ

{\displaystyle \tau }

 = 42±1

text: Years for world population to double[edit]

text: According to linear interpolation and extrapolation of UNDESA population estimates, the world population has doubled, or will double, in the years listed in the tables below (with two different starting points). During the 2nd millennium, each doubling took roughly half as long as the previous doubling, fitting the hyperbolic growth model mentioned above. However, after 2024, it is unlikely that there will be another doubling of the global population in the 21st century.[127]

text:
Starting at 500 million

Population
(in billions)
0.5
1
2
4
8

Year
1500
1804
1927
1974
2024

Years elapsed
304
123
47
50

text:
Starting at 375 million

Population
(in billions)
0.375
0.75
1.5
3
6

Year
1171
1715
1881
1960
1999

Years elapsed
544
166
79
39

text: Overpopulation[edit]

text: Predictions of scarcity[edit]

text: In his 1798 work An Essay on the Principle of Population, the British scholar Thomas Malthus incorrectly predicted that continued population growth would exhaust the global food supply by the mid-19th century. Malthus wrote the essay to refute what he considered the unattainable utopian ideas of William Godwin and Marquis de Condorcet, as presented in Political Justice and The Future Progress of the Human Mind. In 1968, Paul R. Ehrlich reprised Malthus' argument in The Population Bomb, predicting that mass global famine would occur in the 1970s and 1980s.[129]

text: The predictions of Ehrlich and other neo-Malthusians were vigorously challenged by a number of economists, notably Julian Lincoln Simon, and advances in agriculture, collectively known as the Green Revolution, forestalled any potential global famine in the late 20th century. Between 1950 and 1984, as the Green Revolution transformed agriculture around the world, grain production increased by over 250%.[130] The world population has grown by over four billion since the beginning of the Green Revolution, but food production has so far kept pace with population growth. Most scholars believe that, without the Revolution, there would be greater levels of famine and malnutrition than the UN presently documents.[131] However, neo-Malthusians point out that fossil fuels provided the energy for the Green Revolution, in the form of natural gas-derived fertilizers, oil-derived pesticides, and hydrocarbon-fueled irrigation, and that many crops have become so genetically uniform that a crop failure in any one country could potentially have global repercussions.[132]

text: In 2004, a meta-analysis of 70 quantitative studies estimating a sustainable limit to the world population generated a meta-estimate of 7.7 billion people.[133]

text: In May 2008, the price of grain was pushed up severely by the increased cultivation of biofuels, the increase of world oil prices to over $140 per barrel ($880/m3),[134] global population growth,[135] the effects of climate change,[136] the loss of agricultural land to residential and industrial development,[137][138] and growing consumer demand in the population centres of China and India.[139][140] Food riots subsequently occurred in some countries.[141][142] However, oil prices then fell sharply. Resource demands are expected to ease as population growth declines, but it is unclear whether mass food wastage and rising living standards in developing countries will once again create resource shortages.[143][144]

text: David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agriculture at Cornell University, estimates that the sustainable agricultural carrying capacity for the United States is about 200 million people; its population as of 2015 is over 300 million.[145] In 2009, the UK government's chief scientific advisor, Professor John Beddington, warned that growing populations, falling energy reserves and food shortages would create a "perfect storm" of shortages of food, water, and energy by 2030.[128][146] According to a 2009 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the world will have to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed a projected extra 2.3 billion people.[147]

text: The observed figures for 2007 showed an actual increase in absolute numbers of undernourished people in the world, with 923 million undernourished in 2007, versus 832 million in 1995.[148] The 2009 FAO estimates showed an even more dramatic increase, to 1.02 billion.[149]

text: Environmental impacts[edit]

text: A number of scientists have argued that the current global population expansion and accompanying increase in resource consumption threatens the world's ecosystem.[150][151] The InterAcademy Panel Statement on Population Growth, which was ratified by 58 member national academies in 1994, states that "unprecedented" population growth aggravates many environmental problems, including rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, global warming, and pollution.[152] Indeed, some analysts claim that overpopulation's most serious impact is its effect on the environment.[15] The situation has continued to worsen, as at the time of the 1994 IAP statement, the world population stood at 5.5 billion and lower-bound scenarios predicted a peak of 7.8 billion by 2050, a number that current estimates state will be reached in the late 2020s.

text: Scientists contend that human overpopulation, continued human population growth and overconsumption, particularly by the wealthy, are the primary drivers of mass species extinction.[153][154][155][156] By 2050 population growth, along with profligate consumption, could result in oceans containing more plastic than fish by weight.[155] In November 2017, a statement by 15,364 scientists from 184 countries asserted that rapid human population growth is the "primary driver behind many ecological and even societal threats."[157]

text: A July 2017 study published in Environmental Research Letters argued that the most significant way individuals could mitigate their own carbon footprint is to have fewer children, followed by living without a vehicle, forgoing air travel and adopting a plant-based diet.[158]

text: Population control[edit]

text: Human population control is the practice of intervening to alter the rate of population growth. Historically, human population control has been implemented by limiting a region's birth rate, by voluntary contraception or by government mandate. It has been undertaken as a response to factors including high or increasing levels of poverty, environmental concerns, and religious reasons. The use of abortion in some population control strategies has caused controversy,[159] with religious organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church explicitly opposing any intervention in the human reproductive process.[160]

text: The University of Nebraska publication Green Illusions argues that population control to alleviate environmental pressures need not be coercive. It states that "Women who are educated, economically engaged, and in control of their own bodies can enjoy the freedom of bearing children at their own pace, which happens to be a rate that is appropriate for the aggregate ecological endowment of our planet."[161] The book Fatal Misconception by Matthew Connelly similarly points to the importance of supporting the rights of women in bringing population levels down over time.[162]

text: Overpopulation skepticism[edit]

text: The Population Research Institute (PRI), an anti-abortion, anti-contraception advocacy group, has criticised predictions of overpopulation and attendant resource scarcity, with some describing overpopulation as a "myth".[163] The PRI argues that advances in agricultural, medical, and industrial technology have allowed global economic productivity to keep pace with rising populations despite Malthusian predictions to the contrary. PRI further says that family sizes are naturally declining worldwide due to higher living standards, increased availability of contraception and better economic opportunities for women. However, other commentators have described PRI's arguments on overpopulation as deceptive.[164][165][166]

text: Number of humans who have ever lived[edit]

text: Estimates of the total number of humans who have ever lived range in the order of 100 billion. It is difficult for estimates to be better than rough approximations, as even modern population estimates are fraught with uncertainties on the order of 3% to 5%.[167] Kapitza (1996) cites estimates ranging between 80 and 150 billion.[168] Haub (1995) prepared another figure, updated in 2002 and 2011; the 2011 figure was approximately 107 billion.[18][19][169] Haub characterized this figure as an estimate that required "selecting population sizes for different points from antiquity to the present and applying assumed birth rates to each period".[19]

text: Robust population data only exists for the last two or three centuries. Until the late 18th century, few governments had ever performed an accurate census. In many early attempts, such as in Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire, the focus was on counting merely a subset of the population for purposes of taxation or military service.[170] Thus, there is a significant margin of error when estimating ancient global populations.

text: Another critical factor for such an estimate is the question of pre-modern infant mortality rates; these figures are very difficult to estimate for ancient times due to a lack of accurate records. Haub (1995) estimates that around 40% of those who have ever lived did not survive beyond their first birthday. Haub also stated that "life expectancy at birth probably averaged only about ten years for most of human history".[19]