The Canadian flag was lowered for the last time in Afghanistan on March 12, 2014. This mission involved the deployment of more than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel—the largest deployment since the Second World War.
The following tables provide demographic details regarding Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) in receipt of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) benefits and services.
Table 10.1 Afghanistan Deployed Members (Unique)
| Service Type | As of March 2014 |
|---|---|
| Regular Forces Members | 34,640 |
| Primary Reserves Members | 5,386 |
| Total Members | 40,026 |
Source: Canadian Armed Forces - Strategic Joint Staff, Deployment Data 2001-2013, March 31, 2014
Table 10.2 Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) in Receipt of VAC Benefits
| Afghanistan Veterans | Actuals as of March 31, 2022 | % of CAF Veteran Population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | ||
| Afghanistan Service IdentifiedFootnote 1 | 16,432 | 17,802 | 19,368 | 21,540 | 23,423 | 5% |
| Veterans in receipt of Disability Benefits related to Afghanistan ServiceFootnote 2 (included in above total) | 10,551 | 11,645 | 12,659 | 13,735 | 15,024 | 3% |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 10.3 Afghanistan Veterans (including RCMP) by Age – March 2022
| Age | Afghanistan Service IdentifiedFootnote 1 |
% by Age | Veterans in receipt of Disability Benefits related to AfghanistanFootnote 2 |
% by Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 9 | 0% | 3 | 0% |
| 30 to 39 | 5,155 | 22% | 3,764 | 25% |
| 40 to 49 | 7,773 | 33% | 5,217 | 35% |
| 50 or more | 10,486 | 45% | 6,040 | 40% |
| Total | 23,423 | 100% | 15,024 | 100% |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 10.4 Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability BenefitsFootnote 3 by Disability Class – March 2022
| Disability Class Percentage | Disability Pension & Awards | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 78% and above | 4,474 | 30% |
| 53% to 77% | 3,822 | 25% |
| 28% to 52% | 3,811 | 25% |
| 5% to 27% | 2,731 | 18% |
| 1% to 4% | 186 | 1% |
| Entitlement Only | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 15,024 | 100% |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 10.5 Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability BenefitsFootnote 4 – Mental Health Conditions
| Afghanistan Veterans in Receipt of Disability Benefits | March 2019 | March 2020 | March 2021 | March 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Mental Health Conditions | 7,578 | 8,334 | 9,260 | 10,523 |
| For Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | 6,219 | 6,837 | 7,543 | 8,550 |
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch
Table 10.6 Afghanistan Veterans – Quick Facts – March 2022
- 73% of deployed members had 1 tour of Afghanistan, 21% had 2 tours and 6% had 3 or more.
- 90% of Afghanistan deployed members were males, 10% females.
- 19% of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans in receipt of VAC benefits have Afghanistan Service.
- 13% of CAF Veterans in receipt of VAC benefits have a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan.
- 70% of CAF Veterans, with a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for a Mental Health condition.
- 57% of CAF Veterans, with a disability benefit related to service in Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- 26% of members deployed to Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for a mental health condition related to their service in Afghanistan.
- 21% of members deployed to Afghanistan, are in receipt of a VAC pension/award for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to their service in Afghanistan.
Source: Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services Branch