9/11: 25 years later

A look at one of America’s most trying days, by the numbers

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

Of all the numbers that mean something to the United States, perhaps 9/11 is the one that leaves us with the bitterest taste in our mouths.

Our nation commemorates 25 years since the deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 that not only changed our nation, but the entire world.

Here’s a look back at that historical event by the numbers — both from the day of the attack as well as from the years after — as we continue to grapple with this dark period in our nation’s history. Many of these figures are estimates.

8:46 a.m.

American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center between floors 93 and 99. The 767 was loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel.

9:03 a.m.

United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the south face of the South Tower between floors 77 and 85.

9:37 a.m.

American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the western side of the Pentagon, killing all 58 passengers and crew on board, as well as 125 people on the ground.

10:03 a.m. 

United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in Somerset County, Penn., after passengers on board revolted against the hijackers and took back the plane.

2,977

The total number of victims who perished in the Sept. 11 attacks. Most were civilians except for 344 members of the NYFD and New York Fire Patrol; 71 law enforcement officers; 55 military personnel who died at the Pentagon; one U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer who died when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania and the 19 terrorists who died on board the four different aircraft used in the attack.

Up to 50,000

The number of people employed in the Twin Towers on any given workday, with another 40,000 passing through the complex.

1 hour, 42 minutes

The span of time that elapsed between the first collision and the collapse of the North Tower. It took approximately 12 seconds for the tower to fall.

56 minutes

The span of time that elapsed between the second collision and the collapse of the South Tower. It also took approximately 12 seconds to fall. 

18

The number of people rescued alive from the rubble of the WTC attacks.

36,000

The estimated units of blood donated to the New York Blood Center in the aftermath of the attacks. Of those donated, only 258 units of blood were actually needed.

20%

The percentage of Americans who knew someone hurt or killed in the attacks.

99

The number of days that fires continued to burn after the attacks in New York City.

1.8 million tons

The amount of wreckage cleaned up from the WTC site, which took about nine months and 3.1 million hours of labor. The estimated cost of the debris cleanup was $1.7 billion. More than $1.4 billion was donated to 9/11 charities after the attacks.

$40.2 billion

Estimated amount of insurance paid worldwide related to Sept. 11.

$7.5 billion

Estimated amount of money needed to overhaul lower-Manhattan subways after the attacks.

146,100

The number of jobs lost in New York owing to the attacks.

$105 billion

Economic loss to New York in the month following the attacks.

6

The days the New York Stock Exchange was closed after the attacks. The day it opened again, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 684.81 points.

26

The number of days after Sept. 11 that the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan.

7,053

The number of U.S. military service members killed during the “War on Terror.” This includes Operation Enduring Freedom (the U.S.-led offensive in Afghanistan, which lasted from Oct. 7, 2001-Dec. 31, 2014) and the Iraq War (which lasted from 2003-2011) among other related operations. The U.S. conducted more than 91,340 airstrikes during the “War on Terror.” More than 38 million people were displaced worldwide as a result of the conflicts. 

50%

The percentage increase in CIA applications from 2001 to 2002.

150

The number of songs Clear Channel Radio considered “inappropriate” to play after Sept. 11.

422,000

The estimated number of New Yorkers who suffered — and still suffer from — post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of Sept. 11.

12,962

The total number of civil rights complaints reported to the Council on American-Islamic Relations nationwide from 2002-2008.

2006

The year when video footage of the Pentagon attack was publicly released.

$500,000

The estimated amount of money the terrorist group al-Qaida spent to destroy the World Trade Center and cripple the Pentagon.

$3.3 trillion

The estimated total amount of money the U.S. spent as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, which includes physical damage and loss of life, economic impact, homeland security costs, war and future war funding, and future veterans’ care. The costs do not include prices on certain commodities such as oil, which may have increased due to the attacks.  

50,000+

The number of first responders and survivors of the attacks who have cancer linked to Sept. 11.

2019

The year the U.S. Senate passed a bill ensuring that a fund to compensate victims of the Sept. 11 attacks never runs out of money, and that first responders won’t have to return to Congress to request more funding. The bill passed 97-2, with only Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voting against it. 

Sources used include the Miller Center, the U.S. National Archives, the FBI, Wikipedia and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Some sources differ on exact numbers.