Dec 14 (Reuters) - A British soldier has died of a gunshot wound while serving with an armoured unit in the Iraqi city of Basra, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.

The death brings the number of British armed forces killed in Iraq since March 2003 to 178, of which 136 were as a result of hostile action.

Following are the latest figures for soldiers and civilians killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003:

U.S.-LED COALITION FORCES:

United States 4,209

Britain 178

Other nations 138

IRAQIS:

Military Between 4,900 and 6,375#

Civilians Between 89,878 and 98,130*

# = Think-tank estimates for military under Saddam Hussein killed during the 2003 war. No reliable official figures have been issued since new security forces were set up in late 2003.

* = From www.iraqbodycount.net (IBC), run by academics and peace activists, based on reports from at least two media sources. The IBC says on its website the figure underestimates the true number of casualties.

The U.S.-led military coalition toll includes casualties from Iraq and the surrounding area where troops are stationed. (Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit;)

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