[ Google AdSense 728x90 Leaderboard ]

Top 40 Deadliest Wars

The armed conflicts with the highest estimated death tolls. This comprehensive dataset is meticulously compiled from verified global sources and updated regularly. Use the sorting and filtering tools to explore the data, or export it as CSV for deeper analysis. All figures are cross-referenced with authoritative international databases.

Rank ⇵War ⇵Estimated Deaths ⇵Time Period ⇵
1World War II1939–194570–85 Million
2Mongol Conquests1206–136830–40 Million
3World War I1914–191815–40 Million
4Taiping Rebellion1850–186420–30 Million
5Second Sino-Japanese War1937–194520–25 Million
6Qing Conquest of Ming1618–168325 Million
7An Lushan Rebellion755–76313–36 Million
8Dungan Revolt1862–18778–12 Million
9Russian Civil War1917–19225–9 Million
10Thirty Years' War1618–16484–8 Million
11Chinese Civil War1927–19498 Million
12Napoleonic Wars1803–18153.5–7 Million
13Conquests of Timur1370–14058–17 Million
14French Wars of Religion1562–15982–4 Million
15Second Congo War1998–20032.5–5.4 Million
16Korean War1950–19531.2–3 Million
17Vietnam War1955–19751.3–4.3 Million
18Mexican Revolution1910–19201–2 Million
19Biafran War (Nigerian Civil War)1967–19701–3 Million
20Soviet-Afghan War1979–1989500k–2 Million
21Iran-Iraq War1980–19881–2 Million
22US Civil War1861–1865620,000–1 Million
23Rwandan Civil War & Genocide1990–1994800,000+
24Spanish Civil War1936–1939500,000–1 Million
25Gallic Wars58 BC–50 BC1 Million
26Algerian War1954–1962400,000–1.5 Million
27Mughal-Maratha Wars1680–17071–2 Million
28Yugoslav Wars1991–2001130,000–140,000
29Syrian Civil War2011–Present500,000–600,000
30Congo Crisis1960–1965100,000
31War of the Triple Alliance1864–1870400,000
32Balkan Wars1912–1913140,000
33First Indochina War1946–1954400,000
34Goguryeo-Sui War598–6142 Million
35Colombian Conflict1964–Present450,000
36Second Boer War1899–190275,000
37War in Afghanistan2001–2021176,000
38Iraq War2003–2011200k–1 Million
39Yemeni Civil War2014–Present377,000
40Chechen Wars1994–2009100,000–300,000
Share:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Deadliest Wars in Human History?
The armed conflicts with the highest estimated death tolls.
How many entries are in this list?
There are currently Top 40 Deadliest Wars entries recorded in this list.
How is this data collected and verified?
Data is sourced from official records, government publications, peer-reviewed studies, and reputable international organizations. All entries are cross-referenced with multiple sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
How often is this list updated?
This list is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect the most current data available. Some statistics change frequently (e.g. population, rankings) while others remain stable over time (e.g. historical records).
Can I use this data for research or projects?
Yes. The data presented here is free to use for educational, research, and personal projects. We recommend citing the original sources for academic work. Use the Export CSV button to download the data in a spreadsheet format.

Related Data Lists

Oldest Known Civilizations
A chronological list of the earliest recorded human civilizations.
Deadliest Earthquakes in History
The most destructive earthquakes recorded based on estimated fatalities.
Longest Serving Monarchs in History
The rulers who have reigned for the longest verifiable periods.