Wars have been a prominent part of human culture for centuries and have come in different tiers of death toll and brutality. From antiquity to the present, armed conflicts have shaped the world we live in today and the history we have been handed from our ancestors. In this article, we’ll cover the top most deadliest wars in history, ranking them according to their casualties and totaling the estimated death tolls of each one.
- World War II (1939-1945)
World War II is right up there as one of the deadliest wars in history, with an estimated death toll ranging from 70 to 85 million people – this number includes both civilians and soldiers. It was a total war between the Allied and Axis Powers, with a large-scale use of personnel and equipment. Countries such as Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, and Japan made extensive use of new and inhuman war tactics such as kamikaze attacks, the Blitz, and scorched-earth policies, resulting in mass casualties.
- Mongol Conquests (1206-1368)
The Mongol conquests led by Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, and his successors, in the 13th and 14th centuries, were among the bloodiest and most destructive of any war in history. A staggering 40 to 60 million people are believed to have died in the Mongol invasions and wars, which encompassed most of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Over the course of the conquests, vast swaths of cities, capitals, and villages were destroyed, with a total land area of close to 22 million square miles, the equivalent of over 200 modern countries, affected by the violence.
- An Shi Rebellion (755-763)
The An Shi Rebellion, also known as the An Lushan rebelion, spanned from 755 to 763 and was one of the most devastating wars in Chinese history. It was a large-scale uprising in response to the Emperor Xuanzong’s decision to reduce the powers of government officials, as well as cultural and economic changes. The war killed an estimated 36 million people, with millions more displaced by the rebel forces, sending shockwaves throughout the country that lasted for centuries.
- WWI (1914-1918)
With an estimated death toll of 16 to 18 million people, World War I is remembered as one of the most destructive wars in modern history. The war is generally regarded as having begun after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in June of 1914 and ended with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Besides the soldiers who died in the war, millions of civilians were also killed due to mass bombings and famines caused by food shortages and disease.
- Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)
The Taiping Rebellion was a large conflict fought between the Qing dynasty of China and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom that lasted from 1850 to 1864. An estimated 20 million people died in the war, the vast majority of them civilians, making it one of the deadliest wars in the region’s history. The main causes for the conflict include social, religious, and economic inequality, with many peasant rebellions taking place during the war.
- Atlantic Slave Trade (1441-1867)
The Atlantic Slave Trade, also known as the transatlantic slave trade, was the transport of slaves from Africa to the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean. It ran from the 15th century to the 19th century and was one of the most brutal episodes of human history. An estimated 12.5 million people were forced into slavery during this period, most of whom were African, with millions more dying before they could be transported, and in transit.
- Three Kingdoms War (220-280)
The Three Kingdoms War involved the warring of three rival kingdoms in China – Shu, Wei, and Wu. It lasted from 220 to 280 and was a part of a longer period of unrest in the region. The war resulted in the deaths of an estimated 10 to 13 million people and continues to have an effect on China’s cultural and political landscape to this day.
The wars listed here are only a small sample of the many conflicts in humanity’s history that resulted in mass death and destruction. Even in the present day, conflict and war continue to be major issues across a wide range of countries and regions. The true scale of human loss in many of these wars can never be fully known, and this list is a somber reminder of the damage that armed conflicts can bring.
