Distinguishing between a friendly and a deadly animal isn’t as easy as it seems, as even innocent-looking animals cause a significant number of human deaths each year. Here is a list of the 25 deadliest animals in the world concerning their number of human victims:
25. Spiders
It should not be surprising to know that spiders (especially Black Widow, Brown Recluse, and Brazilian Wandering) cause a significant number of deaths each year (6 to 7 deaths per year to be precise).
These animals are especially lethal to small children and can cause death within minutes (and can cause death to an adult in 24 hours).
24. Bears
These large meat-eaters attack humans viciously in case they perceive them as a threat and cause 4-10 fatalities each year. Bears (including Polar Bears) usually kill humans instantly by cutting off their heads with a swipe of their paws.
23. Wolves
Wolves have long occupied a special place in the human psyche dating back to the 16th century and have caused around 10 deaths per year.
These deadly animals hunt human beings in groups that involve repeated bites to the face and head and they usually eat the human abdominal cavity first.
22. Sharks
Sharks (especially Blacktip, and Great White) are very dangerous creatures. These fast, active, and aggressive animals usually bite divers and swimmers on their limbs without any warning, and thanks to their large size and razor-sharp teeth, they are quite deadly and cause approximately 10 deaths over a year throughout the world.
Sharks are also thought to be responsible for the deaths of an unknown number of shipwreck victims in World War II.
21. Horses
You won’t believe to have seen this magnificent animal on this list, and surely you would hate to see it here. However, it is responsible for killing over 20 humans a year due to the human tendency to ride them, particularly in rodeos.
20. Siafu Ants
Also known as driver ants they appear in a swarm of around 50,000,000. You would regret it in case you unintentionally crushed one of them under your feet.
Once they attack you in a group, they would clamp to your flesh even if you tear their bodies apart. These deadly ants cause 30 deaths a year acting as a single entity.
19. Bees
What makes bees (especially Africanized honey bees) deadliest is the sheer number in which these tiny creatures swarm and attack. The venom of a bee is toxic and causes severe health issues when it enters the human body.
These animals particularly target human eyes and face causing over 53 deaths each year. Once they begin their attack, they target the darker areas (like dark clothes, dark hair, etc) more extensively than the light ones.
18. Cone Snails
Research shows that these tiny innocent-looking animals cause 30 deaths a year. The victim has a 30% chance of survival after being stung by some larger species. The sting of a smaller cone snail, however, is similar to the sting of a bee and is non-fatal.
17. Asian Giant Hornets
With their powerful venomous stings, these deadly animals destroy their victims’ red blood cells resulting in kidney failure and causing death to roughly 70 people over a year.
When a hornet is around you it is advisable not to scream or make any sudden movement, because the more you try to get their attention the more they are going to entertain you with their venomous stings.
16. Australian Box Jellyfishes
Australia is home to over a dozen of the deadliest animals in the world and the Australian Box Jellyfish easily ranks among the deadliest animals that the planet Earth has to offer.
The toxin that it contains affects the nervous system, heart, and skin cells causing an approximate number of 100 deaths over a year. Its attack is strongly painful, and the human victims die of severe shock and heart failure within seconds.
15. Big Cats
With a larger head, thicker legs, and chest these powerful cats (especially Tigers, Lions, and Leopards) are among the most dangerous animals in the world and cause 100-130 deaths every year.
These remarkably diverse groups of carnivores are found in rainforests. With their long teeth and huge claws, these killing machines can tear the human body into pieces within 5 to 10 seconds.
14. Cape Buffaloes
Because of their unpredictable nature, these treacherous beasts are extremely dangerous to humans and kill approximately 200 people every year.
These are particularly aggressive animals in Africa, and even a wounded Cape Buffalo is known to ambush and attack hunters.
13. Elephants
You must be astonished to find this lovable giant animal on this list because what you mostly see are domesticated versions of elephants by zookeepers and trainers.
However, wild elephants when abused can go wild and turn into a minacious destructive force. Due to their vindictive nature, these animals can kill 100-500 people in a year (mainly when they are provoked).
12. Hippopotamuses
Their sharp teeth are so huge that they need large cavities in their heads to accommodate them and when compared to many other wild savages, Hippopotamuses are responsible for most of the reported human deaths in Africa.
Their unpredictable nature (and especially the female Hippopotamuses which are more aggressive and dangerous) costs around 500 human lives every year.
11. Crocodiles
With their gentle smiling jaws and neatly spread claws, these threatening predators are responsible for over 1000 human deaths every year.
They ambush hunters with no warning and with their powerful jaws and sharp teeth tearing human flesh within mere seconds.
10. Tape Worms
Tapeworms cause around 2000 deaths every year. These are known to affect human beings by initially attaching themselves to the intestinal walls and later by migrating to other organs such as muscles, the liver, the lungs, and even the brain.
They eventually grow in size which leads to complete organ failure causing death.
9. Ascaris Round Worms
Causing various severe diseases including hepatitis and pneumonia, Round Worms are surprisingly counted among the deadliest animals in the world as they cause over 2500 deaths each year.
Once infected the adult victims suffer severe intestinal blockage whereas young children aged between 3-8 years suffer growth impairment.
8. Scorpions
The stings that the scorpions (especially Deathstalker) deliver are fatal to human beings. Although several species of these venomous creatures cannot kill a healthy adult with a single sting once stung (irrespective of the species), the victim is indeed at severe risk of dying.
Primarily residing in the Middle East and North Africa, the scorpion is one the most poisonous animals on Earth and is held responsible for around 3300 deaths every year.
7. Tsetse Flies
These robust and bristled flies cause approximately 10,000 deaths per year. It has a blood-sucking nature and causes the notorious sleeping sickness which if left untreated can result in slow but certain death.
They are slightly larger than a housefly and survive solely on animal blood (including human blood).
6. Fresh Water Snails
Freshwater snails can get inside the human stomach and lay eggs which results in a deadly disease called schistosomiasis and tragically causes roughly 10,000 deaths every year.
Once a human being gets affected, the disease can paralyze the legs, cause abdominal bleeding, enlarge the liver and lungs, and cause blood vomiting if left untreated it can cause death.
5. Assassin Bugs
Also known as the kissing bug, this creepy creature is responsible for roughly 10,000 deaths every year. These bugs get their particular name because of their habit of biting human beings around their lips.
Assassin bugs like to suck blood and also spread dangerous parasites that damage major organs of the body resulting in death.
4. Dogs
Dogs are the most amicable animals on earth, however, they can certainly be dangerous given the breed and situation, and cause around 25,000 deaths every year.
Certain breeds of dogs are considered deadly due to their aggressive nature and statistical data related to their hideous attacks.
3. Snakes
The toxicity of snake venom makes them one of the deadliest and most feared animals in the world. Snakes (especially Black Mamba, King Cobra, Boomslang-African, and Australian Brown which are in particular highly aggressive, strike with deadly precision, and are considered to be the deadliest snakes in the world) kill around 20,000-94000 humans over a year.
Snake bites usually cause potentially fatal injuries and should never be left untreated. Depending upon the severity and nature of the bite, a victim can succumb to the venom in 15 minutes to 3 hours.
2. Human Beings
Except for mosquitoes, mankind is responsible for more deaths than any other animal on our list. May it be due to war, environmental destruction, or man-made famine – human beings have always played a significant role in massacring other human beings and causing a total of 475,000 deaths every year.
Given the presence of nuclear weapons and the very possibility of using them, human beings have acquired the ability to destroy the entire planet several times over – destroying every single living creature in the process.
1. Mosquitoes
Surprisingly, this little fellow takes the crown for being the deadliest animal in the world as it causes around 700,000 deaths each year. It is especially lethal to children who are below five years of age and in poor countries. It is important to note that the mosquito itself doesn’t kill a human being, but it rather serves as a carrier for deadly parasites that do the deadly job.
Mosquitoes are responsible for killing more humans than any other animal on the planet by spreading deadly diseases like dengue and malaria worldwide.
Notable Mentions
This list of the deadliest animals in the world is incomplete without mentioning these perilous animals:
- Puffer Fish (6-7 per year due to unlicensed cooking)
- Stonefish (2-3 confirmed deaths to date)
- Piranha (1 death and hundreds of attacks on humans confirmed to date)
- Deers (130 per year due to accidents)
Feel free to contribute to our list through your comments if you know about more deadliest animals on the Planet!
