List of wars by death toll

This list of wars by death toll includes all deaths that are either directly or indirectly caused by the war. These numbers usually include the deaths of military personnel which are the direct results of battle or other military wartime actions, as well as the wartime/war-related deaths of civilians which are the results of war-induced epidemics, famines, atrocities, genocide, etc.

Pre-modern (before 1500 AD)

Ancient wars (before 500 AD)

War Death
range
Date Combatants Location Notes
Conquests of Cyrus the Great 100,000+ 549 BC–530 BC Persian Empire vs. various states Middle East Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle recorded by Persian writers during this time period, does not take into account civilian deaths, the actual number may be much greater.
Greco–Persian Wars 300,000+ 499 BC–449 BC Greek City-States vs. Persian Empire Greece
Chinese Warring States 1,500,000+ c. 475 BC – 221 BC Seven great powers of China China Estimated at 1,500,000 before Qin's wars of unification
Samnite Wars 33,500+ 343 BC–290 BC Roman Republic vs. Samnites Italy Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle recorded by Roman writers during this time period, does not take into account civilian deaths, the actual number may be much greater.
Wars of Alexander the Great 142,000+ 336 BC–323 BC Macedonian Empire and other Greek City-States vs. Persian Empire and various other states Middle East / North Africa / Central Asia / India Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle during these wars recorded by Greek writers, does not take into account civilian deaths, the actual number may be much greater.
Punic Wars 1,620,000–1,920,000+ 264 BC–146 BC Roman Republic vs. Carthaginian Empire Western Europe / North Africa
First Punic War 400,000+ 264 BC–241 BC Roman Republic vs. Carthaginian Empire Southern Europe / North Africa Part of the Punic Wars
Qin's Wars of Unification 700,000+[citation needed] 230 BC–221 BC Qin state vs. Han, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Chu, Qi States China Part of Warring States period
Second Punic War 770,000+ 218 BC–201 BC Roman Republic vs. Carthaginian Empire Western Europe / North Africa – Part of the Punic Wars
Third Punic War 450,000–750,000+ 149 BC–146 BC Roman Republic vs. Carthaginian Empire Tunisia Part of the Punic Wars
Cimbrian War 410,000–650,000 113 BC–101 BC Roman Republic vs. Cimbri and Teutones Western Europe Part of the Germanic Wars
Roman civil wars from Social War (91–87 BC) to War of Actium 3,000,000+ 91 BC– 30 BC Roman civil wars Europe/North Africa/Middle East Fall of the Roman Republic
Gallic Wars 1,000,000+ 58 BC–50 BC Roman Republic vs. Gallic tribes France
Iceni Revolt 150,000+ 60–61 Roman Empire vs. Celtic tribes England Year is uncertain – Part of the Roman Conquest of Britain
Jewish–Roman Wars 1,270,000–2,000,000 66–136 Roman Empire vs. Jews Middle East/North Africa Deaths caused by Roman attempt to permanently root out Judaism included.
First Jewish–Roman War 250,000–1,100,000 66–73 Roman Empire vs. Jews Middle East – Part of Jewish–Roman Wars
Kitos War 440,000+ 115–117 Roman Empire vs. Jews Southern Europe / North Africa – Also known as the Second Jewish–Roman War
– Part of Jewish–Roman Wars
Bar Kokhba Revolt 580,000 132–136 Roman Empire vs. Jews Middle East – Also known as the Third Jewish–Roman War
– Part of Jewish–Roman Wars
Three Kingdoms War 36,000,000–40,000,000 184–280 Wei vs. Shu vs. Wu China – Academically, the period of the Three Kingdoms refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the conquest of the state of Wu by the Jin dynasty in 280. The earlier, "unofficial" part of the period, from 184 to 220, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China.

See: End of the Han dynasty - Also, note that the death range provided is actually the amount the population declined according to the census data and is likely an overestimation of actual combat fatalities.

Yellow Turban Rebellion 3,000,000–7,000,000 184–205 Peasants vs. Eastern Han China China – Part of Three Kingdoms War
Wars of the Sixteen Kingdoms 150,000+
[citation needed]
304–439 Northern Chinese States Northern China Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle recorded in this time period in battles between armies of the Sixteen Kingdoms, does not take into account civilian deaths, the actual number may be much greater.
Hunnic Reclaims 165,000+
[citation needed]
395–453 Roman Empire vs. Hunnic Empire Europe Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle recorded by Roman writers during this time period; does not take into account civilian deaths; the actual number may be much greater.

Note 1: The geometric mean is the middle of the quoted range, taken by multiplying together the endpoints and then taking the square root.

Medieval wars (500–1500 AD)

Note: the identity of a single "war" cannot be reliably given in some cases, and some "wars" can be taken to last over more than a human lifetime, e.g. "Reconquista" (711–1492, 781 years) "Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent" (12th to 16th c., 500 years) "Crusades" (ten or more campaigns during the period 1095–1291, 196 years), "Mongol invasions and conquests" (1206–1368, 162 years), "early Muslim conquests" (622–750, 128 years), "Hundred Years' War" (1337–1453, 116 years).

War Deaths
range
Date Combatants Location Notes
Arab–Byzantine Wars 2,000,000+[citation needed] 629–1050 Byzantine Empire and allies vs. Islamic Empire and allies Middle East / North Africa / Southern Europe Number given is the sum of all deaths in battle recorded by writers during this time period, does not take into account civilian deaths, the actual number may be much greater.
Reconquista 7,000,000 711–1492 Spanish and Portuguese Christian states vs. Spanish and Portuguese Muslim states Iberian Peninsula - Also known as the reconquest of Al-Andalus
Goguryeo–Sui War 300,000+ 598–614 Sui dynasty China and Goguryeo Kingdom Korea China, Korea
An Lushan Rebellion 13,000,000–36,000,000 755–763 Tang dynasty China and Islamic Empire vs. Yan state China – Also known as the An–Shi Rebellion
Goryeo–Khitan Wars 90,000+ 993–1019 Liao Empire vs. Goryeo Kingdom Korea
Song–Đại Việt war 600,000+ 1075–1077 Song Empire vs. Dai Viet Kingdom under Lý dynasty China, Vietnam
Crusades 1,000,000–3,000,000 1095–1291 Originally Byzantine Empire vs. Seljuq Empire, but evolved into Christians vs. Muslims. Europe / Middle East ("Holy Land")
Albigensian Crusade 200,000–1,000,000 1208–1229 Papal States and France vs. Cathar States France – Also known as the Cathar Crusade

– Part of the Crusades

Mongol invasions and conquests 30,000,000–40,000,000 1206–1368 Mongol Empire vs. Several Eurasian states Eurasia – Excludes the (up to) 200,000,000 deaths from the Black Death migration that may have been associated with the Mongol expansion
Wars of Scottish Independence 60,000–150,000 1296–1357 Scotland vs. England Scotland / England
Hundred Years' War 2,300,000–3,500,000 1337–1453 House of Valois vs. House of Plantagenet Western Europe
Conquests of Timur 8,000,000–20,000,000 1370–1405 Timurid Empire vs. several middle eastern states Eurasia
Wars of the Roses 35,000–105,000 1455–1487 House of Lancaster, House of Tudor, and allies vs. House of York and allies England / Wales [better source needed]

Modern

Modern (1500 AD–present) wars with greater than 25,000 deaths

War Deaths
range
Date Combatants Location Notes
Mediterranean War 900,000–1,000,000 1470–1574 Republic of Venice, Spain, Republic of Genoa, Papal States, Duchy of Savoy, and Order of Saint John vs. Ottoman Empire Mediterranean
Italian Wars 300,000–400,000 1494–1559 Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and some Italian states vs. France, Ottoman Empire, and some Italian states Southern Europe (primarily) – Also known as the Great Wars of Italy
Spanish conquest of Colombia 5,000,000–8,000,000+ 1499–1540 Spanish Empire vs. Colombian civilizations Colombia - Includes Spanish conquest of the Muisca, part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes death from European disease
Spanish conquest of Mexico 8,000,000–10,000,000+ 1519–1530 Spanish Empire vs. Aztec Empire Mexico – Part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes the cocoliztli plagues
Spanish conquest of Yucatán 1,460,000+ 1519–1595 Spanish Empire vs. Mayan states North America – Part of the European colonisation of the Americas, includes deaths due to European disease
Spanish conquest of Nicaragua 575,000+ 1522–1536 Spanish Empire vs. Indigenous peoples of Nicaragua Nicaragua – Part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes deaths due to European diseases
Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire 8,400,000+ 1533–1572 Spanish Empire vs. Inca Empire Peru – Part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes deaths due to European diseases
Campaigns of Suleiman the Magnificent 200,000+ 1521–1566 Ottoman Empire vs. several Balkan, African, and Arabian states Eastern Europe / Middle East / North Africa
German Peasants' War 100,000+ 1524–1525 German Peasants vs. Swabian League Germany – Also known as the Great Peasants War
Arauco War 125,000–142,000 1550–1790 Spanish Empire vs. Mapuches Chile – Part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes deaths due to European diseases
French Wars of Religion 2,000,000–4,000,000 1562–1598 Protestants vs. France vs. Catholics France – Also known as the Huguenot Wars
Eighty Years' War 600,000–700,000 1568–1648 Dutch Republic, England, and France vs. Spanish Empire Northern Europe (primarily) – Also known as the Dutch War of Independence
Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) 106,285+ 1585–1604 Spanish Empire and allies vs. Kingdom of England and allies Americas, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, England, Ireland, Atlantic Ocean English
88,285
Spanish
18,000 during the Spanish Armada
Japanese invasions of Korea 1,000,000+ 1592–1598 Kingdom of Great Joseon and Ming China vs. Japan Korea
Nine Years' War (Ireland) 130,000+ 1593–1603 Irish rebels vs. Kingdom of England Ireland
Transition from Ming to Qing 25,000,000+ 1616–1683 Qing China vs. Ming China vs. peasant rebels like the Shun dynasty (led by Li Zicheng) and Xi dynasty (led by Zhang Xianzhong) vs. Kingdom of Shu (She-An Rebellion) vs. Evenk-Daur federation (Bombogor) China – Also known as the Ming–Qing transition
Thirty Years' War 4,000,000–12,000,000 1618–1648 Austria and Spain vs. Anti-Habsburg states Europe
Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659) 200,000+ 1635–1659 France and allies vs. Spain and allies Western Europe
Wars of the Three Kingdoms 876,000+ 1639–1651 Royalists vs. Covenanters vs.Union of the Irish vs. Scottish Protestants vs. Parliamentarians British Isles – Also known as the British Civil Wars
Portuguese Restoration War 80,000 1640–1668 Portugal, France, and England vs. Spain Iberian Peninsula
English Civil War 211,830+ 1642–1651 Royalists vs. Parliamentarians England, Scotland, and Ireland Part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War 72,000 1645–1669 Republic of Venice vs. Ottoman Empire Candia, Crete, Dalmatia and Aegean Sea
Deluge 3,000,000 1655–1660 or 1648–1667 Primarily Poland vs. Sweden and Russia Poland
Mughal–Maratha Wars 5,000,000+ 1658–1707 Maratha empire vs. Mughal Empire India-Bangladesh
Franco-Dutch War 342,000 1672–1678 France and allies vs. Dutch Republic and allies Western Europe Also known as the Dutch War
Great Turkish War 380,000+ 1683–1699 Ottoman Empire vs. European Holy League Eastern Europe – Also known as the War of the Holy League
Nine Years' War 680,000+ 1688–1697 France vs. League of Augsburg (Dutch, Habsburgs, England, Scotland, Spain and others) Global (mainly Europe)
Great Northern War 350,000+ 1700–1721 Russia and allies vs. Swedish Empire Eastern Europe Sweden, the Swedish Baltic provinces, and Finland, together, with a population of only 2.5 million, lost some 350,000 dead during the war from all causes.
War of the Spanish Succession 400,000–1,250,000 1701–1714 Grand Alliance vs. Bourbon Alliance Europe / Americas
War of Jenkins' Ear 30,000+ 1739–1748 Spanish Empire vs. British Empire American South, Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic
Maratha expeditions in Bengal 400,000+ 1741–1751 Maratha Empire vs. Nawab of Bengal India, Bangladesh
Seven Years' War 868,000–1,400,000 1756–1763 Great Britain and allies vs. France and allies Worldwide
Sino-Burmese War 70,000+ 1765–1769 Burma vs. Qing China Southeast Asia – Also known as the Qing invasions of Burma
Tây Sơn rebellion 1,200,000–2,000,000+ 1771–1802 Tây Sơn rebels then dynasty (British supports) and Chinese pirates vs Nguyễn lords, Trịnh lords, Lê dynasty of Vietnam; Siam; Qing dynasty of China; Kingdom of Vientiane; French army. Southeast Asia
American Revolutionary War 70,000–116,000 1775–1783 United States and allies vs. British Empire and German Mercenaries Worldwide 37,324 battle dead, all sides, all theaters. – Also known as the American War of Independence
White Lotus Rebellion 100,000+ 1794–1804 Qing China vs. White Lotus rebels China
French campaign in Egypt and Syria 65,000+ 1798–1801 France vs. Ottoman Empire and Great Britain Middle East / North Africa
Saint-Domingue expedition 135,000+ 1802–1803 France vs. Haiti and UK Haiti – Part of the Haitian Revolution
Napoleonic Wars 3,500,000–7,000,000 1803–1815 Coalition powers vs. French empire and allies Worldwide See: Napoleonic Wars casualties
Peninsular War 1,000,000+ 1808–1814 Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom vs. France, Kingdom of Italy and Duchy of Warsaw Iberian Peninsula – Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Spanish American wars of independence 600,000–1,200,000+ 1808–1833 Spain vs. American Independentists Americas
Colombian War of Independence 250,000–400,000+ 1810–1823 Royalists vs. Patriots Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela (Viceroyalty of New Granada) Part of Spanish American Wars of Independence
Venezuelan War of Independence 228,000+ 1810–1823 Spain vs. Venezuelan states Venezuela Part of Spanish American Wars of Independence
Mfecane 1,000,000–2,000,000 1810s–1840s Ethnic communities in southern Africa Modern day South Africa
French invasion of Russia 540,000+ 1812 French Empire vs. Russia Russia – Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Carlist Wars 200,000+ 1820–1876 Carlist Insurgents vs. Spain Spain
Greek War of Independence 170,000+ 1821–1831 Greek Revolutionaries vs. Ottoman Empire Greece
French conquest of Algeria 595,665–1,095,665 1830–1903 France vs. Algerian resistance Algeria Between 500,000 and 1,000,000, from approximately 3 million Algerians, were killed in the first three decades of the conquest. French losses from 1830 to 1851 were 92,329 dead from disease and only 3,336 killed in action.
French colonial campaigns 110,000+ 1830–1895 France vs. Local forces Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), Mexico, Madagascar, West Africa In all colonial campaigns, France suffered 10,000 killed and 35,000 wounded, primarily in Algeria. From this number, a few thousand soldiers died in Mexico and Vietnam. Disease further compounded the toll, resulting in an estimated total of 110,000 deaths among French and Foreign Legion forces due to battles and disease throughout the entire 19th century.
Taiping Rebellion 20,000,000–70,000,000 1850–1864 Qing China vs. Taiping Heavenly Kingdom China – Also known as the Taiping Civil War
Crimean War 356,000–615,000 1853–1856 Ottoman Empire and allies vs. Russia Crimean Peninsula
Red Turban Rebellion (1854–1856) 1,000,000+ 1854–1856 Qing China vs. Red Turban rebels China
Miao Rebellion 4,900,000[citation needed] 1854–1873 Qing China vs. Miao China Also known as the Qian rebellion
Punti–Hakka Clan Wars 500,000–1,000,000+ 1855–1868 Hakka vs. Punti China
Panthay Rebellion 890,000–1,000,000 1856–1873 Qing China vs. Hui China – Also known as the Du Wenxiu Rebellion
Indian Rebellion of 1857 800,000–1,000,000 1857–1858 Sepoy Mutineers vs. British East India Company India – Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the Indian First War of Independence
American Civil War 650,000–1,000,000 1861–1865 Union States vs. Confederate States USA
Dungan Revolt 8,000,000–20,000,000 1862–1877 Qing China vs. Hui vs. Kashgaria China – Also known as the Tongzhi Hui Revolt
French intervention in Mexico 49,287+ 1862–1867 Mexican Republicans vs. France and Mexican Empire Mexico
Paraguayan War 300,000–1,200,000 1864–1870 Triple alliance vs. Paraguay South America – Also known as the War of the Triple Alliance
Austro-Prussian War 40,000+ 1866 Austrian states vs. German states Central Europe
Ten Years' War 241,000+ 1868–1878 Spain vs. Cuba and Dominican volunteers Cuba – Also known as the Great War
Franco-Prussian War 433,571+ 1870–1871 France vs. German states France and Prussia
Conquest of the Desert 30,000–35,000 1870s–1884 Argentina vs. Mapuche people Patagonia
Aceh War 97,000–107,000 1873–1914 Kingdom of the Netherlands vs. Aceh Sultanate Indonesia – Also known as the Infidel War
First Sino–Japanese War 48,311+ 1894–1895 Qing China vs. Japan East Asia
Cuban War of Independence 362,000+ 1895–1898 USA and Cuba vs. Spain Cuba
War of Canudos 30,000+ 1896–1897 First Brazilian Republic vs. Canudos inhabitants Brazil
Thousand Days' War 120,000–180,000+ 1899–1902 Colombian Conservatives vs. Colombian Liberals Colombia Famine and Civilian casualties are included.
Boxer Rebellion 100,000 1899–1901 Boxers vs. Foreign powers China
South African War (Second Boer War) 73,000–90,000 1899–1902 United Kingdom and allies vs. South African Republic and Orange Free State South Africa
Philippine–American War 234,000+ 1899–1912 Philippines vs. USA Philippines – Also known as the Philippine War
Russo-Japanese War 101,300–206,100 1904–1905 Russia vs. Japan Northeast Asia
Mexican Revolution 1,000,000–3,500,000 1910–1920 Pro-government vs. Anti-government Mexico
1911 Revolution 220,000 1911 Qing China vs. Revolutionaries China
Balkan Wars 140,000+ 1912–1913 See Balkan wars Balkan Peninsula
World War I 17,000,000-40,000,000 1914–1918 Allied Powers vs. Central Powers Worldwide – Also known as the Great War
Russian Civil War 7,000,000–12,000,000 1917–1922 Red army and allies vs. White army and allies Russia
Kurdish separatism in Iran 15,000–58,000 1918–present Qajar dynasty vs. Shekak (tribe) Iran
Iraqi–Kurdish conflict 138,800–320,100 1918–2003 Kurdistan/Iraqi Kurdistan and allies vs. Iraq and allies Iraq
Rif War 90,000 1921–1926 Spain vs. Republic of the Rif Morocco
Kurdish–Turkish conflict 100,000+ 1921–present Turkey vs. Kurdish people Middle East
Second Italo-Senussi War 40,000+ 1923–1932 Italy vs. Senussi Order Libya
Chinese Civil War 8,000,000–11,692,000 1927–1949 ROC vs. PRC China
Chaco War 85,000–130,000 1932–1935 Bolivia vs. Paraguay Gran Chaco
Second Italo–Ethiopian War 278,000+ 1935–1936 Ethiopian Empire vs. Italy Ethiopia According to Italian government statistics, the Italians suffered 1,148 KIA, 125 DOW, and 31 MIA. According to the Ethiopian government, at least 275,000 Ethiopians died in the brief war. – Also known as the Second Italo–Abyssinian War
Spanish Civil War 500,000–1,000,000 1936–1939 Nationalists vs. Republicans Spain
Second Sino-Japanese War 20,000,000–25,000,000 1937–1945 Republic of China and allies vs. Japan China – Part of World War II
World War II 80,000,000 1939–1945 Allied powers vs. Axis Powers Worldwide – Largest and deadliest war in history
Winter War 153,736–194,837 1939–1940 Finland vs. Soviet Union Finland – Part of World War II
Greco-Italian War 27,000+ 1940–1941 Greece vs. Italy Southeast Europe – Part of World War II
Continuation War 387,300+ 1941–1944 Finland and Germany vs. Soviet Union Northern Europe – Part of World War II
Soviet–Japanese War 33,420–95,768 1945 Soviet Union and Mongolia vs. Japan Manchuria – Part of World War II
First Indochina War 400,000+ 1946–1954 France vs. Việt Minh, Lao Assara, and Khmer Issarak Southeast Asia – Also known as the Indochina War
Partition of India 200,000–2,000,000 1946–1948 India and Pakistan South Asia Partition of India
Greek Civil War 158,000+ 1946–1949 Greek Government army vs. DSE Greece
Kashmir conflict 80,000–110,000 1947–present India vs. Pakistan North India / Pakistan
La Violencia 192,700–300,000 1948–1958 Colombian Conservative Party vs. Colombian Liberal Party Colombia
Internal conflict in Myanmar 130,000–250,000 1948–present Myanmar vs. Burmese Insurgent Groups Myanmar
Arab–Israeli conflict 116,074+ 1948–present Arab Countries vs. Israel Middle East
Annexation of Hyderabad 29,000–242,000 1948 Dominion of India vs. Hyderabad India – Also known as Operation Polo
Korean War 1,500,000–4,500,000 1950–1953 South Korea and allies vs. North Korea and allies Korea American casualties in the Korean War included 54,246 dead and 103,284 wounded.
Algerian War 400,000–1,500,000 1954–1962 Algeria vs. France Algeria – Also known as the Algerian War of Independence
Ethnic conflict in Nagaland 34,000+ 1954–present India and Myanmar vs. Naga People Northeast India
Vietnam War 1,300,000–4,300,000 1955–1975 South Vietnam and allies vs. North Vietnam and allies Vietnam American casualties in the Vietnam War included 58,226 dead and 304,000 wounded. – Also known as the Second Indochina War - Includes deaths in Cambodia and Laos
First Sudanese Civil War 500,000+ 1955–1972 Sudan vs. South Sudanese Rebels Sudan
Congo Crisis 100,000+ 1960–1965 DRC, USA, and Belgium vs. Simba and Kwilu Rebels Congo
Angolan War of Independence 83,000–103,000 1961–1974 Angola vs. Portugal and South Africa Angola
North Yemen Civil War 100,000–200,000 1962–1970 Kingdom of Yemen and Saudi Arabia vs. Yemen Arab Republic and United Arab Republic Yemen
Mozambican War of Independence 63,500–88,500 1964–1974 FRELIMO vs. Portugal Mozambique
Insurgency in Northeast India 25,000+ 1964–present India and allies vs. Insurgent Groups Northeast India
Colombian conflict 220,000-450,000+ 1964–present Colombia and allies vs. Far Left guerillas and Far Right paramilitares Colombia
Nigerian Civil War 1,000,000–3,000,000 1967–1970 Nigeria vs. Biafra Nigeria – Also known as the Biafran War
Moro conflict 120,000+ 1969–2019 Philippines vs. Jihadist Groups vs. Bangsamoro Philippines
Communist rebellion in the Philippines 30,000–43,000 1969–present Philippines vs. Communist Party of the Philippines Philippines
Bangladesh Liberation War 400,000–3,600,000+ 1971 India and Bangladesh vs. Pakistan Bangladesh – Also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence

Figure includes 30,000 military dead, 300,000 to 3,000,000 Bengali civilian and 64,000 to 600,000 Bihari civilian deaths

Ethiopian Civil War 500,000–1,500,000 1974–1991 Derg, PEDR, and Cuba vs. Anti-Communist rebel groups Ethiopia
Angolan Civil War 504,158+ 1975–2002 MPLA and Cuba vs. UNITA and South Africa Angola
South African invasion of Angola 50,000+ 1975–1976 Cuba and MPLA vs. South Africa, FNLA, UNITA and Zaire Angola 50,000 Angolans dead (mostly civilians) – Part of the South African Border War and the Angolan Civil War
Indonesian invasion of East Timor 100,000–200,000 1975–1976 Indonesia vs. East Timor East Timor
Lebanese Civil War 120,000–150,000 1975–1990 Various groups Lebanon
Insurgency in Laos 100,000+ 1975–2007 Laos and Vietnam vs. "Secret army" and Hmong people Laos
Ogaden War 60,000 1977–1978 Ethiopia and Cuba vs. Somalia Ethiopia
Afghanistan conflict 1,400,000–2,500,000 1978–present see Afghanistan conflict Afghanistan
Kurdish–Turkish conflict 45,000+ 1978–present Turkey vs. KCK Middle East – Part of the Kurdish rebellions in Turkey
Soviet–Afghan War 600,000–2,000,000 1979–1989 Soviet Union and Afghanistan vs. Insurgent groups Afghanistan – Part of War in Afghanistan
Salvadoran Civil War 70,000–80,000 1979–1992 El Salvador vs. FMLN El Salvador
Iran–Iraq War 500,000–1,500,000 1980–1988 Iran and allies vs. Iraq and allies Middle East
Internal conflict in Peru 70,000+ 1980–present Peru vs. PCP-SL and MRTA Peru
Ugandan Bush War 100,000–500,000 1981–1986 ULNF and Tanzania vs. National Resistance Army Uganda – Also known as the Luwero War
Second Sudanese Civil War 1,000,000–2,000,000 1983–2005 Sudan vs. South Sudanese rebels Sudan
Sri Lankan Civil War 80,000–100,000 1983–2009 Sri Lanka vs. Tamil Tigers Sri Lanka
Somali Civil War 300,000–500,000 1986–present Varying Somali governments vs. insurgent groups Somalia
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency 100,000–500,000 1987–present Lord's Resistance Army vs. Central African states Central Africa
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 50,000+ 1988–2024 Artsakh and Armenia vs. Azerbaijan and allies Caucasus region – Also known as the Artsakh Liberation War
Gulf War 25,500–40,500 1990–1991 Iraq vs. Coalition Forces Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Rwandan Civil War 500,000–807,500 1990–1994 Rwandan Patriotic Front rebel forces vs. Rwanda Rwanda – The majority of casualties were civilians killed by Hutu rebels in the Rwandan genocide.
Algerian Civil War 44,000–200,000 1991–2002 Algeria vs. FIS loyalists vs. GIA Algeria
Bosnian War 97,000–105,000 1991–1995 Bosnia and Herzegovinian governments and allies vs. Republika Srpska and allies Bosnia
1991 Iraqi uprisings 85,000–235,000 1991 Iraq vs various rebels Iraq – Also known as the Sha'aban Intifada
Eritrean–Ethiopian War 70,000–300,000 1998–2000 see Eritrean–Ethiopian War Eritrean–Ethiopian border
Sierra Leone Civil War 50,000–300,000 1991–2002 see Sierra Leone Civil War Sierra Leone
Burundian Civil War 300,000+ 1993–2005 Burundi vs. Hutu rebels vs. Tutsi rebels Burundi
First Congo War 250,000–800,000 1996–1997 Zaire and allies vs. AFDL and allies Congo
Second Congo War 2,500,000–5,400,000 1998–2003 See Second Congo War Central Africa – Also known as the Great War of Africa
Ituri conflict 60,000+ 1999–2003 Lendu Tribe vs. Hemu Tribe and allies Congo – Part of the Second Congo War
War on terror 272,000–1,260,000 2001–2021 Anti-Terrorist Forces vs. Terrorist groups Worldwide – Also known as the Global War on Terrorism
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) 212,191+ 2001–2021 See War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Afghanistan – Part of the War on Terror and Afghanistan conflict
Insurgency in the Maghreb 70,000+ 2002–present See Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) Algeria, Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mauritania and other Maghreb and Sahel countries Part of the War on Terror. Includes Mali War, Libyan crisis (various factions of Libyan crisis vs Islamists) Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso and Jihadist insurgency in Niger.
US Invasion of Iraq 800,000-1,000,000[citation needed] 2003 United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland vs Iraq Iraq The invasion phase began on 19 March 2003 (air) and 20 March 2003 (ground) and lasted just over one month
Iraq War (US lead Coalition Invasion of Iraq & subsequent war) 405,000–654,965 2003–2011 See Iraq War Iraq

– Part of the War on Terror See: Casualties of the Iraq War

War in Darfur 300,000+ 2003–present SRF and allies vs. Sudan and allies vs. UNAMID Sudan
Kivu Conflict 100,000+ 2004–present see Kivu Conflict Congo – Part of the Second Congo War
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 46,872–79,000 2004–2017 Pakistan, USA, and UK vs. Terrorist groups Pakistan – Also known as the War in Waziristan

– Part of the War on Terror and War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

Mexican drug war 200,000–400,000+ 2006–present Mexico vs. Drug cartels, including inter-cartel conflicts Mexico – Also known as the Mexican War on Drugs
Boko Haram insurgency 350,000+ 2009–present Multinational Joint Task Force vs. Boko Haram Nigeria with spillover into Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger 2,400,000 internally displaced
Libyan crisis 30,000–43,000 2011–present First stage: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya vs Anti-Gaddafi forces; Second stage: Libyan National Army vs various militias (including jihadists); Third stage: House of Representatives vs Government of National Accord vs Islamic State and other jihadist militias Libya Includes the First Libyan Civil War, Factional violence in Libya and the Second Libyan Civil War
Syrian civil war 506,750–613,407+ 2011–present Syrian Arab Republic vs. Republic of Syria vs. ISIL vs. Syrian Democratic Forces Syria See: Casualties of the Syrian civil war
Rojava–Islamist conflict 50,000+ 2013–present Syrian Democratic Forces vs. Islamic States of Iraq and Levant vs. al-Nusra Front Syria 100,000 Syrian Kurds fleeing to Turkey
South Sudanese Civil War 383,000+ 2013–2020 South Sudan vs. SPLM-IO South Sudan About 190,000 died of violence and 383,000 died if healthcare services disruption and war-caused food scarcity factored in as of 2018
War in Iraq (2013–2017) 195,000–200,000+ 2013–2017 Iraq and allies vs. ISIL Iraq
Yemeni Civil War 377,000+ 2014–present Yemen's Supreme Political Council vs. Hadi Government, Saudi-led Coalition and the UAE-backed Southern Movement vs Al-Qaeda Yemen UNDP estimate for the end of 2021. 60% attributable to hunger and disease. Also part of the Arab Winter.
Tigray War 162,000–378,000+ (Total civilian casualties including famine victims, per Ghent University) 2020–2022 UFEFCF vs. Ethiopian and Eritrean Government Ethiopia (Tigray, Afar and Amhara Regions) Part of the Ethiopian civil conflict.
Myanmar Civil War 46,897 2021–present National Unity Government vs. State Administration Council Myanmar Part of the Internal conflict in Myanmar.
Russian invasion of Ukraine 300,000+ 2022–present Russia vs. Ukraine Ukraine Estimates of deaths vary widely. The Ukrainian government stopped publishing country's demographic statistics starting from Jan'22.
Hamas-Israel war 35,626–44,103+ 2023–present Israel vs Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups Israel, Gaza Strip, spillover into West Bank, Lebanon, Syria Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Modern wars with fewer than 25,000 deaths by death toll

Charts and graphs

Bubble chart of wars over 99900 deaths.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-03-19 11:35 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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