Attacks by wild or dangerous animals

What is the most dangerous animal in the world?

• The most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito, followed by dogs and snakes.
• It should be noted that relatively few figures are available on the number of animal bites, or on the number of people who become seriously ill from an animal sting, bite, or attack. More figures are available on the number of fatalities caused by animals.

What is the deadliest animal in the world?

• The deadliest animal in the world is the mosquito. Snails, snakes, dogs, sand flies, and assassin bugs, respectively, account for the most fatalities. When humans are included as part of the animal kingdom, they come in second place.
• Animals can be dangerous to humans in various ways. They can transmit dangerous diseases, they can sting or bite with venom, they can lash out with their claws, and they can bite with their teeth and powerful jaws.
• The deadliest animals in the world account for millions of people who die each year after contact with an animal. The top five account for the majority of these deaths.
• In some animals, the "sense of danger" is many times greater than the actual danger, such as in the wolf. The elephant, the hippopotamus, and the most dangerous insects are often underestimated.

RANKING OF THE DEADLIEST ANIMALS IN THE WORLD

1 - Mosquitoes: How many people are killed by mosquitoes each year?

• Mosquitoes are responsible for 1 to 2 million fatalities annually. Most victims are between 0 and 4 years old and are bitten by a female mosquito that transmits malaria to humans.
• More than 200 million people become seriously ill from malaria each year.
• More than 14 million people develop dengue fever each year.
• 700 million people become ill each year from mosquito-borne diseases, ranging from yellow fever to West Nile virus.
• Most dangerous mosquito species: Anopheles (for malaria), Aedes aegypti (for dengue and Zika virus).
• Read more about the dangers of mosquitoes and what you can do to protect yourself.

2 - Humans: How many people are killed by humans each year?

• Every year, 500,000 people are deliberately killed by another human being, resulting in imprisonment.
• Every year, wars and conflicts are started by dictators, presidents, and other powerful figures, resulting in an average of between 200,000 and 600,000 human casualties.
• More than 8 million people die worldwide each year from the effects of smoking and tobacco products, 1.2 million of whom are affected by passive smoking.
• Every year, 300,000 people die in accidents involving drivers who have consumed alcohol or drugs.
• Besides the number of deaths, humans are also responsible for causing millions of serious injuries and other harm to other people.
• Read more about the dangers of humans and what to do if you encounter a human.

3 - Snails: How many people are killed by snails each year?

• Every year, more than 200,000 deaths are caused by freshwater snails. Freshwater snails are the host of a parasitic fluke. This fluke is responsible for the disease schistosomiasis, also known as "snail fever." The disease occurs in Africa, parts of South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and a few countries in Asia (particularly Southeast Asia).
• Worldwide, more than 230 million people are likely infected. Some people will hardly notice anything, some will become seriously ill, and some will die immediately.
• Most snails on land are harmless to humans. Of the 40,000 species of snails, several hundred are venomous.

4 - Snakes: How many people are killed by snakes each year?

• Snakes are responsible for 100,000 deaths annually.
• More than 2.5 million people are bitten by venomous snakes each year. 75% of these occur in Asia, with the remainder primarily in Africa and Latin America. More than 300,000 people suffer amputations or more serious injuries from venomous snakebites.
• Read more about the dangers of snakes and what to do if you're bitten.

5 - Dogs: How many people are killed by a dog each year?

• Dogs are responsible for 60,000 deaths annually. Most deaths occur because dogs can transmit rabies (also known as the Lyssavirus).
• Most dangerous subspecies: pit bulls, rottweilers, and other large dog breeds.
• Read more about the dangers of dogs and what to do if they come after you.

6 - Sandflies: How many people are killed by a sandfly each year?

• Sandflies are responsible for 20,000 to 40,000 deaths annually. The small sandfly is a specific species of sandfly that can carry a parasite that causes leishmaniasis.
• Approximately 12 million people are infected with leishmaniasis annually across nearly 100 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Central America, and parts of Africa and the Mediterranean.
• Read more about the dangers of sand flies and how to prevent a bite

7 - Assassin bugs: How many people are killed by assassin bugs each year?

• Assassin bugs are responsible for 20,000 deaths annually. There is a Central American species that can transmit Chagas disease, especially to children. The assassin bug is also known as the devil bug, assassin bug, and kissing bug. This bug prefers to bite near your eyes or mouth, and by scratching the wound, you become infected with a parasite (you scratch the bug droppings containing the parasite into your wound).
• In the Netherlands, harmless assassin bugs are used in organic farming.
• Read more about the dangers of assassin bugs and how to deter them.

8 - Roundworms: How many people are killed by roundworms each year?

• Roundworms are responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths annually. The roundworm causes the infection ascariasis in humans.
• Read more about the dangers of roundworms and other parasites

9 - Tapeworms: How many people are killed by a tapeworm each year?

• Tapeworms are responsible for approximately 4,000 deaths annually. They are parasites that can sometimes live in a human for 30 years, but can also cause fatal infections.

10 - Scorpions: How many people in the world are killed by a scorpion each year?

• Scorpions are responsible for approximately 3,000 deaths annually. Scorpions are found all over the world, from Spain to Suriname. Of the 200 species, just over 10% can also kill humans; the others only inflict a painful sting. The deadly species are not found in Europe.
• Read more about the dangers of scorpions and what to do if you are stung.

11 - Ticks: How many people are killed by a tick each year?

• Ticks are responsible for approximately 3,000 deaths annually. Primarily due to the transmission of diseases such as Lyme disease and encephalitis.
• Read more about the dangers of ticks, how to prevent a bite, and how to remove a tick.

12 - Crocodiles: How many people are killed by crocodiles each year?

• Crocodiles and alligators are responsible for approximately 1,000 proven deaths annually. Since crocodiles leave few traces, the actual figures are likely considerably higher.
• The saltwater crocodile is not only the largest, but also the most dangerous enemy when it comes to attacks on humans.
• Read more about the dangers of crocodiles and what to do if you encounter one.

13 - Tsetse flies: How many people worldwide die each year from tsetse flies?

• Tsetse flies are currently responsible for fewer than 1,000 deaths annually. While this number was over 50,000 not so long ago,
• the tsetse fly is a fairly large fly that can transmit sleeping sickness. Only a small percentage of these flies are infected, transferring the blood of an infected animal to an uninfected one.
• This small dracula is mainly found in central and southern Africa. The most dangerous variants are found in eastern Africa.
• Read more about the dangers of tsetse flies and other fly species

14 - Elephants: How many people are killed by an elephant each year?

• Elephants are responsible for approximately 500 deaths annually. The actual numbers may be higher.
• Read more about the dangers of elephants and what to do if they approach you.

15 - Hippos: How many people are killed by a hippo each year?

• Hippos are responsible for approximately 500 deaths annually.
• Read more about the dangers of hippos and what to do if they approach you.

16 - Lions: How many people are killed by a lion each year?

• Lions are responsible for approximately 250 deaths annually.
• Read more about the dangers of lions, how to deter them, and where to see them in the wild.

17 - Buffaloes: How many people are killed by buffalo each year?

• African buffalo are responsible for approximately 200 deaths annually.
• Read more about the dangers of buffalo and what to do if you encounter a buffalo.

18 - Deer: How many people are killed by deer each year?

• Deer are responsible for approximately 100 to 150 deaths annually. Most deaths occur when a deer suddenly crosses the road, causing a car accident. The number of deer killed in this way by humans is many times higher. However, deer can also attack humans in exceptional cases, and that sometimes doesn't end well either.
• Read more about deer and large herbivores and where to care for or see them.

19 - Hyenas: How many people are killed by hyenas each year?

• Hyenas are responsible for approximately 100 deaths annually.
• Most dangerous species: spotted hyena.
• Read more about the dangers of hyenas and what to do if a hyena attacks.

20 - Bees: How many people are killed by a bee or wasp each year?

• Bees are responsible for approximately 100 deaths annually.
• For wasps, this number is considerably higher. In Japan alone, the Japanese hornet causes around 40 deaths annually.
• Read more about the dangers of bees and wasps and how to ward them off.

21 - Jellyfish: How many people are killed by jellyfish each year?

• Jellyfish are responsible for approximately 100 deaths annually.
• The sea wasp is an extremely venomous jellyfish species with tentacles up to 3 meters long and a very fast-acting, lethal venom. The sea wasp, also known as the Australian box jellyfish, is found in northern Australia and from Indonesia to the Philippines and Vietnam.
• The infamous "Portuguese man-of-war" is not actually a jellyfish, but a colony of several polyps that work together like an animal. The strong venom can cause severe pain and shortness of breath. Normally, you only find them in the open sea, but depending on the wind, they sometimes come ashore, and then their 50-meter-long tentacles pose a danger to any swimmer.
• Most jellyfish, however, only cause minor injuries.
• Read more about the dangers of jellyfish and how to avoid being stung.

22 - Tigers: How many people are killed by a tiger each year?

• Tigers are responsible for approximately 50 deaths each year.
• Both the Bengal tiger and the Indochinese tiger are dangerous.
• Read more about the dangers of tigers and what to do if you encounter one.

23 - Leopards: How many people are killed by a leopard or panther each year?

• Leopards, panthers, and jaguars are responsible for an average of 50 deaths each year. Numbers can vary considerably from year to year.
• They are mainly found in India, Sri Lanka, Central and South America, Nepal, and various African countries (including Zambia and South Africa).
• Read more about the dangers of felines like leopards and cheetahs.

24 - Spiders: How many people are killed by spiders each year?

• Spiders are responsible for approximately 10 to 15 deaths annually.
• Dangerous subspecies: the black widow (North and South America), the Brazilian wandering spider (South America), the nursery web spider and funnel-web spider (in Australia), and the brown recluse spider (which also occurs in Southern Europe).
• Read more about the dangers of spiders and what to do after a bite or sting.

25 - Bears: How many people are killed by bears each year?

• Bears are responsible for 5 to 10 deaths each year. Most deaths occur in North America and Russia.
• Most dangerous species: grizzly bear, Kodiak bear, polar bears.
• Read more about the dangers of bears and where to see them, or about the dangers of polar bears.

26 - Birds: How many people are killed by birds each year?

• Birds of prey are responsible for 5 to 10 deaths each year.
• Most dangerous birds: harpy eagle, bearded vulture, steppe eagle, white-headed eagle.
• Most aggressive birds: cassowary, ostrich, emu, red-tailed hawk, short-eared owl, long-eared owl.
• Most bold birds: gulls.
• Read more about special bird watching, where to see and encounter them.

27 - Sharks: How many people are killed by sharks each year?

• Sharks are responsible for 5 to 10 deaths annually.
• More than 80 reports are made each year of shark attacks on people that result in injuries.
• The most dangerous species are: the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the bull shark.
• Read more about the dangers of sharks and what to do if a shark circles you.

28 - Frogs: How many people are killed by frogs each year?

• Frogs are responsible for 10 deaths each year. This is caused by various poisonous frogs.
• Most dangerous species: The golden poison dart frog.
• Read more about the dangers of frogs and what to do if a poisonous frog is in your tent.

29 - Lizards: How many people are killed by lizards each year?

• Lizards are responsible for 5 to 10 deaths annually.
• Most dangerous subspecies: the Gila monster and the Komodo dragon.
• Read more about the dangers of lizards and how to keep them out of your sleeping bag.

30 - Monkeys: How many people are killed by monkeys each year?

• Hardly any people are killed by monkeys in the wild each year. Only the gorilla is known to kill a number of people annually.
• Monkeys can become aggressive and attack people, both individually and in large groups.
• Monkeys are particularly dangerous because of the serious diseases they can transmit when they bite or scratch, and the sometimes serious injuries they can cause.
• The most dangerous species are: the gorilla (strength), slow loris (venomous), rhesus monkey (unafraid, easily attacks people), mandrill (large teeth), baboons (aggressive when hungry, more powerful than humans), spider monkeys (sharp teeth and attacks people), chimpanzees (attack children, among others), capuchin monkeys (unfortunately often kept as pets, unruly, sharp teeth, dangerous for owners).
• Read more about the dangers of monkeys, where they are, and what to do if you've been bitten.

31 - Piranhas: How many people are killed by piranhas each year?

• Piranhas are only responsible for a few deaths each year.
• The most dangerous is the red-tailed piranha, which can bite quite hard.
• Read more about the dangers of spiny and toothy fish

32 - Venomous fish: How many people are killed by venomous fish each year?

• Every year, people die from various species of poisonous and dangerous fish.
• The most dangerous species are: the pufferfish (fugu), which poses less of a threat underwater but can be even more deadly on your plate (when prepared incorrectly), the stonefish, and the electric eel.
• Read more about the dangers of poisonous fish.

33 - Whales: How many people are killed by whales each year?

• Whales in the wild don't actually cause any direct deaths. Boat accidents due to orca attacks or collisions with whales do occur. Sporadically, deaths occur from orcas held in captivity.
• Read more about the dangers of whales and where to see them.

34 - Wolves: How many people are killed by wolves each year?

• Wolves cause far more debate than deaths. On average, one person dies annually from a wolf attack worldwide. An average of eight incidents per year occur in which a wolf bites or attacks a human (mainly in Turkey). Rabies is the main danger to humans from a wolf bite.
• Read more about the dangers of wolves and what to do if you encounter them.