Deadliest animal?

The World in Maps

The deadliest animal in the world? It’s not what you think.

When it comes to the deadliest animals on Earth, the tiny mosquito tops the list by a staggering margin.

Responsible for approximately 700,000 human deaths per year, mosquitoes transmit deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. Despite their size, their global impact on public health is immense. In contrast, humans themselves cause about 40,000 human deaths annually through acts of violence, ranking second on this sobering list.

Other animals also contribute to significant mortality rates. Snakes are responsible for around 138,000 deaths each year, mostly due to venomous bites in regions with limited access to medical care. Dogs, largely through rabies transmission, account for about 59,000 deaths globally. These figures highlight the often-overlooked dangers posed by familiar creatures and reinforce the importance of public health efforts, vaccination programs, and awareness to reduce preventable deaths.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO), Global Burden of Disease Study. BBC Science Focus.