War
|
Death range
|
Date
|
Combatants
|
Location
|
Notes
|
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
|
[22] – Also known as the Great Wars of Italy
|
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
|
2,300,000+
|
1519–1632
|
Spanish Colonial Empire vs. Aztec Empire
|
Mexico
|
[22] – Part of the European colonization of the Americas, includes the cocoliztli plagues
|
Spanish conquest of Yucatán
|
1,460,000+
|
1519–1595
|
Spanish Colonial Empire vs. Mayan States
|
North America
|
[22] – Part of the European colonisation of the Americas, includes deaths due to European disease
|
Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire
|
8,400,000+
|
1533–1572
|
Spanish Colonial Empire vs. Inca Empire
|
Peru
|
[22] – 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
|
[23]
|
German Peasants' War
|
100,000+
|
1524–1525
|
German Peasants vs. Swabian League
|
Germany
|
[24] – Also known as the Great Peasants War
|
French Wars of Religion
|
2,000,000–4,000,000
|
1562–1598
|
Protestants vs. France vs. Catholics
|
France
|
[25] – Also known as the Huguenot Wars
|
Eighty Years' War
|
600,000–700,000
|
1568–1648
|
Dutch Republic, England, Scotland, and France vs. Spanish Empire
|
Worldwide
|
[22] – Also known as the Dutch War of Independence
|
Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
|
138,285+
|
1585–1604
|
Spanish Empire and allies vs. Kingdom of England and allies
|
Europe / Americas
|
English 88,285[26] Scots/Irish 50,000
|
Japanese invasions of Korea
|
1,000,000+
|
1592–1598
|
Kingdom of Great Joseon and Ming China vs. Japan
|
Korea
|
[27]
|
Transition from Ming to Qing
|
25,000,000+
|
1616–1683
|
Qing China vs. Ming China vs. Shun dynasty China (Li Zicheng) vs. Xi dynasty China (Zhang Xianzhong vs. Kingdom of Shu (She-An Rebellion) vs. Evenk-Daur federation (Bombogor)
|
China
|
[28] – Also known as the Ming–Qing transition
|
Thirty Years' War
|
4,000,000–12,000,000
|
1618–1648
|
Pro-Habsburg states vs. Anti-Habsburg states
|
Europe
|
[29]
|
Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)
|
200,000+
|
1635–1659
|
France and Allies vs. Spain and Allies
|
Western Europe
|
[23][30]
|
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
|
876,000+
|
1639–1651
|
Royalists vs. Covenanters vs.Union of the Irish vs. Scottish Protestants vs. Parliamentarians
|
British Isles
|
[31][32][33] – Also known as the British Civil Wars
|
English Civil War
|
356,000–735,000
|
1642–1651
|
Royalists vs. Parliamentarians
|
England
|
[34] – Part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
|
Mughal–Maratha Wars
|
5,000,000+
|
1658-1707
|
Maratha empire vs. Mughal Empire
|
India-Bangladesh
|
[35][36]
|
Franco-Dutch War
|
220,000+
|
1672–1678
|
France and allies vs. Dutch Republic and allies
|
Western Europe
|
[23] – Also known as the Dutch War
|
Great Turkish War
|
380,000+
|
1683–1699
|
Ottoman Empire vs. European Holy League
|
Eastern Europe
|
[23] – Also known as the War of the Holy League
|
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.[37]
|
War of the Spanish Succession
|
400,000–1,250,000
|
1701–1714
|
Grand Alliance vs. Bourbon Alliance
|
Europe / Americas
|
[23]
|
Maratha expeditions in Bengal
|
400,000+
|
1741–1751
|
Maratha Empire vs. Nawab of Bengal
|
India
|
[38][39]
|
Seven Years' War
|
868,000–1,400,000
|
1756–1763
|
Great Britain and allies vs. France and Allies
|
Worldwide
|
[40][41]
|
Sino-Burmese War (1765–69)
|
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
|
37,324+
|
1775–1783
|
United States and allies vs. British Empire and German Mercenaries
|
Worldwide
|
37,324 battle dead, all sides, all theaters.[23][42][43][44][45] – Also known as the American War of Independence
|
French campaign in Egypt and Syria
|
65,000+
|
1798–1801
|
France vs. Ottoman Empire and Great Britain
|
Middle East / North Africa
|
[23]
|
Saint-Domingue expedition
|
135,000+
|
1802–1803
|
France vs. Haiti and UK
|
Haiti
|
[30]
|
Napoleonic Wars
|
3,500,000–7,000,000
|
1803–1815
|
Coalition powers vs. French empire and allies
|
Worldwide
|
See: Napoleonic Wars casualties
|
French invasion of Russia
|
540,000+
|
1812
|
French Empire vs. Russia
|
Russia
|
[23] – Part of the Napoleonic Wars
|
Spanish American Wars of Independence
|
600,000+
|
1808–1833
|
Spain and Portugal vs. American Independentists
|
Americas
|
[46]
|
Venezuelan War of Independence
|
228,000+
|
1810–1823
|
Spain vs. Venezuelan states
|
Venezuela
|
– Part of Spanish American Wars of Independence
|
Mfecane
|
1,500,000–2,000,000
|
1815–1840
|
Ethnic communities in south Africa
|
Southern Africa
|
[47]
|
Carlist Wars
|
200,000+
|
1820–1876
|
Carlist Insurgents vs. Spain
|
Spain
|
[46]
|
Greek War of Independence
|
170,000+
|
1821–1831
|
Greek Revolutionaries vs. Ottoman Empire
|
Greece
|
The war started between Greek Revolutionaries and the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks were later assisted by Russia, Great Britain, and France. The war led to the formation of modern Greece.
|
French conquest of Algeria
|
480,000–1,000,000
|
1830–1903
|
France vs. Algerian resistance
|
Algeria
|
The war started between France and the Deylik of Algiers, which was an Ottoman vassal, but after the early capitulation of the Deylik, resistance was led by different groups.
|
Taiping Rebellion
|
20,000,000–70,000,000
|
1850–1864
|
Qing China vs. Taiping Heavenly Kingdom
|
China
|
[48][49][50] – Also known as the Taiping Civil War
|
Crimean War
|
356,000–410,000
|
1853–1856
|
Ottoman Empire and allies vs. Russia
|
Crimean Peninsula
|
One of the first wider uses of rifles
|
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
|
[51] – Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the Indian First War of Independence
|
American Civil War
|
650,000–1,000,000
|
1861–1865
|
United States vs. Confederate States
|
USA
|
[52][53][54]
|
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
|
[30]
|
Paraguayan War
|
300,000–1,200,000
|
1864–1870
|
Triple alliance vs. Paraguay
|
South America
|
[55] – Also known as the War of the Triple Alliance
|
Ten Years' War
|
241,000+
|
1868–1878
|
Spain vs. Cuba
|
Cuba
|
[30] – Also known as the Great War
|
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
|
[56] – Also known as the Infidel War
|
First Sino–Japanese War
|
48,311+
|
1894–1895
|
Qing China vs. Japan
|
East Asia
|
A large factor in the weakening of Qing China.
|
Cuban War of Independence
|
362,000+
|
1895–1898
|
USA and Cuba vs. Spain
|
Cuba
|
[30]
|
Thousand Days' War
|
120,000+
|
1899–1902
|
Colombian Conservatives vs. Colombian Liberals
|
Colombia
|
[57]
|
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
|
[58]
|
Philippine–American War
|
234,000+
|
1899–1912
|
Philippines vs. USA
|
Philippines
|
[59] – Also known as the Philippine War
|
Mexican Revolution
|
500,000–2,000,000
|
1910–1920
|
Revolutionary Forces vs. Anti-Revolutionary Forces
|
Mexico
|
[60]
|
Balkan Wars
|
140,000+
|
1912–1913
|
see Balkan wars
|
Balkan Peninsula
|
The war restricted Ottoman control in Europe to territories around Istanbul
|
World War I
|
16,000,000–40,000,000+ (the higher estimate also includes the first victims of the related Spanish flu epidemic who died by the end of 1918. Neither includes the subsequent Russian Civil War)
|
1914–1918
|
Allied Powers vs. Central Powers
|
Worldwide
|
[23] – Also known as the Great War
|
Russian Civil War
|
5,000,000–9,000,000
|
1917–1922
|
Red army and allies vs. White army and allies
|
Russia
|
[61]
|
Kurdish separatism in Iran
|
15,000-58,000
|
1918–present
|
Qajar dynasty vs. Shekak (tribe)
|
Iran
|
[62]
|
Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
|
138,800–320,100
|
1918–2003
|
Kurdistan/Iraqi Kurdistan and allies vs. Iraq and allies
|
Iraq
|
[63][64]
|
Kurdish rebellions in Turkey
|
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
|
[65]
|
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.[66] According to the Ethiopian government, at least 275,000 Ethiopians died in the brief war.[66][67] – Also known as the Second Italo–Abyssinian War
|
Spanish Civil War
|
500,000–1,000,000
|
1936–1939
|
Nationalists vs. Republicans
|
Spain
|
[30]
|
Second Sino-Japanese War
|
20,000,000–25,000,000
|
1937–1945
|
Republic of China and allies vs. Japan
|
China
|
[68] – Part of World War II
|
World War II
|
56,125,000–85,000,000
|
1939–1945
|
Allied powers vs. Axis Powers
|
Worldwide
|
[23] – 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
|
Greek Civil War
|
158,000+
|
1946–1949
|
Greek Government army vs. DSE
|
Greece
|
[69][70][71][72]
|
Malagasy Uprising
|
11,342–89,000
|
1947–1948
|
France vs. Malagasy Insurgents
|
Madagascar
|
[73][74]
|
Kashmir Conflict
|
80,000–110,000
|
1947–present
|
India vs. Pakistan
|
North India / Pakistan
|
|
La Violencia
|
192,700–194,700
|
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
|
[75]
|
Arab–Israeli conflict
|
116,074+
|
1948–present
|
Arab League vs. Israel
|
Middle East
|
[76]
|
Indian 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
|
[77]
|
Algerian War
|
400,000–1,500,000
|
1954–1962
|
Algeria vs. France
|
Algeria
|
[78] – Also known as the Algerian War of Independence
|
Ethnic conflict in Nagaland
|
34,000+
|
1954–present
|
India and Myanmar vs. Naga People
|
Northeast India
|
[79]
|
Vietnam War
|
2,400,000–4,300,000
|
1955–1975
|
South Vietnam and allies vs. North Vietnam and allies
|
Vietnam
|
[80][81][82] – Also known as the Second Indochina War
|
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
|
[83]
|
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
|
[84]
|
Mozambican War of Independence
|
63,500–88,500
|
1964–1974
|
FRELIMO vs. Portugal
|
Mozambique
|
[85]
|
Insurgency in Northeast India
|
25,000+
|
1964–present
|
India and allies vs. Insurgent Groups
|
Northeast India
|
[75]
|
Colombian conflict
|
220,000+
|
1964–present
|
Colombia and allies vs. Far Left guerillas and Far Right paramilitares
|
Colombia
|
[86]
|
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
|
[87]
|
Communist rebellion in the Philippines
|
30,000–43,000
|
1969–present
|
Philippines vs. Communist Party of the Philippines
|
Philippines
|
[88]
|
Bangladesh Liberation War
|
3,000,000+
|
1971
|
India and Bangladesh vs. Pakistan
|
Bangladesh
|
[89] – Also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence
|
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 vs. UNITA
|
Angola
|
|
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
|
[90]
|
War in Afghanistan
|
1,240,000–2,000,000
|
1978–present
|
see War in Afghanistan
|
Afghanistan
|
[91]
|
Kurdish–Turkish conflict
|
45,000+
|
1978–present
|
Turkey vs. KCK
|
Middle East
|
[92] – 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
|
[93][94][95] – Part of War in Afghanistan
|
Salvadoran Civil War
|
70,000–80,000
|
1979-1992
|
El Salvador vs. FMLN
|
El Salvador
|
[96][97]
|
Iran–Iraq War
|
289,000–1,100,000
|
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
|
[98]
|
Ugandan Bush War
|
100,000–500,000
|
1981–1986
|
ULNF and Tanzania vs. National Resistance Army
|
Uganda
|
[99][100] – 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
|
[101]
|
Somali Civil War
|
300,000–500,000
|
1986–present
|
Varying Somali governments vs. insurgent groups
|
Somalia
|
[102][103]
|
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
|
100,000–500,000
|
1987–present
|
Lord's Resistance Army vs. Central African states
|
Central Africa
|
[104]
|
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
|
38,000+
|
1988–present
|
Armenia vs. Azerbaijan and allies
|
Caucasus region
|
– Also known as the Nagorno-Karabakh War
|
Gulf War
|
25,500–40,500
|
1990–1991
|
Iraq vs. Coalition Forces
|
Iraq
|
– Also known as the First Iraq War
|
Algerian Civil War
|
44,000–200,000
|
1991–2002
|
Algeria vs. FIS loyalists vs. GIA
|
Algeria
|
[105]
|
Bosnian War
|
97,000–105,000
|
1991–1995
|
Bosnia and Herzegovinian governments and allies vs. Republika Srpska and allies
|
Bosnia
|
|
1991 Iraqi Civil War
|
85,000–235,000
|
1991
|
Iraq vs various rebels
|
Iraq
|
[106][107][108] – Also known as the Sha'aban Intifada
|
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
|
[109]
|
Rwandan genocide
|
800,000
|
April–July 1994
|
Hutu people vs. Tutsi Rebels
|
Rwanda
|
[110]
|
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
|
[111][112][113][114] – Also known as the Great War of Africa
|
Ituri conflict
|
60,000+
|
1999–2003
|
Lendu Tribe vs. Hemu Tribe and allies
|
Congo
|
[115] – Part of the Second Congo War
|
War on Terror
|
272,000–1,260,000
|
2001–present
|
Anti-Terrorist Forces vs. Terrorist groups
|
Worldwide
|
[116][117][118][119] – Also known as the Global War on Terrorism
|
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
|
47,000–62,000
|
2001–present
|
see War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
|
Afghanistan
|
[117] – Part of the War on Terror and War in Afghanistan
|
Iraq War
|
405,000–654,965
|
2003–2011
|
See Iraq War
|
Iraq
|
[118][119][117] – Also known as the Second Gulf War
– 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
|
[120]
|
Kivu Conflict
|
100,000+
|
2004–present
|
see Kivu Conflict
|
Congo
|
– Part of the Second Congo War
|
War in North-West Pakistan
|
45,900–79,000
|
2004–2017
|
Pakistan, USA, and UK vs. Terrorist groups
|
Pakistan
|
[117] – Also known as the War in Waziristan
– Part of the War on Terror and War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
|
Mexican Drug War
|
150,000–250,000
|
2006–present
|
Mexico vs. Drug cartels
|
Mexico
|
[121][122] – Also known as the Mexican War on Drugs
|
Boko Haram insurgency
|
51,567+
|
2009–present
|
Multinational Joint Task Force vs. Boko Haram
|
Nigeria
|
2,400,000 internally displaced
|
Syrian Civil War
|
387,000–593,000+
|
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 Democratico Forces vs. Islamic States of Iraq and Levant vs. al-Nusra Front
|
Syria
|
100,000[123] Syrian Kurds fleeing to Turkey
|
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)
|
195,000–200,000+
|
2014–2017
|
Iraq and allies vs. ISIL
|
Iraq
|
|
Yemeni Civil War
|
233,000+
|
2014–present
|
Yemen's Supreme Political Council vs. Hadi Government and Saudi-led Coalition
|
Yemen
|