Tiny Mosquitoes Kill Far More Humans Than Crocodiles, Hippos, or Lions

Why the Mosquito Tops the List

• Anopheles mosquitoes carry malaria, which claims 530,000 to 1.1 million lives annually, with most victims in sub-Saharan Africa.
• This toll far exceeds deaths from all large African fauna combined.

Other Deadly Animals Ranked by Fatalities

• Nile Crocodile – ambushes near water claim 300–1,000 deaths/year.
• Hippopotamus – Africa’s most dangerous land mammal, killing about 500 people/year.
• African Buffalo – “widow-maker,” causing 200 deaths/year.
• Elephants – large and aggressive, responsible for around 500 fatalities/year.
• Lions – kill an estimated 100–250 people/year.
• Puff Adder & Black Mamba (Snakes) – puff adders cause most snakebite deaths, black mambas deliver near‑certain fatal venom if untreated.