2. Human
Estimated Deaths Per Year: ~475,000 (Homicide Only)
Location: Worldwide
While controversial, humans are easily one of the deadliest creatures on Earth — to each other. Homicide, war, terrorism, and organized crime lead to nearly half a million deaths annually. If indirect causes like pollution or climate change are included, the number is even higher.
Humans are capable of premeditated violence, mass destruction, and ecological damage. Our weapons, ideologies, and greed often make us more dangerous than any predator in the wild.
Social inequality, poverty, corruption, and lack of mental health resources often fuel the violence. Some of the highest homicide rates are in Latin America, South Africa, and parts of the United States.
On the flip side, humans are also capable of kindness, innovation, and solutions. The same intelligence that causes destruction can also be used to solve global problems — if we choose wisely.
