The World's Most Dangerous Animals, Ranked by Human Deaths

If you ask someone to name the world's most dangerous animal, the answer is usually a shark or a lion. The actual ranking is different, and the most lethal species is one most people swat without a second thought. Mosquitoes kill more humans every year than any other animal on Earth. The full list, drawn from data gathered by the World Health Organization and the CDC, is a useful reminder that danger does not always look the way we expect.

1. Mosquitoes: The World's Deadliest Animal Causing ~750,000 Deaths a Year

Mosquitoes carry malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika, West Nile, and a host of other diseases. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest malaria burden, but climate change and urbanization are expanding mosquito habitat. The WHO World Malaria Report tracks the toll annually. Repellents with DEET or picaridin, bed nets, and mosquito control programs are the basic defenses.

2. Humans: About 400,000 Deaths a Year