What is the most dangerous animal to humans?

The mosquito kills more people than everything else combined, but it is rarely the first answer anyone gives. Weigh it against hippos, crocodiles, big cats and snakes and decide what dangerous really means.

1

Mosquito

Carries malaria and dengue, and kills more people than any other animal.

2

Hippopotamus

Africa's deadliest large animal, aggressive and startlingly fast.

3

Saltwater Crocodile

An ambush predator that genuinely treats humans as prey.

4

Lion

Individual man-eaters have killed dozens, and the reputation stuck.

5

Tiger

Historically the big cat responsible for the most human deaths.

6

Black Mamba

Africa's fastest snake, with venom that kills within hours.

7

Box Jellyfish

Carries some of the most potent venom in the ocean.

8

African Elephant

Immensely powerful and dangerous when it feels crowded.

9

Cape Buffalo

Nicknamed the widowmaker for ambushing those who wound it.

10

Great White Shark

Rare attacks, enormous fear, outsized reputation.

11

Grizzly Bear

A defensive mother bear is among the most dangerous encounters in North America.

12

Deathstalker Scorpion

One of the most venomous scorpions in the world.

13

Tsetse Fly

Spreads sleeping sickness across sub-Saharan Africa.

14

Polar Bear

The one bear that will actively hunt a human.