Throughout history, the world has been plagued by a number of diseases that have had devastating effects on human populations. Here are the top 10 past diseases in the world with the highest death rates.

  1. Smallpox Smallpox is an infectious disease caused by the variola virus. It was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide before it was eradicated in 1980. In the 20th century alone, smallpox is estimated to have killed over 300 million people, with a death rate of up to 30%.

  2. Spanish Flu The Spanish Flu was a pandemic that swept the world between 1918 and 1920. It is estimated to have infected one-third of the world’s population and killed between 50 and 100 million people. The death rate for Spanish Flu was around 2.5%.

  3. Plague The Plague, or Black Death, was a pandemic that struck Europe in the 14th century. It is estimated to have killed between 75 and 200 million people, with a death rate of up to 60%.

  4. Tuberculosis Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. It is estimated to have killed over 1 billion people throughout history, with a death rate of up to 50%.

  5. Malaria Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is estimated to have killed over 50 billion people throughout history, with a death rate of up to 50%.

  6. HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS is a viral disease that attacks the immune system. It is estimated to have killed over 35 million people worldwide since the 1980s, with a death rate of around 80% in some parts of the world.

  7. Cholera Cholera is a bacterial disease caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. It is estimated to have killed millions of people worldwide, with a death rate of up to 50%.

  8. Yellow Fever Yellow Fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is estimated to have killed millions of people throughout history, with a death rate of up to 50%.

  9. Typhus Typhus is a bacterial disease transmitted by lice and fleas. It is estimated to have killed millions of people throughout history, with a death rate of up to 30%.

  10. Polio Polio is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system. It is estimated to have killed millions of people throughout history, with a death rate of up to 30%.

In conclusion, these are just some of the most deadly diseases that have affected the world throughout history. While many of these diseases have been eradicated or brought under control with medical advancements, it’s important to remember the lessons learned from past pandemics and continue to work towards better public health policies and disease prevention measures.