War is defined as an active conflict that has claimed more than 1,000 lives.
Has the world ever been at peace?
Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history.
How many people have died in war?
At least 108 million people were killed in wars in the twentieth century. Estimates for the total number killed in wars throughout all of human history range from 150 million to 1 billion. War has several other effects on population, including decreasing the birthrate by taking men away from their wives. The reduced birthrate during World War II is estimated to have caused a population deficit of more than 20 million people.
nytimes.com/2003/07/06/books/chapters/what-every-person-should-know-about-war.html
A list of all wars in the 20th and 21st centuries
Source: hwar-memorial.net/wars_all.asp
Name of War
Eastern Ukraine War 2014
2017
6,367 Deaths
Sectarian Conflict in the Central African Republic
2012 - 2017
9,017 Deaths
Syrian civil war
2011 - 2017
278,694 Deaths
South Sudanese Civil War
2011 - 2017
7,483 Deaths
Libyan Civil War
2011 - 2017
8,037 Deaths
Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon vs Boko Haram (ISWAP)
2009 - 2017
29,363 Deaths
Yemeni Civil War
2009 - 2017
19,406 Deaths
Waziristan Conflict
2007 - 2017
33,785 Deaths
Lou Nuer vs Murle (Jonglei conflict)
2006 - 2017
3,495 Deaths
Kivu Conflict
2004 - 2017
13,192 Deaths
Mexican Drug War
2004 - 2017
19,673 Deaths
Iraqi Insurgency
2004 - 2017
17,198 Deaths
Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant
2003 - 2017
143,539 Deaths
Afghanistan war
2001 - 2017
130,807 Deaths
al-Qaida vs USA and Allies
2001 - 2017
8,593 Deaths
Russia vs Chechnyan Secessionists, the Caucasus Emirate, IS
1993 - 2017
24,235
Indian Govt vs Maoist Guerillas
1991 - 2017
8,164v
Algeria Govt vs Islamic rebels, GIA, AIS, AQIM
1991 - 2017
20,965 Deaths
Nagorno-Karabakh War
1990 - 2017
5,748 Deaths
Northern Mali Conflict
1990 - 2017
3,891 Deaths
Indian-Pakistani Dispute and Intrastate Insurgency in Kashmir
1984 - 2017
22,970 Deaths
Turkey Gov vs Kurdistan Guerilla (PPK)
1984 - 2017
31,283 Deaths
Sudan Government vs Militias
1983 - 2017
100,820 Deaths
Somalia Civil War
1982 - 2017
57,884 Deaths
Uganda Civil War
1980 - 2017
129,047 Deaths
Ethiopia vs Oromia Rebels (OLF)
1977 - 2017
3,432 Deaths
Philippines Govt vs Mindanao Guerillas
1970 - 2017
20,001 Deaths
Philippine Government vs CPP Guerrilla
1969 - 2017
25,238 Deaths
Israel vs Palestine
1949 - 2017
17,403 Deaths
Burmese Government vs Separatist Guerillas
1948 - 2017
56,028 Deaths
Mozambique Govt vs RENAMO and FRELIMO
1977 - 2016
115,914 Deaths
Ethiopian Govt vs Ogadeni Rebels - WSLF/ONLF/AIAI
1976 - 2016
23,432 Deaths
Colombia Govt vs Guerillas Farc and ELN
1964 - 2016
31,937 Deaths
Tajikistan Govt vs Opposition
1992 - 2011
9,145 Deaths
Iran vs rebel groups (MEK,PJAK etc)
1979 - 2011
5,015 Deaths
Chad Civil War
1966 - 2010
36,078 Deaths
Peruvian Gvt vs Sendero Luminoso and MRTA
1965 - 2010
17,234 Deaths
Sri Lankan Govt vs Tamil Militants (LTTE)
1984 - 2009
73,837 Deaths
Georgia civil War and South Ossetia and Abkhazia Conflict
1991 - 2008
3,538 Deaths
Burundi Civil War
1991 - 2007
16,124 Deaths
Nepal Civil War
1996 - 2006
12,282 Deaths
Southern Lebanon War
1990 - 2006
1,944 Deaths
Indonesia Gvt vs Aceh Liberation Movement
1990 - 2005
3,754 Deaths
Civil War in Côte d Ivoire
2002 - 2004
1,472 Deaths
Ituri Conflict
1999 - 2004
12,494 Deaths
Iraq vs US led Coalition
2003 - 2003
7,927 Deaths
Liberia Civil War
1989 - 2003
23,249 Deaths
First and Second Congo Wars
1996 - 2002
80,018 Deaths
Congo Brazzaville Civil War
1993 - 2002
15,541 Deaths
Angolan Gvt vs UNITA Guerilla
1975 - 2002
114,898 Deaths
Eritrea vs Ethiopia
2000 - 2000
98,192 Deaths
Sierra Leone Civil War
1991 - 2000
20,157 Deaths
Afghanistan Civil War
1978 - 2000
546,670 Deaths
Yugoslavia vs NATO Forces and UCK Guerilla
1998 - 1999
3,631 Deaths
Indonesian Govt vs Fretilin - East Timor
1975 - 1999
76,623 Deaths
Political Violence During South Africa's Post-Apartheid Transition
1989 - 1998
4,556 Deaths
Cambodian Govt vs Khmer Rouge
1979 - 1998
87,499 Deaths
Northern Ireland, The Troubles
1971 - 1998
3,010 Deaths
Hunde and allies vs Hutu, Banyarwanda
1993 - 1996
4,303 Deaths
Iraq Government vs SCIRI
1982 - 1996
1,165 Deaths
Iraq vs Kurdistan (KDP/PUK)
1982 - 1996
21,552 Deaths
Iranian Govt vs KDPI
1966 - 1996
2,618 Deaths
Bosnian Govt vs Serbian and Croatian Insurgents
1992 - 1995
26,472 Deaths
Croatian Govt, Irregulars vs Serbian Govt, irregulars, Rep. Krajina
1992 - 1995
4,819 Deaths
Guatemalan Civil War
1965 - 1995
45,418 Deaths
North Yemen vs Secessionists
1994 - 1994
1,489 Deaths
Rwanda Civil War and Genocide
1990 - 1994
507,754 Deaths
Burmese Govt vs Communist Guerillas
1948 - 1994
17,700 Deaths
Indian Govt vs Sikh insurgents
1983 - 1993
14,551 Deaths
First Gulf War
1990 - 1991
23,946 Deaths
El Salvador Gvt vs FMLN Guerrillas
1979 - 1991
51,809 Deaths
Ethiopian Government vs EPRDF
1976 - 1991
56,003 Deaths
Ethiopia vs Eritrean Separatists ELF/EPLF
1964 - 1991
168,510 Deaths
Nicaragua Govt vs Contras
1981 - 1990
29,965 Deaths
Lebanese Civil War
1975 - 1990
132,518 Deaths
Sri Lanka Govt vs JVP
1971 - 1990
2,018 Deaths
Romanian Revolution
1989 - 1989
909 Deaths
Panama Coup and US Invasion
1989 - 1989
920 Deaths
Western Sahara War
1975 - 1989
12,687 Deaths
South African Government vs African National Congress
1981 - 1988
4,087 Deaths
Iran vs Iraq
1980 - 1988
644,500 Deaths
Sino-Vietnamese War
1978 - 1988
47,046 Deaths
Namibia vs South Africa
1966 - 1988
10,000 Deaths
Chadian-Lybian War (Aouzou Strip)
1987 - 1987
8,500 Deaths
South Yemen Coup
1986 - 1986
10,000
Falklands War
1982 - 1982
964 Deaths
Syrian Govt vs Muslim Brotherhood
1979 - 1982
2,075 Deaths
Thai Govt vs CPT
1974 - 1982
3,425 Deaths
Nicaraguan Gvt vs Sandinistas
1978 - 1979
10,000 Deaths
Uganda vs Tanzania
1978 - 1979
3,847 Deaths
Iranian Revolution
1978 - 1979
1,100 Deaths
Rhodesian Government vs ZANU,ZAPU,PF
1967 - 1979
27,080 Deaths
Vietnam vs Cambodia (Kampuchea)
1978 - 1978
32,500 Deaths
Indonesian annexation of West Papua
1962 - 1978
8,700 Deaths
Argentina: Civil War and Dirty War
1974 - 1977
4,677 Deaths
Balochistan Insurgency
1974 - 1977
8,600 Deaths
Chinese Cultural Revolution
1967 - 1976
2,050,000 Deaths
Cambodian Civil War
1967 - 1975
250,000 Deaths
Vietnam War
1965 - 1975
2,048,050 Deaths
Angolan War of Independence
1961 - 1975
79,000 Deaths
Turko Cypriot War
1974 - 1974
5,000 Deaths
Mozambique War of Independence
1964 - 1974
13,500 Deaths
Chilean MIlitary Coup
1973 - 1973
2,095 Deaths
Yom Kippur War
1973 - 1973
6,450 Deaths
Guinea Bissau War of Independence
1963 - 1973
15,000 Deaths
Laos Civil War
1959 - 1973
21,500 Deaths
Rebellion and killings in Burundi
1972 - 1972
152,000 Deaths
Sudan Government vs Insurgents
1963 - 1972
10,000 Deaths
Bangladesh War
1971 - 1971
50,000 Deaths
Second Kashmir War
1964 - 1971
16,327 Deaths
Israel vs Egypt
1969 - 1970
5,520 Deaths
Nigerian Civil War
1967 - 1970
75,000 Deaths
North Yemen Civil War
1962 - 1970
10,000 Deaths
First Kurdish–Iraqi War
1961 - 1970
6,600 Deaths
Football War Honduras vs El Salvador
1969 - 1969
2,107 Deaths
The Six Day War
1967 - 1967
5,413 Deaths
Dominican Republic Coup
1965 - 1965
4,027 Deaths
Congo Crisis
1960 - 1965
7,175 Deaths
First Rwanda Civil War
1963 - 1964
21,000 Deaths
Vietnam Civil War
1955 - 1964
164,923 Deaths
Sino-Indian War
1962 - 1962
2,105 Deaths
Rwandan Social Revolution
1959 - 1962
10,000 Deaths
Algerian War of Independece
1954 - 1962
184,886 Deaths
Bizerte Crisis
1961 - 1961
1,394 Deaths
Cameroonian Govt vs UPC
1960 - 1961
60,000 Deaths
Indonesia vs PRRI, Permesta and Darul Islam
1953 - 1961
33,965 Deaths
Cuban Revolution
1953 - 1961
1,205 Deaths
1959 Mosul uprising in Iraq
1959 - 1959
2,000 Deaths
Cameroon War of Independence
1957 - 1959
11,700v
Tibetan Uprising
1956 - 1959
16,000 Deaths
First Lebanese War
1958 - 1958
1,400 Deaths
La Violencia
1948 - 1958
29,800 Deaths
Malayan Civil War
1948 - 1957
10,845 Deaths
Sinai War
1956 - 1956
2,142 Deaths
Soviet Invasion of Hungary
1956 - 1956
3,171 Deaths
Kenya, Mau-Mau vs UK
1954 - 1956
12,955 Deaths
Tunisian war of Independence
1953 - 1956
2,000 Deaths
Moroccan War of Independence
1953 - 1956
1,000 Deaths
Taiwan Strait Crisis
1949 - 1954
10,025 Deaths
Philippines, Huk rebels vs Govt
1946 - 1954
9,695 Deaths
First Indochina War Comm. vs France
1946 - 1954
377,523 Deaths
Korean War
1949 - 1953
995,025 Deaths
Bolivian Revolution
1952 - 1952
1,000 Deaths
Indian Govt vs Communist Rebels CPI
1948 - 1951
4,000 Deaths
Soviet Union vs Baltic Partisans (Forest Brethren)
1945 - 1951
32,400 Deaths
Indonesian Govt vs Republic of South Moluccas
1950 - 1950
1,000 Deaths
Third Sino-Tibetan War
1950 - 1950
4,000 Deaths
Arab-Israeli War
1948 - 1949
21,111 Deaths
Cheju Rebellion in South Korea
1948 - 1949
17,000 Deaths
Greece Civil War
1946 - 1949
154,000 Deaths
Chinese Civil War
1946 - 1949
1,200,000 Deaths
First Kashmir War
1948 - 1948
7,500 Deaths
Yemeni Imamate War
1948 - 1948
4,000 Deaths
Costa Rican Civil War
1948 - 1948
2,000 Deaths
Civil War in Mandatory Palestine
1947 - 1948
4,009 Deaths
Indian Partition Communal Violence
1947 - 1948
200,000 Deaths
Telangana Rebellion and Indo-Hyderabad War
1947 - 1948
4,360 Deaths
Taiwanese revolt
1947 - 1947
1,000 Deaths
Paraguayan Gvt vs Rebels
1947 - 1947
4,000 Deaths
Madagascar Rebellion
1947 - 1947
6,952 Deaths
Poland and Soviet Union vs Ukrainian Partisans
1945 - 1947
59,700 Deaths
Indonesian Independence
1945 - 1946
5,400 Deaths
World War II
1939 - 1945
50,000,000 Deaths
Franco-Thai War
1940 - 1941
1,400 Deaths
Third Sino-Japanese War
1937 - 1941
1,000,000
The Winter War in Finland
1939 - 1940
151,798 Deaths
The Battle of Khalkhin Gol
1939 - 1939
28,000 Deaths
Spanish Civil War
1936 - 1939
466,300 Deaths
Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine
1936 - 1939
2,576 Deaths
Second British-Waziristan
1936 - 1939
10,200 Deaths
Changkufeng Incident
1938 - 1938
1,726 Deaths
Italo-Ethiopian War
1935 - 1936
20,000 Deaths
Chaco War
1932 - 1935
92,661 Deaths
Communists vs Koumintang
1930 - 1935
500,000 Deaths
Saudi-Yemeni War
1934 - 1934
2,100 Deaths
Spanish Socialists vs Govt
1934 - 1934
1,335 Deaths
Xinjiang Muslim Revolt
1931 - 1934
21,000 Deaths
Manchurian War
1931 - 1933
60,000 Deaths
Aprista Revolt in Peru
1932 - 1932
1,100 Deaths
El Salvador, La Matanza
1932 - 1932
2,600 Deaths
Brazilian Revolt
1932 - 1932
1,000 Deaths
Saya San Rebellion
1930 - 1932
1,140 Deaths
Senussi Orden vs Italy
1920 - 1932
40,000 Deaths
The Yên Bái Uprising
1930 - 1931
1,000 Deaths
Ikhwan Revolt
1929 - 1930
5,500 Deaths
Kuomintang vs warlords
1929 - 1930
75,000
Sino-Soviet war
1929 - 1929
3,200 Deaths
Escobar Rebellion
1929 - 1929
2,000 Deaths
Second Afghan Anti-Reform War
1928 - 1929
15,000 Deaths
The Cristero War
1926 - 1929
10,000 Deaths
Kuomintang vs Gansu Rebels
1928 - 1928
200,000 Deaths
Northern Expedition
1926 - 1928
126,500 Deaths
Druze revolt
1925 - 1927
6,000 Deaths
Third Chinese Warlord War
1925 - 1926
1,000 Deaths
Third Rif War
1920 - 1926
70,000 Deaths
Afghan rebels vs Govt
1924 - 1925
2,000 Deaths
Nejd-Hejaz Wars
1919 - 1925
4,000 Deaths
Honduras Coup
1924 - 1924
1,000 Deaths
Soviet-Turkestan War
1921 - 1923
3,500 Deaths
Second Chinese Warlord War
1922 - 1922
20,000 Deaths
Ireland freestaters vs Irregulars
1921 - 1922
4,000 Deaths
Moplah Riots in Kerala
1921 - 1922
2,450 Deaths
Blackshirts vs Leftists
1920 - 1922
3,300 Deaths
Second Greco Turkish War
1919 - 1922
50,000 Deaths
Russian Revolution and Civil War
1917 - 1922
802,225 Deaths
Kronstadt Rebellion
1921 - 1921
2,600 Deaths
Green Rebellion
1920 - 1921
6,700 Deaths
Iraq vs UK
1920 - 1921
9,540 Deaths
Conquest of Mongolia
1920 - 1921
4,000 Deaths
Turkish War of Independence
1919 - 1921
40,000 Deaths
Lithuanian-Polish War
1920 - 1920
1,000 Deaths
First Chinese Warlord War
1920 - 1920
35,000 Deaths
Franco-Syrian war
1920 - 1920
3,500 Deaths
First British-Waziristan War
1919 - 1920
2,000 Deaths
Hungary Civil War
1919 - 1920
1,500 Deaths
Polish-Soviet War
1919 - 1920
100,000 Deaths
Caco Revolt
1918 - 1920
2,102 Deaths
Estonian Liberation War
1918 - 1920
11,750 Deaths
Latvian Liberation
1918 - 1920
13,246v
Mexican Revolution
1910 - 1920
125,000 Deaths
The Dervish State vs Ethiopia, Britain and Italy
1899 - 1920
6,000 Deaths
Hungarian–Romanian War of 1919
1919 - 1919
11,000 Deaths
Third Anglo-Afghan War
1919 - 1919
2,136 Deaths
Sparticist Rising
1919 - 1919
2,170 Deaths
Second Sino-Tibetan
1918 - 1918
1,500 Deaths
Finnish Civil War
1918 - 1918
15,150 Deaths
Southern China Revolt
1915 - 1918
1,000 Deaths
World War I
1914 - 1918
10,670,868 Deaths
Russia-Turkestan
1916 - 1917
1,350 Deaths
Chinese Govt vs Bai Lang (White Wolf) Rebels
1914 - 1914
5,000 Deaths
2nd Balkan War
1913 - 1913
60,500 Deaths
Moro Rebellion
1913 - 1913
15,050 Deaths
Kuomintang vs Chinese Army
1913 - 1913
5,000 Deaths
1st Balkan War
1912 - 1913
82,000 Deaths
Paraguay Coups
1911 - 1912
5,000 Deaths
Italo-Turkish War
1911 - 1912
20,000 Deaths
First Sino-Tibetan War
1911 - 1912
2,000 Deaths
Cuba vs Partido Independiente de Color
1911 - 1911
1,050 Deaths
Chinese Revolution
1911 - 1911
1,000 Deaths
Asir-Yemen Revolt
1910 - 1911
9,000 Deaths
French Conquest of Wadai Sultanate
1909 - 1911
12,000 Deaths
The sScond Rif War
1909 - 1910
10,000 Deaths
Ma al-’Aynayn’s Anti-Colonial Insurgency
1907 - 1910
3,150 Deaths
Korean guerilla war against Japanese Occupation
1907 - 1910
17,736 Deaths
Portugese war against Dembos
1907 - 1910
5,100 Deaths
Iranian Constitution War
1908 - 1909
1,100 Deaths
Morocco unrest
1907 - 1908
1,400 Deaths
Romanian Peasant Revolt
1907 - 1907
2,000 Deaths
4th Central American war
1907 - 1907
1,000 Deaths
Dutch-Achinese War
1904 - 1907
24,200 Deaths
Zulu Rebellion
1906 - 1906
2,356 Deaths
Sokoto and UK vs Mahdist Revolt
1906 - 1906
2,080 Deaths
Third Central American war
1906 - 1906
1,000 Deaths
Maji Maji revolt
1905 - 1906
8,840
Russian Revolution 1905
1905 - 1906
1,500 Deaths
Southwest African Revolt
1904 - 1905
12,800 Deaths
Russo-Japanese war
1904 - 1905
151,831 Deaths
Second Yemen Rebellion
1904 - 1904
30,000 Deaths
Uruguay Civil War
1904 - 1904
1,000 Deaths
Uprisings in Colonial Angola
1902 - 1904
2,000 Deaths
Ilinden Uprising
1903 - 1903
6,330 Deaths
The War of a Thousand Days
1899 - 1903
100,000 Deaths
Philippine insurrection
1899 - 1902
20,500 Deaths
Second Boer War
1899 - 1902
30,800 Deaths
The Boxer Rebellion
1900 - 1900
3,003 Deaths
Sino-Russian War
1900 - 1900
4,000 Deaths
