World’s most lethal animal that kills over 1,000,000 people every year revealed and it's not what you'd expect

You might assume that the most deadly animal is roaming in a jungle or swimming deep in the ocean, but it’s actually much closer than you’d think.

In fact, you probably see the species every year but have never realized just what it could do to you if it decided to strike.

Now, you might be thinking it’s a shark or a wolf or a scary bird, but you’d be wrong.

In fact, it’s on a list of the top ten deadliest animals, and even though it’s not as big or strong as the other contenders, it’s winning by miles.

That’s because it kills over 1,000,000 people every year, and it can attack out of nowhere.

Let’s put this into perspective – sharks only kill around ten people per year, while falling coconuts kill 150 people.

So, if something is killing over 1,000,000 civilians annually, it’s got to be the scariest thing in the world.

The deadliest animal isn't one you'd expect (Getty Stock Images)

Do you know what’s even crazier? Sharks and tigers aren’t even on the top ten list of deadliest animals.

So, you’re probably itching to know right about now what the deadliest animal on Earth is and here it is.

Drum roll please…

It’s mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes, a tiny but deadly fly species, is the ultimate killer of humans with between 725,000 and 1,000,000 deaths every year.

Of course, they’re not intentionally hunting us, but their bite packs a big punch for our immune systems.

This little disease carrier transmits horrible illnesses as it feeds on humans and animals alike, carrying infectious pathogens, parasites, viruses and bacteria from person to person, and animal to person.

The diseases they transmit includes malaria, which is a parasitic infection that’s spread to people via female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Mosquitos kill the most people out of all animals (Getty Stock Images)

According to the World Health Organization: “Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.”

Symptoms of the disease can range from mild to severe, and in a lot of cases, fatal particularly for children under the age of five.

So, if you’re in a country that is known for its mosquitos and you suddenly start having a fever, chills and headache, you should seek treatment before the deadly fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing symptoms begin.

Hippopotamus are shockingly also on the list! The hippo might look docile, but it's deadly.

Let’s be honest, is this a shock? Have you seen how they crush watermelon between their jaws? I mean, they eat their young.

So are elephants, who are not to be messed with, as they can charge and stampede through villages and roads.

Now that you've had a taste, the full list of the world's most deadliest animals is right here:

Hippos are very dangerous to be around (Getty Stock Images)

10. Hippopotamus

Everyone loves a hippo, but it’s responsible for around 500 deaths per year.

9. Elephants

Sadly, elephants also kill around 500 per year.

8. Saltwater crocodiles:

Saltwater crocodiles rack up a thousand deaths per year as they stalk humans in the water.

7. Ascaris roundworms

Ascaris roundworms kill 2,500 people thanks to contaminated water allowing people to drink their eggs which will hatch and repopulate your digestive system.

6. Scorpions

Scorpions are responsible for 2,600 deaths thanks to their venomous stings.

5. Assassin bugs

The aptly named Assassin bugs kill 10,000 people per year after transmitting Chagas disease.

4. Saw-scaled Viper

This viper is next up as it kills 138,000 every year thanks to its deadly venomous bite.

3. Freshwater snails

Who could have thought that snails kill 200,000 people per year after transmitting flatworms called flukes to unsuspecting folk?

2. Humans

Scarily, humans are second on the list (right under mosquitoes) as we apparently kill 431,000 others yearly, which is pretty scary to think about.

1. Mosquitoes

These little bugs kill 1,000,000 per year by infecting them with diseases like malaria.

So, there you have it – the deadliest animals in the world.