Here’s a list of the bloodiest conflicts in Asia, organized by estimated death tolls:
1. Three Kingdoms War (184–280 CE) – China
- Estimated Death Toll: 36–40 million (including famine and disease)
- A prolonged civil war following the fall of the Han Dynasty.
2. Mongol Conquests (1206–1368) – Across Asia
- Estimated Death Toll: 30–40 million (global estimate, Asia included)
- Genghis Khan and his successors conducted campaigns across Asia, devastating entire regions.
3. Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) – China
- Estimated Death Toll: 20–30 million
- A massive civil war in southern China against the Qing Dynasty, led by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
4. Manchu Conquest of China (1618–1683)
- Estimated Death Toll: 25 million
- The conflict involved the Manchu people’s overthrow of the Ming Dynasty and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty. It included large-scale battles, massacres, and devastation due to war, famine, and disease.
5. World War II (Asia-Pacific Theatre, 1939–1945)
- Estimated Death Toll: 15–20 million (Asia-Pacific only)
- Involvement of numerous Asian countries, marked by battles, occupations, and atrocities.
6. Conquests of Timur (1370–1405)
- Estimated Death Toll: 17–20 million
- Timur (Tamerlane), the Turco-Mongol conqueror, led a series of military campaigns across Central Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. His conquests were marked by large-scale destruction, massacres, and forced population movements.
7. An Lushan Rebellion (755–763) – China
- Estimated Death Toll: 13 million
- A rebellion against the Tang Dynasty.
8. Chinese Civil War (1927–1949) – China
- Estimated Death Toll: 7–8 million
- Conflict between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China.
9. Deccan Wars (17th–18th Century)
- Estimated Death Toll: Approximately 5–10 million (indirect effects included)
- A series of protracted conflicts in southern India involving the Mughal Empire, the Maratha Empire, and regional sultanates such as Bijapur and Golconda. The wars were marked by prolonged sieges, extensive battles, and widespread civilian suffering due to famine, disease, and displacement.
10. Korean War (1950–1953) – Korean Peninsula
- Estimated Death Toll: 2–3 million
- War between North Korea (backed by China and USSR) and South Korea (backed by the United Nations).
11. Vietnam War (1955–1975) – Southeast Asia
- Estimated Death Toll: 2–3 million
- Conflict between communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam, involving the US and its allies.
12. Cambodian Genocide (1975–1979) – Cambodia
- Estimated Death Toll: 1.5–2 million
- Carried out by the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot’s regime.
13. Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989) – Afghanistan
- Estimated Death Toll: 1–2 million
- Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, facing resistance from mujahideen forces.
14. Partition of India (1947) – South Asia
- Estimated Death Toll: 1–2 million
- Violence and displacement during the division of British India into India and Pakistan.
15. Tây Sơn Wars (1771–1802) – Indochina
- Estimated Death Toll: 1–2 million
- A series of civil wars and rebellions in Vietnam involving the Tây Sơn dynasty, the Nguyễn lords, and the Trịnh lords.
16. Akbar’s Conquest of North India (1556–1605)
- Estimated Death Toll: Approximately 800.000–2 million (including war-related famines and displacement)
17. Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) – South Asia
- Estimated Death Toll: 300,000–2 million
- War of independence from Pakistan, marked by widespread atrocities.
