World War II Caused 70–85 Million Deaths — the Deadliest Conflict in History
The war unleashed by Hitler's regime resulted in an estimated 70–85 million deaths — roughly 3% of the world's 1940 population. This makes World War II the deadliest conflict in human history. The majority of casualties were civilians, killed by bombing, famine, disease, and genocide. The war reshaped the global order, led to the creation of the United Nations, the beginning of the Cold War, and established the modern framework of international human rights law.