8 deadliest wars of the 21st century around the world

War brings unimaginable pain and loss, and the 21st century has seen some of the deadliest conflicts in history. Millions have lost their lives, families have been torn apart, and many have been forced to flee their homes. Behind the numbers are real stories of heartbreak, survival, and strength. Even after the fighting ends, the damage remains, affecting entire communities for years to come. Here, we have curated eight wars that have deeply impacted the lives of so many people around the world. Note: This list is based on the data presented by ‘Britannica (dot) com.’

The Second Congo War is one of the deadliest wars of the 21st century and is often known as the “Great War of Africa.” It began when, in 1997, the rebel leader Laurent Kabila took down Zaire's dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko. However, Kabila was brief because various groups opposed him, and there eventually was a war including nine African nations. People lost their lives due to about 3 million cases caused by hunger and disease in this fight. Although a peace treaty was signed in 2003, the nation has never stabilized fully.

The Syrian Civil War started in 2011 when the protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad were violently held down. What was initially a peaceful protest transformed into a brutal war involving rebel groups, ISIS, and foreign powers like Russia and the U.S. It involved the use of chemical weapons and airstrikes on civilians. More than 470,000 people have died, and millions more have escaped the country, making it one of the most devastating conflicts of this century.

The Darfur Conflict started in 2003 when many western Sudan rebels opposed the government, arguing it discriminated against their groups. As a measure of defending its side, the government empowered Arab militias called Janjaweed that violently attacked non-Arab citizens. The minimum number of people who were killed because of this resulted in approximately 300,000 people killed, with nearly 3 million displaced people. Even after the United Nations and African Union deploy peacekeepers to the region in 2008, the area is not yet stabilized and marks the war.

The Iraq War started when, in 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein owned weapons of mass destruction. After the fall of Hussein's regime, turmoil began, with violent confrontations between different religious and ethnic groups. The struggle created a power vacuum where violent groups like ISIS had the opportunity to rise. As a result of the war, more than 85,000 civilians lost their lives, and the aftereffects continue to affect Iraq today.

The war began in Afghanistan in 2001 after the attacks of 9/11, aiming to remove the Taliban and put a stop to al-Qaeda. Although the Taliban were defeated within a short time, they regrouped and began a revolt for nearly two decades. The war killed more than 170,000 people and displaced millions. In 2021, the U.S. pulled out, and the Taliban returned to power, sinking Afghanistan into uncertainty and further violence.

Boko Haram is a militant Islamist group in Nigeria. It began its violent campaign back in 2009 when it wanted to impose strict Sharia law and attacked schools, churches, and government forces. The Nigerian military, in turn, responded harshly, which worsened the situation. Thousands of civilians were killed, and millions were displaced. Military efforts from other neighboring countries, such as Chad and Cameroon, have not been able to stop deadly attacks by Boko Haram; the region remains unstable.

The Yemeni Civil War started after President Ali Abdullah Saleh was thrown out of power during the Arab Spring protests in 2011. His successor Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi could not provide much resistance, while his northern side, the Houthis, took control in 2014. Saudi Arabia and other involved countries provided support to his government. The war is responsible for more than 375,000 deaths of which hunger and preventable diseases constitute most of these deaths. Millions of people have been displaced, and Yemen is still falling apart.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict emerged in 2014 after the pro-Russian president of Ukraine was overthrown and Ukraine's annexation of Crimea by Russia. The eastern parts of Ukraine were captured by pro-Russian separatists. The Russia-Ukraine conflict worsened in 2022 as Russia triggered a full-blown invasion of Ukraine. The war has left tens of thousands of civilian deaths and displaced millions of people. Both sides are facing heavy losses as the conflict goes on, and more countries around the world are strongly criticizing Russia's actions.