What Is the Deadliest
Animal in Canada?

The mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world. Our World in Data and the Gates Foundation estimate mosquitoes cause roughly 725,000 to 1,000,000 human deaths every year (a central estimate of about 760,000 for 2023, drawing on WHO and IHME data) — far more than any other animal. Over 80% of those deaths are from malaria; the WHO World Malaria Report 2024 estimated 597,000 malaria deaths in 2023. By comparison, humans (homicide) rank second at roughly 400,000–475,000, snakes third at about 50,000–138,000 (WHO snakebite envenoming), and sharks cause only single-digit deaths (5–10 per year, per the International Shark Attack File).

It depends on how you measure it. Globally the mosquito is the deadliest animal, but in Canada mosquitoes kill very few people directly because there is no endemic malaria here — the realistic mosquito risk is West Nile virus (177 domestically-acquired cases and 1 reported death in 2024, per the Public Health Agency of Canada). By raw human deaths inside Canada, moose and deer are arguably the deadliest animals: the Traffic Injury Research Foundation recorded 570 deaths from wildlife-vehicle collisions over 2000–2020 (about 28 per year), with moose causing more than half. Bees, wasps and hornets cause roughly 3–4 anaphylaxis deaths per year (Statistics Canada).

Mosquitoes are estimated to kill roughly 725,000 to 1,000,000 people worldwide each year, according to the Gates Foundation and Our World in Data — the most current central estimate is about 760,000 deaths for 2023, using WHO and IHME data. Malaria is by far the largest driver: the WHO World Malaria Report 2024 estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023, with about 95% of deaths in the WHO African Region. The remaining mosquito deaths come from dengue, West Nile virus, Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases.

There are over 3,500 recognized mosquito species worldwide (sources put the range at roughly 2,500 to 3,600). In Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation states there are about 82 mosquito species — but only around 5 are significant human pests. Species counts differ slightly between authorities because of ongoing taxonomic revisions.

Yes, but the danger in Canada is disease transmission and nuisance bites rather than mass mortality. There is no endemic malaria in Canada, so the realistic mosquito risk is West Nile virus. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 177 domestically-acquired WNV cases in 2024 — 60% (106) of which were neurological — and 1 reported death. That was well above the 2019–2023 five-year average of 82 cases, showing how mosquito-borne disease risk swings from year to year. A professional barrier spray that reduces the adult mosquito population around your home is the most direct way to lower that household exposure.

A female mosquito typically lays 50 to 200 eggs per batch and can lay several batches during her life — thousands of eggs in total, according to the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Most species require a blood meal to develop each batch of eggs, which is why females bite. Eggs are usually laid on or near standing water, which is why eliminating standing water around a property is the single most effective DIY mosquito-control step.

Largely, yes. Over 80% of the global mosquito death toll comes from malaria. The WHO World Malaria Report 2024 estimated 597,000 malaria deaths in 2023 out of the roughly 760,000 total mosquito-related deaths estimated by Our World in Data and the Gates Foundation. The rest are caused by other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, West Nile virus, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya. Malaria is not endemic to Canada, which is why the Canadian mosquito threat is dominated by West Nile virus instead.

Despite their fearsome reputation, sharks cause only about 5–10 human deaths worldwide per year, according to the International Shark Attack File — roughly 100,000 times fewer than mosquitoes. Crocodiles cause an estimated 1,000 deaths a year and hippos about 500. The data is a useful reminder that the animals people fear most are rarely the most dangerous: the deadliest creatures are tiny disease vectors like mosquitoes, snails and assassin bugs.