COVID-19 ranks among the deadliest disease outbreaks in history
The chart compares the deadliest pandemics and epidemics by estimated number of victims. COVID-19 is estimated at 19–36 million deaths (as of May 2024), in the same range as HIV/AIDS (27–48 million) and New World smallpox (25–55 million).
Source: Statista (Gavi, WHO, The Economist), data as of May 2024