The most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. Despite its small size, the mosquito is responsible for the highest number of human deaths annually—around 725,000—due to its role as a vector for deadly diseases such as malaria and dengue. This makes it far more deadly than larger and more traditionally feared animals like snakes, crocodiles, or lions. Other highly dangerous animals include venomous snakes, which cause about 75,000 deaths per year, and various disease-transmitting insects like assassin bugs and tsetse flies. Large animals like hippopotamuses and elephants also pose considerable danger due to their aggressive nature and strength, causing hundreds of deaths annually, but none match the lethal impact of mosquitoes on human populations.