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War

Taiping Rebellion

30.0M

estimated deaths

Period

1850–1864

Origin

China

Death range

20.0M–40.0M

Regions

3 areas

Overview

The Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) was a massive civil war in southern China, led by Hong Xiuquan who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ. It resulted in an estimated 20–30 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest civil wars in history. The conflict devastated China's most prosperous region and contributed to the weakening of the Qing Dynasty.

Historical Timeline

1850
Rebellion begins
1853
Nanjing captured
1864
Rebellion crushed

Affected Regions

Eastern China (Yangtze Delta)
Southern China
Nanjing (capital)

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Data sourced from WHO, CDC, and peer-reviewed academic sources. Death toll estimates may vary across sources.

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Data: WHO · CDC · UNAIDS · IAEA · Britannica

Taiping Rebellion — 30M Deaths (1850–1864) | PlaguAtlas