List of famines

List of famines
This is an incomplete list of known major famines, ordered by date. Between 108 BC and 1911 AD there were no fewer than 1,828 major famines in China, or one nearly every year in one or another province; however, the famines varied greatly in severity.[1][2] There were 95 famines in Britain during the Middle Ages.[3][4]

Depiction of victims of the Great Irish Famine, 18451849

Date 441 BC

Event

Location Ancient Rome[5] Western Europe

Death toll (estimate)

400800 AD Famine in Western Europe associated with the Fall of Rome and its sack by Alaric I. Between 400 and 800 AD, the population of the city of Rome fell by over 90%, mainly because of famine and plague.[6] 639 750's 8001000 AD 809 875884 927928 1005 1016 1022, 1033, 1052 10641072 1051 1097 Famine throughout Europe[11] Great famines in India, in which entire provinces were depopulated Seven years' famine in Egypt Famine forced the Toltecs to migrate from a stricken region in what is now central Mexico[12] Famine and plague Peasant rebellion in China inspired by famine; Huang Chao captured capital Caused by four months of frost Famine in Arabia during the Caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab

Arabia Spain[7]

Severe drought killed millions of Maya people due Maya Empire to famine and thirst and initiated a cascade of internal collapses that destroyed their civilization[8] Frankish Empire[9] China Byzantine Empire England[10] Europe India Egypt Mexico (present day) France 100,000

List of famines

2 Famine in the Republic of Novgorod The Kangi famine, possibly the worst famine in Japan's history. Caused by volcanic eruptions. Famine in England, 20,000 died in London alone Russia Japan England Portugal[13] Collapse of Anasazi civilization, widespread famine United States (present day) occurred[14] Great Famine of 13151317 Europe[15] China[16] Great famine in India After Timur the Lame left Asia Minor, severe famine ensued The Durga Devi famine Famine in Mayapan India Anatolia India[17] Mexico[18]

1230 12291232 1235 1255 12751299 13151317 13331337 13441345 1387 13961407 1441 14501454 14601461 1504 1518 1528 1535 15671570 1586 16011603

Famine in the Aztec Empire, interpreted as the gods' Mexico (present day) need for sacrifices. Kansh famine in Japan Japan Spain[19] Venice Famine in Languedoc Famine in Ethiopia Famine in Harar, combined with plague. Emir of Harar, died. Italy (present day) France[20] Ethiopia Ethiopia

Famine in England which gave rise to the Poor Law England system One of the worst famines in all of Russian history; famine killed as many as 100,000 in Moscow and up to one-third of Tsar Godunov's subjects; see Russian famine of 16011603.[21][22] Same famine killed about half Estonian population. Famines in Europe caused by Thirty Years' War Famine in Japan. During the Tokugawa period, there were 154 famines, of which 21 were widespread and serious.[23] Deccan Famine of 163032 (Note: There was a corresponding famine in northwestern China, eventually causing the Ming dynasty to collapse in 1644) Russia 2 million

16181648 1619

Europe Japan

16301631

India

2 million

16481660 1649 16501652

Poland lost an estimated 1/3 of its population due to Poland wars, famine, and plague Famine in northern England Famine in the east of France England France

List of famines

3 Ireland

16511653 1661 1669 1670s and 1680s 1680 1680s 1690s 16931694 16951697

Famine throughout much of Ireland during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland[24]

Famine in India, when not a drop of rain fell for two India years[25] Famine in Bengal Plague and famines in Spain Famine in Sardinia[26] Famine in Sahel Famine throughout Scotland which killed 15% of the population Scotland France Great Famine of Estonia killed about a fifth of Estonian and Livonian population (70,00075,000 people). Famine also hit Sweden (80,000100,000 dead) The Swedish Empire, of which Swedish Estonia and Swedish Livonia were dominions at that time 2 million India Spain Italy (present day) 80,000 [27]

16961697 17021704 17081711 17091710 1722 17271728 17381756 1740-1741 17501756 1764 17691773 17701771 17711772 1773 1779 1780s 1783 178384

Great Famine of Finland wiped out almost a third of Finland, then part of Sweden proper the population[28] Famine in Deccan Famine in East Prussia killed 250,000 people or 41% of its population[29] India East Prussia France[30] Arabia[31] Famine in the English Midlands[32] Famine in West Africa, half the population of Timbuktu died of starvation[33] Great Irish Famine (17401741) Famine in the Senegambia region Famine in Naples[34] Bengal famine of 1770,[35] 10 million dead (one third of population) Famines in Czech lands killed hundreds of thousands people Famine in Saxony and southern Germany Famine in Sweden Famine in Rabat Great Tenmei famine Famine in Iceland caused by Laki eruption killed one-fifth of Iceland's population[37] Chalisa famine Italy (present day) India Czech Republic (present day) Germany Sweden Morocco[36] Japan Iceland India 11 million 20,000 - 920,000 10 million England West Africa Ireland 2 million 250,000

List of famines

4 Widespread famine throughout Egypt[38] Famine in Tunisia killed up to one-fifth of all Tunisians The two years previous to the French Revolution saw bad harvests and harsh winters, possibly because of a strong El Nio cycle or caused by the 1783 Laki eruption in Iceland. Famine in Ethiopia afflicted "amhara/tigray north" Doji bara famine or Skull famine Four famines in China India China 45 million.[39] Egypt Tunisia France

1784 17841785 1788

1789 178992 1810, 1811, 1846, and 1849 18111812 1815 18161817 18301833 1830s 18371838 18451857 18451849 1846 18501873

Famine devastated Madrid

Spain

20,000

Eruption of Tambora, Indonesia. Tens of thousands Indonesia died in subsequent famine Year Without a Summer Claimed to have killed 42% of the population Tenpo famine Agra famine of 183738 Highland Potato Famine Great Famine in Ireland killed more than 1 million people and over 1.52 million emigrated[40] Famine led to the peasant revolt known as "Maria da Fonte" in the north of Portugal As a result of Taiping Rebellion, drought, and famine, the population of China dropped by more than 60 million[41] Orissa famine of 1866 Finnish famine of 18661868. About 15% of the entire population died Rajputana famine of 1869 Famine in Persia Famine in Anatolia caused by drought and floods 1879 Famine in Ireland. Unlike previous famines, this famine mainly caused hunger and food shortages but little mortality. Europe Cape Verde Japan India Scotland Ireland Portugal China 1.5 million 65,000 30,000

1866 18661868 1869 18701871 18731874 1879

India Finland, northern Sweden India Iran (present day) Turkey (present day) Ireland

1 million 150,000+ 1.5 million 2 million[42]

187374 18761879

Bihar famine of 187374. Mortality was avoided in India a massive relief campaign ENSO Famine in India, China, Brazil, Northern India, China, Brazil, Africa (and other countries). Famine in northern Northern Africa (and China killed 13 million people. 5.25 million died in other countries). the Great Famine of 187678 in India Famine in St. Lawrence Island, Alaska[43] United States

1878-1880

List of famines

5 Ethiopia

18881892

Ethiopian Great famine. About one-third of the population died.[44][45] Conditions worsen with cholera outbreaks (188992), a typhus epidemic, and a major smallpox epidemic (188990).

18911892 18961897 18961902 1907, 1911 19141918 19161917 19161917 19171919 19171921 ENSO famine in northern China leading in part to the Boxer Rebellion ENSO famine in India[48] Famines in east-central China Mount Lebanon famine during World War I which killed about a third of the population Famine caused by the British blockade of Germany in WWI Winter famine in Russia Famine in Persia. As much as 1/4 of the population living in the north of Iran died in the famine[49] A series of famines in Turkestan at the time of the Bolshevik revolution killed about a sixth of the population[50] Russian famine of 1921 19211922 famine in Tatarstan Famine in Volga German colonies in Russia. One-third of the entire population perished[52] Famine in Ruanda-Burundi, causing large migrations to the Congo

Russia China India China Lebanon Germany Russia Iran (present day) Turkestan

375,000500,000[46][47]

1921 19211922 19211922 19281929 19281930 19321933 1936 19401945

Russia Russia Russia Rwanda and Burundi (present day)

5 million[51]

Famine in northern China. The drought resulted in 3 China million deaths Soviet famine of Ukraine and North Caucasus area. Ukraine China Famine in Warsaw Ghetto, as well as other ghettos Occupied Poland and concentration camps (note: this famine was the result of deliberate denial of food to ghetto residents on the part of Nazis). Leningrad famine caused by a 900-day blockade by Russia German troops. About one million Leningrad residents starved, froze, or were bombed to death in the winter of 194142, when supply routes to the city were cut off and temperatures dropped to 40C (40F).[54] Famine in Greece caused by the Axis occupation.[55][56] Bengal famine of 1943 Famine in Ruanda-Urundi, causing migrations to the Congo Greece Bengal, India Rwanda and Burundi (present day)

3 million 710 million 5 million[53]

194144

1 million

19411944 1943 1943

300,000 1.5-7 million

List of famines

6 Dutch famine of 1944 during World War II Vietnamese Famine of 1945 Soviet Famine of 1947 Famine in Tigray The Great Chinese Famine. According to government statistics, there were 15 million excess deaths. Biafran famine caused by Nigerian blockade Sahel drought created a famine that killed a million people[60] Netherlands Vietnam Soviet Union Ethiopia China 20,000 400,0002 million 11.5 million[57][58] 100,000 1543 million[59]

1944 1945 1947 1958 19591961

19671970 19681972

Nigeria Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso 60,000

19721973

Famine in Ethiopia caused by drought and poor Ethiopia governance; failure of the government to handle this crisis led to the fall of Haile Selassie and to Derg rule Bangladesh famine of 1974 Khmer Rouge. An estimated 2 million Cambodians lost their lives to murder, forced labor and famine Caused by drought and conflict 19841985 famine in Ethiopia Bangladesh Cambodia Uganda Ethiopia

1974 19751979 19801981 19841985 19911992 1996

30,000

Famine in Somalia caused by drought and civil war Somalia North Korean famine.[61][62] Scholars estimate 600,000 died of starvation (other estimates range from 200,000 to 3.5 million).[63] 1998 Sudan famine caused by war and drought Famine in Ethiopia. The situation worsened by EritreanEthiopian War North Korea

300,000 200,000 to 3.5 million

1998 19982000 19982004 2011-2012 2012

Sudan Ethiopia

70,000

Second Congo War. 3.8 million people died, mostly Democratic Republic from starvation and disease of the Congo Famine in Somalia, brought on by the 2011 East Africa drought[64] Famine in West Africa, brought on by the 2012 Sahel drought Somalia Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso

List of famines

References
[1] China: Land of Famine (http:/ / links. jstor. org/ sici?sici=1473-799X(192705)6:3<185:CLOF>2. 0. CO;2-F& size=LARGE& origin=JSTOR-enlargePag) [2] "Heaven, Observe!" TIME (http:/ / www. time. com/ time/ magazine/ article/ 0,9171,731493-1,00. html) [3] Famines through history. (http:/ / www. thefreelibrary. com/ Famines+ through+ history-a0114325996) [4] Poor studies will always be with us (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ opinion/ main. jhtml?xml=/ opinion/ 2004/ 08/ 08/ do0809. xml& sSheet=/ opinion/ 2004/ 08/ 08/ ixop. html) [5] Livy, From the Founding of the City 4.12 [6] A Brief History of Population (http:/ / stutzfamily. com/ mrstutz/ population/ pophistorymodule/ history-4. htm) [7] Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages (http:/ / libro. uca. edu/ ics/ ics5. htm) [8] The Great Maya Droughts: Water, Life, and Death (http:/ / www. amazon. com/ dp/ 0826327745) [9] The Ninth Century (http:/ / www. orlok. com/ timenine. html) [10] 1005: The People's Chronology (http:/ / www. enotes. com/ peoples-chronology/ year-1005) [11] Famine LoveToKnow 1911 (http:/ / www. 1911encyclopedia. org/ Famine) [12] The Facts of Malnutrition and Famine (http:/ / www. selfempowermentacademy. com. au/ pdf/ L3_LIVING_on_LIGHT/ Glob_Journ/ 2-m& f. PDF) [13] Portugal > History and Events (http:/ / www. portugal-info. net/ history/ first-dynasty. htm) [14] Collapse: Chaco Canyon (http:/ / www. learner. org/ interactives/ collapse/ chacocanyon. html) [15] The Great Famine and the Black Death (http:/ / www. vlib. us/ medieval/ lectures/ black_death. html) [16] Projects and Events: 14th Century (http:/ / www. norfolkesinet. org. uk/ pages/ viewpage. asp?uniqid=3358) [17] Bidar District Important Historical Events (http:/ / bidar. nic. in/ hist. htm) [18] Welcome to The Human Past (http:/ / www. thamesandhudsonusa. com/ web/ humanpast/ summaries/ ch16. html) [19] Land and Society in Golden Age Castile (http:/ / libro. uca. edu/ vassberg/ land7. htm) [20] The Dimension of Famine (http:/ / www. alanmacfarlane. com/ savage/ A-FAM. PDF) [21] Boris Feodorovich Godunov (http:/ / www. answers. com/ topic/ boris-godunov?cat=entertainment) [22] Russia before Peter the Great (http:/ / www. fsmitha. com/ h3/ h20russ. htm) [23] A Chronology of Japanese History (http:/ / www. shikokuhenrotrail. com/ japanhistory/ edohistory. html) [24] BBC Northern Ireland A Short History (http:/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ northernireland/ ashorthistory/ archive/ intro99. shtml) [25] The 17th Century (http:/ / www. ayton. id. au/ gary/ History/ H_C17. htm#Asia:) [26] Italian States in the Seventeenth Century (http:/ / history. wisc. edu/ sommerville/ 351/ italian states. htm) [27] Dyson, Stephen L; Rowland, Robert J (2007). Archaeology and history in Sardinia from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages: shepherds, sailors & conquerors. Philadelphia: UPenn Museum of Archaeology, 2007. p. 136. ISBN 1-934536-02-4. [28] Finland timeline (http:/ / worldatlas. com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ fitimeln. htm) [29] The Dimension of Famine. (http:/ / www. alanmacfarlane. com/ savage/ A-FAM. PDF) [30] The Little Ice Age in Europe (http:/ / www2. sunysuffolk. edu/ mandias/ lia/ little_ice_age. html) [31] Climatic fluctuation and natural disasters in Arabia between mid-17th and early 20th Centuries (http:/ / www. springerlink. com/ content/ h42p5q207t777913/ ) [32] Epidemics and Famine in the Little Ice Age (http:/ / links. jstor. org/ sici?sici=0022-1953(198021)10:4<643:EAFITL>2. 0. CO;2-D& size=LARGE& origin=JSTOR-enlargePage) [33] Len Milich: Anthropogenic Desertification vs Natural Climate Trends (http:/ / ag. arizona. edu/ ~lmilich/ desclim. html) [34] Naples and Sicily -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ article-27717/ Italy#318781. hook) [35] FAMINE () (http:/ / encyclopedia. jrank. org/ EUD_FAT/ FAMINE_Lat_fames_hunger_. html) [36] The locust plague (http:/ / www. ub. es/ geocrit/ locust. htm) [37] Haze Famine (Icelandic history) (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ topic-257941/ Haze-Famine) [38] ScienceDaily: Icelandic Volcano Caused Historic Famine In Egypt, Study Shows (http:/ / www. sciencedaily. com/ releases/ 2006/ 11/ 061121232204. htm) [39] Fearfull Famines of the Past (http:/ / www. mitosyfraudes. org/ Polit/ Famines. html) [40] The Great Famine in Ireland, 18451849 (http:/ / www. ego4u. com/ en/ read-on/ countries/ ireland/ great-famine) [41] Ch'ing China: The Taiping Rebellion (http:/ / www. wsu. edu/ ~dee/ CHING/ TAIPING. HTM) [42] The Great Persian Famine of 1870-1871 (http:/ / links. jstor. org/ sici?sici=0041-977X(1986)49:1<183:TGPFO1>2. 0. CO;2-Q& size=LARGE& origin=JSTOR-enlargePage) [43] The St. Lawrence Island Famine and Epidemic, 187880 (http:/ / aa. uwpress. org/ cgi/ content/ abstract/ 43/ 1/ 1), Arctic Anthropology [44] Famine Hunger stalks Ethiopia once again and aid groups fear the worst (http:/ / www. time. com/ time/ magazine/ article/ 0,9171,966291-3,00. html) [45] El Nio and Drought Early Warning in Ethiopia (http:/ / www. ccb. ucar. edu/ ijas/ ijasno2/ georgis. html) [46] The History of International Humanitarian Assistance (http:/ / www. iupui. edu/ ~histwhs/ h699. dir/ HumanitChrono. htm) [47] Spiridovich, Alexander. Revolutionary movement in Russian. Ed. 2. (http:/ / www. hrono. info/ libris/ lib_s/ spir02cp. html) [48] Late Victorian Holocausts

List of famines
[49] Global Connections . Timeline (http:/ / www. pbs. org/ wgbh/ globalconnections/ mideast/ timeline/ text/ qresource. html) [50] Famine perspectives from past and present (http:/ / www. les-treilles. com/ ssimages/ c_2003_06_OGrada. html) [51] World's worst natural disasters since 1900 (http:/ / www. cbc. ca/ news/ background/ forcesofnature/ natural-disasters. html) [52] The German Colonies on the Volga River Famine Years (http:/ / www. volgagermans. net/ volgagermans/ Volga Famine Years. htm) [53] Natural Disasters and Hazards Historical Events Timeline (http:/ / www. intute. ac. uk/ sciences/ hazards/ timeline. html) [54] 900-Day Siege of Leningrad (http:/ / it. stlawu. edu/ ~rkreuzer/ pcavallerano/ leningradweb. htm) [55] Famine and Death in Occupied Greece, 19411944 (http:/ / www. cup. cam. ac. uk/ catalogue/ catalogue. asp?isbn=9780521829328& ss=exc) [56] Surviving Hitler and Mussolini: daily life in occupied Europe, by Robert Gildea, Anette Warring, Olivier Wieviorka, Berg Publishers 2007 [57] The 1947 Soviet famine and the entitlement approach to famines (http:/ / cje. oxfordjournals. org/ cgi/ content/ abstract/ 24/ 5/ 603), Cambridge Journal of Economics [58] Nicholas Ganson, The Soviet Famine of 1946-47 in Global and Historical Perspective (http:/ / us. macmillan. com/ thesovietfamineof194647inglobalandhistoricalperspective). New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. (ISBN 0-230-61333-0) [59] Peng Xizhe ( ), "Demographic Consequences of the Great Leap Forward in China's Provinces," Population and Development Review 13, no. 4 (1987), 639-70. For a summary of other estimates, please refer to this link (http:/ / users. erols. com/ mwhite28/ warstat1. htm#Mao) [60] Famine Casts Its Grim Global Shadow (http:/ / www. time. com/ time/ magazine/ article/ 0,9171,908581,00. html), TIME [61] http:/ / www. pbs. org/ newshour/ forum/ august97/ korea_8-26. html [62] http:/ / www. usip. org/ pubs/ specialreports/ sr990802. html [63] Bruce Cumings: We look at it and see ourselves (http:/ / www. lrb. co. uk/ v27/ n24/ cumi01_. html) [64] (http:/ / www. un. org/ apps/ news/ story. asp?NewsID=39225& Cr=Somalia& Cr1=#. UMHtF5Pm6uE). December 7, 2012

Bibliography
Grda, Cormac (2009), Famine: a short history (http://books.google.com/books?id=LoN2XkjJio4C), Princeton University Press, ISBN978-0-691-12237-3.

External links
Media related to famines at Wikimedia Commons

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

List of famines Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=576386553 Contributors: Aleksandr Grigoryev, Alexikoua, Anastrophe, Anna Frodesiak, Anthony Appleyard, Apalsola, Arch dude, Azcolvin429, Belligero, Bender235, Bobo192, Boud, Bueller 007, Buffelapa, Bka, C.J. Griffin, Camille.BL, CharacterZero, Charles Essie, Circeus, Cjc13, Cmacauley, Czrisher, D0kkaebi, Dacoutts, Datastat, Davidzuccaro, Diego.cayetano, Dingiswayo, Dino, Dubbleup99, Ed Poor, Ejrcito Rojo 1950, Explicit, Ferrierd, Filiep, Flaviusvulso, Fowler&fowler, Funandtrvl, Fyrael, Gerrynobody, Gilgamesh, Gold heart, Goli 13, Grant76, Gray62, Haplochromis, Hectorian, Hmains, Idetet, Jaanusele, Jeejee, JeffW, Jim Sukwutput, Jonkerz, Kappa, Kbthompson, Kelstonian, Kenta800, Kransky, Lambiam, Larkusix, Lilacsigil, Llywrch, LukeDM1994, Marek69, Marvel164131, Mattis, Maudibe, Mausy5043, Meredyth, Middayexpress, Millosh, Mogism, Nbarth, Nome3000, Nug, Pass-eets, Pbdragonwang, Physadvoc, Poetaris, Qrfqr, Rallette, Rjwilmsi, Robvhoorn, Rolfmueller, Roux, Scolaire, Scwlong, Smalljim, Tabhara, Tameamseo, Tasap, Tdejong67, Theeurocrat, Thegoodson, Themightyquill, Titus III, Tobby72, Tolly4bolly, Tornadou, Trafford09, UFB, Uhlan, UnitedStatesian, Untifler, Venustas 12, Vice regent, Vmenkov, Werldwayd, Widr, Yom, Zeimusu, ZeroOne, 156 anonymous edits

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