<P> 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 . </P> <P> There were 95 famines in Britain during the Middle Ages . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Event </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Death toll (estimate) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2200--2100 BC </Td> <Td> The 4.2 kiloyear event caused famines and civilizational collapse worldwide </Td> <Td> global </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 441 BC </Td> <Td> The first famine recorded in ancient Rome . </Td> <Td> Ancient Rome </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26 BC </Td> <Td> Famine recorded throughout Near East and Levant, as recorded by Josephus </Td> <Td> Judea </Td> <Td> 20,000 + </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 400--800 AD </Td> <Td> Various famines in Western Europe associated with the Fall of the Western Roman Empire 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 . </Td> <Td> Western Europe </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 535--536 AD </Td> <Td> Extreme weather events of 535--536 </Td> <Td> global </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 639 </Td> <Td> Famine in Arabia during the Caliphate of Umar ibn al - Khattab </Td> <Td> Arabia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 750s </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Islamic Spain (Al - Andalus) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 800--1000 </Td> <Td> Severe drought killed millions of Maya people due to famine and thirst and initiated a cascade of internal collapses that destroyed their civilization </Td> <Td> Mayan areas of Mesoamerica </Td> <Td> 1 million+ </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 875--84 </Td> <Td> Peasant rebellion in China inspired by famine; Huang Chao captured capital </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 927--28 </Td> <Td> Caused by four months of frost </Td> <Td> Byzantine Empire </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1016 </Td> <Td> Famine throughout Europe </Td> <Td> Europe </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1051 </Td> <Td> Famine forced the Toltecs to migrate from a stricken region in what is now central Mexico </Td> <Td> Mexico (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1064--72 </Td> <Td> Seven years' famine in Egypt </Td> <Td> Egypt </Td> <Td> 40,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1097 </Td> <Td> Famine and plague </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 7005100000000000000 ♠ 100,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1181 </Td> <Td> Yōwa famine (ja) </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 7004423000000000000 ♠ 42,300 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1230 </Td> <Td> Famine in the Republic of Novgorod </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1229--32 </Td> <Td> The Kangi famine, possibly the worst famine in Japan's history . Caused by volcanic eruptions . </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1235 </Td> <Td> Famine in England, 20,000 died in London alone </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> 20,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1255 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1275--99 </Td> <Td> Collapse of the Anasazi civilization, widespread famine occurred </Td> <Td> United States (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1315--17 </Td> <Td> Great Famine of 1315--1317 </Td> <Td> Europe </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1333--37 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1344--45 </Td> <Td> Famine in India, under the regime of Muhammad bin Tughluq </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1387 </Td> <Td> After Timur the Lame left Asia Minor, severe famine ensued </Td> <Td> Anatolia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1396--1407 </Td> <Td> The Durga Devi famine </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1441 </Td> <Td> Famine in Mayapan </Td> <Td> Mexico </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1450--54 </Td> <Td> Famine in the Aztec Empire, interpreted as the gods' need for sacrifices . </Td> <Td> Mexico (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1460--61 </Td> <Td> Kanshō famine in Japan </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 82,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1504 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1518 </Td> <Td> Venice </Td> <Td> Italy (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1528 </Td> <Td> Famine in Languedoc </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1535 </Td> <Td> Famine in Ethiopia </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1540 </Td> <Td> Tenbun famine (ja) </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1567--70 </Td> <Td> Famine in Harar, combined with plague . Emir of Harar died . </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1586 </Td> <Td> Famine in England which gave rise to the Poor Law system </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1601--03 </Td> <Td> 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 1601--1603 . Same famine killed about half Estonian population . </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 7006200000000000000 ♠ 2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1618--48 </Td> <Td> Famines in Europe caused by Thirty Years' War </Td> <Td> Europe </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1619 </Td> <Td> Famine in Japan . During the Tokugawa period, there were 154 famines, of which 21 were widespread and serious . </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1630--31 </Td> <Td> Deccan Famine of 1630--32 (Note: There was a corresponding famine in northwestern China, eventually causing the Ming dynasty to collapse in 1644) </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1640--43 </Td> <Td> Kan'ei Great Famine </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 50,000 - 100,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1648--60 </Td> <Td> Poland lost an estimated 1 / 3 of its population due to wars, famine, and plague </Td> <Td> Poland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1649 </Td> <Td> Famine in northern England </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1650--52 </Td> <Td> Famine in the east of France </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1651--53 </Td> <Td> Famine throughout much of Ireland during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1661 </Td> <Td> Famine in India, due to lack of any rainfall for two years </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1670s--80s </Td> <Td> Plague and famines in Spain </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1680 </Td> <Td> Famine in Sardinia </Td> <Td> Italy (present day) </Td> <Td> 7004800000000000000 ♠ 80,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1680s </Td> <Td> Famine in Sahel </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1690s </Td> <Td> Famine throughout Scotland which killed 5--15% of the population </Td> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> 60,000 - 180,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1693--94 </Td> <Td> Between 1.3 and 1.5 million French died in the fr: grande famine de 1693 - 1694 </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 7006150000000000000 ♠ 1.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1695--97 </Td> <Td> Great Famine of Estonia killed about a fifth of Estonian and Livonian population (70,000--75,000 people). Famine also hit Sweden (80,000--100,000 dead) </Td> <Td> The Swedish Empire, of which Swedish Estonia and Swedish Livonia were dominions at that time </Td> <Td> 150,000--175,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1696--97 </Td> <Td> Great Famine of Finland wiped out almost a third of the population </Td> <Td> Finland, then part of Sweden proper </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1702--04 </Td> <Td> Famine in Deccan </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 7006200000000000000 ♠ 2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1708--11 </Td> <Td> Famine in East Prussia killed 250,000 people or 41% of its population </Td> <Td> East Prussia </Td> <Td> 7005250000000000000 ♠ 250,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1709--10 </Td> <Td> The fr: Grande famine de 1709 </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 600.000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1722 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Arabia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1727--28 </Td> <Td> Famine in the English Midlands </Td> <Td> England </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1732--33 </Td> <Td> Kyōhō famine </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 12,172 - 169,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1738--56 </Td> <Td> Famine in West Africa, half the population of Timbuktu died of starvation </Td> <Td> West Africa </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1740--41 </Td> <Td> Great Irish Famine (1740--1741) </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1750--56 </Td> <Td> Famine in the Senegambia region </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1764 </Td> <Td> Famine in Naples </Td> <Td> Italy (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1769--73 </Td> <Td> Great Bengal famine of 1770, 10 million dead (one third of population) </Td> <Td> India, Bangladesh (present day) </Td> <Td> 7007100000000000000 ♠ 10 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1770--71 </Td> <Td> Famines in Czech lands killed hundreds of thousands people </Td> <Td> Czech Republic (present day) </Td> <Td> 100,000 + </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1771--72 </Td> <Td> Famine in Saxony and southern Germany </Td> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1773 </Td> <Td> Famine in Sweden </Td> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1779 </Td> <Td> Famine in Rabat </Td> <Td> Morocco </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1780s </Td> <Td> Great Tenmei famine </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> 20,000--920,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1783 </Td> <Td> Famine in Iceland caused by Laki eruption killed one - fifth of Iceland's population </Td> <Td> Iceland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1783--84 </Td> <Td> Chalisa famine </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 7007110000000000000 ♠ 11 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1784 </Td> <Td> Widespread famine throughout Egypt </Td> <Td> Egypt </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1784--85 </Td> <Td> Famine in Tunisia killed up to one - fifth of all Tunisians </Td> <Td> Tunisia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1788 </Td> <Td> The two years previous to the French Revolution saw bad harvests and harsh winters, possibly because of a strong El Niño cycle or caused by the 1783 Laki eruption in Iceland . </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1789 </Td> <Td> Famine in Ethiopia afflicted "amhara / tigray north" </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1789--92 </Td> <Td> Doji bara famine or Skull famine </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 11 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1804 - 1872, 1913 </Td> <Td> A series of 14 famines in Austrian Galicia </Td> <Td> Poland, Ukraine (present day) </Td> <Td> 400,000 - 550,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1810, 1811, 1846, and 1849 </Td> <Td> Four famines in China </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 7007450000000000000 ♠ 45 million . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1811--12 </Td> <Td> Famine devastated Madrid </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> 7004200000000000000 ♠ 20,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1815 </Td> <Td> Eruption of Tambora, Indonesia . Tens of thousands died in subsequent famine </Td> <Td> Indonesia </Td> <Td> 10,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1816--17 </Td> <Td> Year Without a Summer </Td> <Td> Europe </Td> <Td> 7004650000000000000 ♠ 65,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1830--33 </Td> <Td> Claimed to have killed 42% of the population </Td> <Td> Cape Verde </Td> <Td> 7004300000000000000 ♠ 30,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1830s </Td> <Td> Tenpo famine </Td> <Td> Japan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1837--38 </Td> <Td> Agra famine of 1837--38 </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 1 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1845--57 </Td> <Td> Highland Potato Famine </Td> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1845--49 </Td> <Td> Great Famine in Ireland killed more than 1 million people and over 1.5--2 million emigrated </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> 7006150000000000000 ♠ 1.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1846 </Td> <Td> Famine led to the peasant revolt known as "Maria da Fonte" in the north of Portugal </Td> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1849--50 </Td> <Td> Demak and Grobogan in Central Java, caused by four successive crop failures due to drought . </Td> <Td> Indonesia </Td> <Td> 7004830000000000000 ♠ 83,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1850--73 </Td> <Td> As a result of Taiping Rebellion, drought, and famine, the population of China dropped by more than 60 million </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 60 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1860--61 </Td> <Td> Upper Doab famine of 1860--61 </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1866 </Td> <Td> Orissa famine of 1866 </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 7006100000000000000 ♠ 1 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1866--68 </Td> <Td> Finnish famine of 1866--1868 . About 15% of the entire population died </Td> <Td> Finland, northern Sweden </Td> <Td> 7005150000000000000 ♠ 150,000 + </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1869 </Td> <Td> Rajputana famine of 1869 </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 7006150000000000000 ♠ 1.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1870--72 </Td> <Td> Persian famine of 1870--1872 </Td> <Td> Iran (present day) </Td> <Td> 7006200000000000000 ♠ 2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1873--74 </Td> <Td> Famine in Anatolia caused by drought and floods </Td> <Td> Turkey (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> 1879 Famine in Ireland . Unlike previous famines, this famine mainly caused hunger and food shortages but little mortality . </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1873--74 </Td> <Td> Bihar famine of 1873--74 </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1876--79 </Td> <Td> Famine in India, China, Brazil, Northern Africa (and other countries). Famine in northern China killed 13 million people . 5.25 million died in the Great Famine of 1876--78 in India </Td> <Td> India, China, Brazil, Northern Africa (and other countries). </Td> <Td> 18.25 million in Northern China and India alone . British policies and drought were responsible for the deaths in India . The famine in China was a result of drought influenced by the El Niño - Southern Oscillation . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1878--80 </Td> <Td> Famine in St. Lawrence Island, Alaska </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1888--89 </Td> <Td> Famine in Orrisa, Ganjam and Northern Bihar </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1888--92 </Td> <Td> Ethiopian Great famine . About one - third of the population died . Conditions worsen with cholera outbreaks (1889--92), a typhus epidemic, and a major smallpox epidemic (1889--90). </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1891--92 </Td> <Td> Russian famine of 1891--92 . Beginning along the Volga River and spreading to the Urals and the Black Sea . </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 7005375000000000000 ♠ 375,000--500,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1896--97 </Td> <Td> Famine in northern China leading in part to the Boxer Rebellion </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1896--1902 </Td> <Td> Series of famines in India due to drought and British policies . </Td> <Td> India </Td> <Td> 6 million (British Territories), Mortality unknown in Princely States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1904--06 </Td> <Td> Famine in Spain . </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1907, 1911 </Td> <Td> Famines in east - central China </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 25 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1914--18 </Td> <Td> Mount Lebanon famine during World War I which was caused by an Entente powers and Ottoman Turk blockade of food and to a swarm of locusts which killed up to 200,000 people, estimated to be half of the Mount Lebanon population </Td> <Td> Lebanon </Td> <Td> 200,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1914--19 </Td> <Td> Famine caused by the Allied blockade of Germany during World War I until Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles . </Td> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> 424,000--763,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1916--17 </Td> <Td> Winter famine in Russia </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1917--19 </Td> <Td> Persian famine of 1917 - 1918 . As much as 1 / 4 of the population living in the north of Iran died in the famine . Although the research of Mohammad Gholi Majd alleges as many as 8--10 million killed, this is based on an original population estimate of 19 million . Other estimates place the original population at only 11 million, calling Majd's numbers heavily into question . The Iranian government has stated that the famine was caused by the British (this is disputed) and that 8--10 million people died, this death toll also being in the American Archives . </Td> <Td> Iran (present day) </Td> <Td> As high as 8--10 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1918--19 </Td> <Td> Rumanura famine in Ruanda - Burundi, causing large migrations to the Congo </Td> <Td> Rwanda and Burundi (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1917--21 </Td> <Td> A series of famines in Turkestan at the time of the Bolshevik revolution killed about a sixth of the population </Td> <Td> Turkestan </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1921 </Td> <Td> Russian famine of 1921 </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 7006500000000000000 ♠ 5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1921--22 </Td> <Td> 1921--1922 famine in Tatarstan </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 500,000--2,000,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1924--25 </Td> <Td> Famine in Volga German colonies in Russia . One - third of the entire population perished </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1924--25 </Td> <Td> Minor famine in Ireland due to heavy rain </Td> <Td> Irish Free State </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1928--29 </Td> <Td> Famine in Ruanda - Burundi, causing large migrations to the Congo </Td> <Td> Rwanda and Burundi (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1928--30 </Td> <Td> Famine in northern China . The drought resulted in 3 million deaths </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 3 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1932--33 </Td> <Td> Soviet famine of 1932--1933 and Soviet - related famine in Ukraine </Td> <Td> Soviet Union and Ukraine </Td> <Td> 7007100000000000000 ♠ 7--10 million in Ukraine, millions in Russia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1936 </Td> <Td> Famine in China </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 7006500000000000000 ♠ 5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1940--48 </Td> <Td> Famine in Morocco between 1940--48, because of refueling system installed by France . </Td> <Td> Morocco </Td> <Td> 200 000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1940--45 </Td> <Td> Famine in Warsaw Ghetto, as well as other ghettos and concentration camps (note: this famine was the result of deliberate denial of food to ghetto residents on the part of Nazis). </Td> <Td> Occupied Poland </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1941--44 </Td> <Td> Leningrad famine caused by a 900 - day blockade by German troops . About one million Leningrad residents starved, froze, or were bombed to death in the winter of 1941--42, when supply routes to the city were cut off and temperatures dropped to − 40 ° C (− 40 ° F). </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 7006100000000000000 ♠ 1 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1941--44 </Td> <Td> Famine in Greece caused by the Axis occupation . </Td> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> 7005300000000000000 ♠ 300,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1942--43 </Td> <Td> Chinese famine of 1942--43 </Td> <Td> Henan, China </Td> <Td> 7006150000000000000 ♠ 2--3 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> Bengal famine of 1943 </Td> <Td> Bengal, India </Td> <Td> 7006150000000000000 ♠ 1.5 - 2.1 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1943 </Td> <Td> Ruzagayura famine in Ruanda - Urundi, causing emigrations to Congo </Td> <Td> Rwanda and Burundi (present day) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1944--45 </Td> <Td> Java under Japanese occupation </Td> <Td> Java, Indonesia </Td> <Td> 7006240000000000000 ♠ 2.4 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> Dutch famine of 1944 during World War II </Td> <Td> Netherlands </Td> <Td> 7004200000000000000 ♠ 20,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> Rwanda famine of 1944 </Td> <Td> Rwanda </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1945 </Td> <Td> Vietnamese Famine of 1945 </Td> <Td> Vietnam </Td> <Td> 7005400000000000000 ♠ 400,000--2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> Soviet Famine of 1947 </Td> <Td> Soviet Union </Td> <Td> 7006100000000000000 ♠ 1--1.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1946 - 47 </Td> <Td> German "Hungerwinter" </Td> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> several 100,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> Famine in Tigray </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> 7005100000000000000 ♠ 100,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1959--61 </Td> <Td> The Great Chinese Famine . According to government statistics, there were 15 million excess deaths . </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 7007150000000000000 ♠ 15--43 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1966--67 </Td> <Td> Lombok, drought and malnutrition, exacerbated by restrictions on regional rice trade </Td> <Td> Indonesia </Td> <Td> 7004500000000000000 ♠ 50,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1967--70 </Td> <Td> Biafran famine caused by Nigerian blockade </Td> <Td> Nigeria </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1968--72 </Td> <Td> Sahel drought created a famine that killed a million people </Td> <Td> Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso </Td> <Td> 1 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972--73 </Td> <Td> Famine in Ethiopia caused by drought and poor governance; failure of the government to handle this crisis led to the fall of Haile Selassie and to Derg rule </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> 7004600000000000000 ♠ 60,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Bangladesh famine of 1974 </Td> <Td> Bangladesh </Td> <Td> 27,000 - 1.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1975--79 </Td> <Td> Khmer Rouge . An estimated 2 million Cambodians lost their lives to murder, forced labor and famine </Td> <Td> Cambodia </Td> <Td> 2 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980--81 </Td> <Td> Caused by drought and conflict </Td> <Td> Uganda </Td> <Td> 7004300000000000000 ♠ 30,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984--85 </Td> <Td> 1984--1985 famine in Ethiopia </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> 400,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991--92 </Td> <Td> Famine in Somalia caused by drought and civil war </Td> <Td> Somalia </Td> <Td> 7005300000000000000 ♠ 300,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> North Korean famine . Scholars estimate 600,000 died of starvation (other estimates range from 200,000 to 3.5 million). </Td> <Td> North Korea </Td> <Td> 7005200000000000000 ♠ 200,000 to 3.5 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 1998 Sudan famine caused by war and drought </Td> <Td> Sudan </Td> <Td> 7004700000000000000 ♠ 70,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998--2000 </Td> <Td> Famine in Ethiopia . The situation worsened by Eritrean--Ethiopian War </Td> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998--2004 </Td> <Td> Second Congo War . 3.8 million people died, mostly from starvation and disease </Td> <Td> Democratic Republic of the Congo </Td> <Td> 3.8 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005--06 </Td> <Td> 2005--06 Niger food crisis . At least three million were affected in Niger and 10 million throughout West Africa </Td> <Td> Niger and West Africa </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011--12 </Td> <Td> Famine in Somalia, brought on by the 2011 East Africa drought </Td> <Td> Somalia </Td> <Td> 285,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Famine in West Africa, brought on by the 2012 Sahel drought </Td> <Td> Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016--present </Td> <Td> Famine in Yemen, arising from the blockade of Yemen by Saudi Arabia </Td> <Td> Yemen </Td> <Td> At least 50,000 children Unknown number of adults </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017--present </Td> <Td> Famine in South Sudan . Famine in Somalia, due to 2017 Somalian drought . Famine in Nigeria </Td> <Td> South Sudan, Unity State, Somalia, Nigeria </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Event </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Death toll (estimate) </Th> </Tr>

When was africa had famines in the past