The 10 Most Venomous Snakes in the World

Quick Take

• The world's most venomous snake has never killed a single human, yet one far less potent snake is responsible for thousands of deaths every year. Meet the most venomous snake →
• One snake on this list gives its victims a false sense of safety after the bite, and that false calm is precisely what makes it so lethal. Discover the deceptive boomslang →
• Scientists rank snake venom using a method that completely ignores size and aggression, and the results will upend everything you assumed about the most dangerous snakes. See how lethality is ranked →
• One bite from a single snake on this list carries enough venom to kill over 200 people, and yet experts describe it as docile and non-threatening. See the inland taipan's venom yield →

There are more than 3,700 types of snakes on the planet. Of those, around 35% are venomous, and an even smaller number of venomous snakes are dangerous to humans. Scientists use the LD50 (Lethal Dose, 50%) test to rank snake venom potency. The smaller the number, the deadlier the snake. This measurement determines the exact amount of venom needed to kill half of a test group of mice. Because a lower number indicates that a microscopic drop is fatal, a smaller score represents a much more concentrated and highly toxic venom. Using this standard eliminates variables such as snake size or aggression and ranks them purely on chemical strength. Continue reading to learn about the 10 most venomous snakes in the world.

10. Fer-De-Lance / Terciopelo

Located in Central and South America and Mexico, the fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper) is one of the most dangerous pit vipers.

Reaching lengths of up to 8 feet and weighing up to around 2.6 pounds, the Fer-De-Lance is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the Americas because it lives in proximity to humans.

The fer-de-lance delivers an average of 100-450 mg of venom in a single bite. Left untreated, a fer-de-lance bite has a rather low mortality rate. Victims die from severe internal complications, including intracranial hemorrhaging (bleeding in the brain), acute kidney failure, blood poisoning (sepsis), or hemorrhagic shock caused by massive blood loss.

Even when a bite is not fatal, the severe tissue-destroying nature of the venom results in long-term disabilities or amputations for survivors. However, antivenom significantly lowers the risk of death.

9. King Cobra

No one would argue that the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is among the most venomous snakes in the world, and for good reason.

Not only does the king cobra inject an average of 350-600 mg of venom per bite, but its venom is potent enough that it could kill approximately 20 humans or one full-grown elephant in one bite. Native to Southern Asia, the king cobra typically reaches lengths of 10–13 feet and can grow up to 18.5 feet, making it the longest venomous snake in the world.

Research suggests that king cobra bites can kill a person in as little as 15 minutes, given the high level of neurotoxins and cytotoxins present.

Given the king cobra’s considerable length, it often bites higher up on the body. Bites to the upper body, especially the chest or neck, are far more dangerous and fast-acting. When venom is injected closer to the heart, lungs, and central nervous system, it enters the primary bloodstream and reaches vital organs much more quickly.

8. Boomslang

An arboreal snake found throughout most of Africa, especially Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, the boomslang (Dispholidus typus) has an incredibly potent bite. Although the boomslang does not inject a large volume of venom per bite, its LD50 amount is so low that its bite is still deadly.

But what’s even more dangerous than the boomslang’s venom? The false sense of security it gives people after they have been bitten.

Many boomslang snakebite victims assume that they have been bitten by a dry bite or received a nonlethal dose of venom because the symptoms do not appear immediately. However, once the symptoms of the bite are evident, it is already too late: boomslang venom prevents blood from coagulating inside the body, resulting in internal bleeding and hemorrhaging in vital organs.

7. Russell’s Viper

Given that 40-70 mg of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) venom is enough to kill the average person, the bite of this snake is particularly dangerous. In fact, Russell’s vipers kill more people in Sri Lanka, Burma, and India than any other snake.

Russell’s vipers are found in open grasslands across the Indian subcontinent and hunt in highly populated areas, making them a considerable danger.

Localized swelling and bleeding are common with the bite of Russell’s viper, and this snake’s envenomation can have adverse side effects for as long as two weeks, depending on severity. Statistics for untreated bites show that many victims die from kidney failure.

6. Black Mamba

You’ve likely heard about the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) in terms of its dangerous qualities and fearsome reputation. And it is well-deserved. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Black Mamba has a bite to rival just about any other snake on this list.

The black mamba is among the longest venomous snakes in Africa, typically averaging 8 to 10 feet and occasionally reaching up to 14 feet. Black mambas can raise their bodies in the air like a cobra. Black mambas can raise their bodies in the air like a cobra and frequently bite more than once, snapping quickly before fleeing.

The black mamba has an extremely lethal type of venom and can inject between 100 and 400 mg of venom in a single bite. Most symptoms begin in as little as ten minutes, and the average person perishes within 6-14 hours of being bitten.

The black mamba’s bite also has analgesic properties that make its victims feel as if they haven’t been bitten, or perhaps the bite isn’t as extreme as it actually is. The black mamba’s bite has a mortality rate of 100% without treatment, but it drops significantly when antivenom is administered promptly.

3. Eastern Brown Snake

Considered the second-most venomous terrestrial snake due to its venom potency, the eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) has a bite to be feared. Native to Australia, this snake is responsible for the most snakebite deaths on the continent.

As little as 3 mg of Eastern brown snake venom can kill the average human. This snake tends to live in densely populated areas.

While the size of the Eastern brown snake affects the amount of venom it injects, it doesn’t make a juvenile bite any less potent; even though a smaller snake injects a lower overall volume of venom, it’s still enough to be lethal. Eastern brown snake venom specifically targets coagulation factors in the body, altering the blood’s ability to clot. Internal bleeding and cardiac arrest are common causes of death.

Thanks to antivenom, deaths from the Eastern brown snake’s bite are rare, resulting in one or two fatalities per year.

4. Dubois’s Sea Snake

Living among coral reef flats in the Indo-Pacific, inhabiting the coastal areas of Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Australia, the Dubois’ sea snake (Aipysurus duboisii) is considered the most venomous aquatic marine snake.

Although there are no records of human fatalities from the Dubois sea snake’s bite, with an LD50 amount of 0.04mg, this sea snake would be lethal were it to strike.

3. Forest Cobra

The forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) has a potent enough bite and a high enough venom yield to kill 65 fully-grown people in a single bite!

Because of its LD50 score (0.22), as well as the high volume of venom (570-1100 mg) it is capable of injecting, the forest cobra rivals a great number of venomous snakes in terms of its potency.

Native to Africa, the forest cobra is highly adaptable in both its diet and behavior. The forest cobra doesn’t come into contact with humans often; however, its bite can cause severe symptoms in as little as 30 minutes, including drowsiness, organ failure, and paralysis.

2. Coastal Taipan

While the name might suggest that this snake only lives near the ocean, the coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) is found throughout Australia. Also known as the common taipan, this highly venomous snake could kill as many as 56 people with a single bite!

If you are bitten by a coastal taipan, the neurotoxins found in the venom may alter your body for the rest of your life. Even those who receive medical treatment within 2 hours of being bitten still have the potential for respiratory paralysis and kidney injury. With antivenom widely available, deaths from the coastal taipan bite have become rarer, averaging one fatality per year.

1. Inland Taipan

Arguably the most venomous snake in the world, the inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) has venom that, mathematically speaking, has the potential to kill 289 humans with a single bite.

However, despite this potency, the inland taipan is regarded as docile, preferring to be left alone by humans at all costs. There are enough potent neurotoxins in this snake’s venom to kill a human in as little as 45 minutes. Symptoms include paralysis, muscle damage, internal bleeding, and kidney failure.

The Deadliest Snake in the World to Humans: Saw-scaled Viper

While we’ve covered the most venomous snakes in the world, it is worth noting that even though their venom is the most toxic, these snakes aren’t necessarily the deadliest to humans. Actually, the one snake that takes the prize as the deadliest snake in the world to humans is considered to be the saw-scaled viper, which is responsible for the most human snake deaths on the planet.

Found in dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, this pit viper often dwells in areas highly populated by humans. Compounding this, a lack of antivenom in many rural areas where bites occur makes this a snake that should possibly be feared above all others.