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Estimating the total death toll attributed to communist states involves looking at various sources that document the impacts of political repression, mass executions, man-made famines, forced labour camps, and other policies under regimes that identified as communist. The estimates can vary widely, reflecting differing methodologies, definitions of responsibility, and historical interpretations. Below is an overview of some of the most cited cases:

Soviet Union (USSR)

– Estimates: Between 10 and 20 million deaths, with some estimates reaching up to 30 million.
– Causes: The Great Purge, forced collectivization (leading to famines such as the Holodomor in Ukraine), forced labour camps (Gulags), mass deportations, and political executions.

People’s Republic of China (PRC)

– Estimates: Ranges from 40 to 70 million deaths.
– Causes: The Great Leap Forward (resulting in the Great Chinese Famine), the Cultural Revolution, political purges, and forced labour camps.

Cambodia (Khmer Rouge Regime)

– Estimates: 1.5 to 2 million people, or about 25% of the country’s population at the time.
– Causes: Execution of perceived enemies, forced labour, and starvation under Pol Pot’s regime.

North Korea

– Estimates: 1 to 3 million deaths.
– Causes: Famines (particularly the 1990s famine), political executions, and harsh prison camp conditions.

Vietnam

– Estimates: Several hundred thousand to 1 million.
– Causes: Land reforms, executions, re-education camps, and war-related actions.

Eastern Europe (Post-WWII Communist Regimes)

– Estimates: Hundreds of thousands to millions across countries such as East Germany, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and others.
– Causes: Political repression, purges, forced labour, and executions.

Ethiopia (Derg Regime)

– Estimates: 500,000 to 1.5 million.
– Causes: Political repression, the Red Terror, famines, and forced relocations.

Cuba

– Estimates: Tens of thousands.
– Causes: Political executions, imprisonment, and repression.

Other Smaller Regimes (e.g., Laos, Afghanistan under the People’s Democratic Party, etc.)

– Estimates: Tens to hundreds of thousands combined.

Total Estimates

Overall estimates for the total number of deaths under communist regimes range from approximately 65 million to over 100 million, depending on the criteria used for attributing responsibility and the inclusion of indirect causes such as famine.

These numbers remain controversial due to differing interpretations, limited historical records, and the politicisation of the data.

But then again, to paraphrase Jordan Peterson, after the first couple million the shock wears off.

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