billion people worldwide are living under a dictatorship. In fact only 11% of the world's

population are living in fully democratically ruled counties. The democracy index map shows

the spread and severity of dictatorships worldwide, the closer to red the more authoritarian the

regime of said country.

But who are the 10 deadliest, most despicable dictators of all time?

10. Up first we have the arse making headlines around the world, Bashar Al-Assad. Current

president and ruthless dictator of Syria. When he first came into power in 2000, everyone

thought he was a pretty decent guy promising hope and reform to the country. I mean why

would you think any different with a family photo like this.

But it all turned sour very quickly when he ordered mass crackdowns and military sieges

on Arab Spring protesters, leading to the Syrian Civil War. Since then he has been responsible

for over 110,000 deaths and he is now wanted by the United Nations for crimes against humanity.

9. At number 9 is Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian politician who was the leader of

the communist Derg party that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987. During his introductory

leadership speech he announced death to the revolution and to the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary

Party. Fearing people didn't quite get the message he threw three bottles filled with

blood from his pedestal, yep, that ought to do it.

He was responsible for 1.5 million deaths. And just to rub salt in the wound he even

taxed families who requested the return of the dead bodies of their loved ones.

8. At 8 is former North Korea leader Kim il-Sung up until his death in 1994. He led the nation

using extreme force and deception. He lost so much respect from the people of North Korea

that he decided to blame the US for the Nation's suffering. Falsely claiming the American superpower

has launched a biological attack on North Korea causing a pandemic in the country. And

to make it more convincing, he killed 1.6 million of his own people.

7. Infamous Cambodia communist leader Pol Pot takes the number 7 spot. He had a grand

vision of a country where everyone is equal. So he commanded all city workers to relocate

and work on the farms and all farm workers to work in the city.

Unsurprisingly this didn't work as expected. So to punish his people he deprived them of

the right to education, medication and nutrition. He also executed 1.7 million people who didn't

follow his ideals.

6. At 6 is Ismail Enver Pasha. Ismail was the leader of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution

and leader of the Turkish ruled Ottoman empire during the Balkan wars and World War 1. But

people soon discovered that he wasn't very good at leading armies, after losing battle

after battle. So to compensate for his losses and boost his ego a little he decided to slaughter

1.5 million Armenians and over 1 million other people of various races.

5. At number 5 is former Japanese dictator Hideki Tojo. He was assigned the position

of general in the Imperial Japanese Army but he wasn't content with that so he took it

upon himself to also assume the positions of Army Minister, Home Minister, Foreign Minister,

Education Minister and Commerce Minister oh and if all that wasn't enough Prime Minister

as well. He also formed an alliance with the Nazis hoping he would rise to power alongside

Hitler. Tojo was responsible for 5 million deaths in total.

4. At 4 is Leopold II of Belgium. He founded and ran the Congo Free State, an area of Central

Africa, from 1885 to 1908. The colonial nations of Europe handed Leopold the Congo Free State

so he could improve the lives of the native inhabitants. But he instead used it entirely

for his own gain, he used a mercenary force to dictate the native inhabitants to collect

ivory and rubber from the plentiful natural environment. Villagers were required to meet

rubber quotas, which, if they didn't meet the individual's hands were cut off.

Leopold earned a fortune through this exploitation. He committed some of the worst atrocities

in history and was responsible for enslaving and killing 15 million Congolese.

3. Number 3 is Josef Stalin he became leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin died in 1924.

Stalin led the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1953, he enforced his socialist ideals in an attempt

to make the country more progressive. However Stalin's new socialist economy led to the

starvation of nearly 10 million people.

Many activists tried to contest his leadership, so Stalin launched the Great Purge, killing

every person who opposed his ideals. In total he was responsible for the deaths of over

23 million people.

2. Number 2 needs no introduction. Probably the most infamous dictator of all time is

Adolf Hitler. Born in Austria in 1889, he became a German politician and leader of the

Nazi Party.

During the German presidential elections of 1932, Hitler used anti-communism ideals and

Nazi propaganda to gain support for his campaign. He frequently denounced international capitalism

and communism as being part of a Jewish conspiracy.

After the Nazi party was successfully elected he vowed to eliminate Jews from Germany and

establish a new world order to counter what he saw as the injustice of the post-World

War 1 international order, dominated by Britain and France. And we all know what happened

next..

During his 11 year dictatorship between 1934 and 1945. He was responsible for countless

crimes against humanity and the deaths of over 17 million people, including 6 million

Jews.

1. And finally number one simply because of the sheer number of deaths is former communist

leader of China, Mao Zedong between 1945 and 1976. In total he is responsible for over

78 million deaths. This guy makes hitler look like a schoolyard bully.

Mao had an unquenchable thirst for power, in his first five years of power he indiscriminately

sentenced 6 million people to death. And during a very short period of 4 years between 1958

and 1962 Mao's communist policies starved and worked to death over 45 million Chinese

citizens. Many were also beaten to death. He also executed any enemies of the state

at the drop of a hat.

Thanks for the view subscribe for more Thoughty2.