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Death Toll from 20th Century Socialism Reaches 100 to 148 Million People

Ben Shapiro Show · Ben Shapiro Debunks 5 Lies About Socialism · May 4, 2026
Death Toll from 20th Century Socialism Reaches 100 to 148 Million People
Ben Shapiro Show
Ben Shapiro Show
Ben Shapiro Debunks 5 Lies About Socialism
"The number of deaths caused by socialism in the 20th century alone are staggering. Low estimates are 20 to 30 million people. That would be just based on direct political executions. The mid-range estimates would be 60 to 70 million people if you include man-made famines, and high estimates would include all excess mortality, civil wars, regime policy effects. That would be all the way up to 100 to 148 million people."
The speaker presents estimates of deaths attributed to socialist regimes in the 20th century, ranging from 20 million to 148 million depending on methodology. The figures include deaths from political executions, famines, labor camps, and civil wars across China, Soviet Union, Cambodia, North Korea, and other countries. This represents a comprehensive accounting of human costs associated with socialist economic systems.
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