The exact number of Native American deaths during the Columbian Exchange is difficult to determine, but estimates suggest that millions perished due to the introduction of European diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles. These diseases profoundly impacted Indigenous populations who had no prior exposure and thus no immunity to them.
Historical estimates vary, with some scholars suggesting that between 50% to 90% of Indigenous peoples in certain areas died within the first century of contact with Europeans. This tragic loss was exacerbated by violence, displacement, and disruption of traditional ways of life caused by European colonization.
In total, while some estimates range from 8 million to as high as 20 million deaths across the Americas, it is essential to understand that these figures are approximate and vary greatly depending on the region and the sources of the estimates. Overall, the impact of the Columbian Exchange on Native American populations was catastrophic and shaped the demographic landscape of the Americas in profound ways.