More than 200 people were accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials, which took place in 1692–1693 in colonial Massachusetts.

Quick Scoop: Core Facts

  • Historians generally estimate that over 200 individuals were formally accused across Salem Village and nearby communities.
  • Of those accused, about 30 were convicted, and 19 people were executed by hanging, with 1 man pressed to death and several others dying in jail.
  • The accused included women, men, and even children, showing how widely the panic and suspicion spread through the community.

Why the Number Isn’t Exact

  • Surviving court and jail records are incomplete, so scholars talk in terms like “more than 150” or “over 200” rather than a precise tally.
  • Different historians count slightly differently: some include everyone formally charged, others also count those informally accused but never tried.

Wider Impact

  • In total, at least 25 people died as a result of the trials and imprisonments, not just those officially executed.
  • The unusually high number of accusations in such a small region has made the Salem witch trials a lasting symbol of mass hysteria and judicial injustice.

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