List of earthquakes facts for kids
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from events too weak to be detectable except by sensitive instrumentation, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities and number of scientific studies.
Contents
Largest earthquakes by year
Year | Magnitude | Location | Depth | MMI | Notes | Deaths | Injuries | Event | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | 8.6 | India-China, Assam-Tibet Border Region | 15.0 | XI | This was the strongest earthquake ever recorded on land. | 4,800 | 0 | 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake | August 15 |
1951 | 7.8 | Taiwan, East Rift Valley | 30.0 | VII | This was the strongest earthquake in a sequence of events. | 85 | 1,200 | 1951 East Rift Valley earthquakes | November 24 |
1952 | 9.0 | Russia, Kamchatka | 21.6 | XI | The death toll from this earthquake and resulting tsunami may be as high as 17,000. | 2,336 | 0 | 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake | November 4 |
1953 | 7.9 | Japan, Yokohama | 25.0 | V | – | 1 | 0 | November 25 | |
1954 | 7.8 | Spain, Andalusia | 626.2 | IV | 0 | 0 | March 29 | ||
1955 | 7.5 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 15.0 | I | – | 0 | 0 | February 27 | |
1956 | 7.7 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 20.0 | IX | The earthquake triggered a 30 m (98 ft) high tsunami. | 56 | 0 | 1956 Amorgos earthquake | July 9 |
1957 | 8.6 | United States, Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 25.0 | VIII | A 10 meter high tsunami led to most of the damage. | 2 | 0 | 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake | March 9 |
1958 | 8.3 | Russia, Kuril Islands | 35.0 | IX | – | 0 | 51 | November 6 | |
1959 | 7.9 | Russia, Kamchatka | 55.0 | VIII | A tsunami up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high occurred in the Aleutian Islands. | 1 | 13 | 1959 Kamchatka earthquake | May 4 |
1960 | 9.5 | Chile, Valdivia | 25.0 | XII | This is the most powerful earthquake recorded since 1900. A tsunami up to 25 m (82 ft) high occurred. | 6,000 | 11,000 | 1960 Valdivia earthquake | May 22 |
1961 | 7.6 | Peru, Madre de Dios Region | 612.2 | IV | – | 0 | 0 | August 19 | |
1962 | 7.5 | Fiji, Offshore | 390.0 | I | – | 0 | 0 | May 21 | |
1963 | 8.5 | Russia, Kuril Islands | 35.0 | IX | – | 0 | 0 | 1963 Kuril Islands earthquake | October 13 |
1964 | 9.2 | Alaska, Prince William Sound | 25.0 | XI | Most of the deaths were caused by a tsunami, which was the largest earthquake-produced tsunami ever recorded at a height of 67.0 m (219.8 ft). This is the second most powerful earthquake in modern times and the most powerful in North America. | 131 | 0 | 1964 Alaska earthquake | March 27 |
1965 | 8.7 | Alaska, Aleutian Islands | 30.3 | VI | A tsunami up to 10.7 m (35 ft) occurred, but caused little damage. This is the second most powerful earthquake in Alaska and the United States as a whole. | 0 | 0 | 1965 Rat Islands earthquake | February 3 |
1966 | 8.1 | Peru, Arequipa | 38.0 | IX | A 3.4 m (11 ft) high tsunami occurred. | 125 | 3,000 | 1966 Peru earthquake | October 17 |
1967 | 7.4 | Turkey, Sakarya Province | 30.0 | X | – | 86 | 0 | 1967 Mudurnu earthquake | July 22 |
1968 | 8.3 | Japan, Hokkaidō | 26.0 | VIII | A majority of the casualties were from a 6 m (20 ft) high tsunami. | 52 | 330 | 1968 Tokachi earthquake | May 16 |
1969 | 8.2 | Russia, Kuril Islands | 30.0 | VIII | – | 0 | 0 | August 11 | |
1970 | 8.0 | Colombia, Amazonas Department | 644.8 | IV | This was one of the most powerful deep-focus earthquakes ever recorded. | 1 | 4 | 1970 Colombia earthquake | July 31 |
1971 | 8.1 | Papua New Guinea, Kokopo | 37.0 | IX | An 8.0 event occurred 12 days earlier, so this can be considered a doublet earthquake. | 3 | 5 | 1971 Solomon Islands earthquakes | July 26 |
1972 | 8.0 | Philippines, Mindanao | 60.0 | VII | – | 0 | 0 | December 2 | |
1973 | 7.8 | Japan, Hokkaidō | 43.3 | VIII | A 5.98 m (19.6 ft) high tsunami occurred. | 0 | 27 | 1973 Nemuro earthquake | June 17 |
1974 | 8.1 | Peru, Lima | 13.0 | IX | – | 78 | 2,400 | 1974 Lima earthquake | October 3 |
1975 | 7.9 | Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Island | 49.0 | VIII | A 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high tsunami destroyed a few homes. | 0 | 0 | July 20 | |
1976 | 8.0 | Philippines, Moro Gulf | 33.0 | VIII | Further casualties were caused by a 9 m (30 ft) high tsunami. | 8,000 | 10,000 | 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake | August 17 |
1977 | 8.3 | Indonesia, Bima | 25.0 | VI | The earthquake was felt as far away as Albany in Australia. A 5.8 m (19 ft) high tsunami was also triggered. | 189 | 1,100 | 1977 Sumba earthquake | August 19 |
1978 | 7.7 | Japan, Miyagi | 44.0 | VIII | 6,757 buildings destroyed or badly damaged. The earthquake also triggered a 60 cm (2.0 ft) high tsunami. | 28 | 1,325 | 1978 Miyagi earthquake | June 12 |
1979 | 8.2 | Ecuador, Tumaco | 24.0 | IX | A tsunami up to 6 m (20 ft) high was triggered. | 600 | 0 | 1979 Tumaco earthquake | December 12 |
1980 | 7.9 | Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands | 33.0 | VI | – | 0 | 0 | July 17 | |
1981 | 7.7 | Samoa, Apia | 25.0 | VI | One person drowned in a 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high tsunami. | 1 | 0 | September 1 | |
1982 | 7.3 | El Salvador, Offshore | 73.0 | VII | This event had similarities to the January 2001 El Salvador earthquake. | 43 | 0 | 1982 El Salvador earthquake | June 19 |
1983 | 7.6 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland | 88.8 | VII | In areas close to the epicentre, landslides occurred and trees were uprooted, and a 25 cm (0.82 ft) high tsunami was observed off the coast. | 0 | 0 | March 18 | |
1984 | 7.6 | Solomon Islands, Honiara | 18.1 | VIII | Some landslides occurred | 0 | 0 | February 7 | |
1985 | 8.0 | Mexico, Mexico City | 27.9 | IX | At least 3,536 buildings damaged or destroyed. A 3.0 m (9.8 ft)-high tsunami was observed on the Mexican coast, although some estimates put the height at 30 m (98 ft) | 10,000 | 30,000 | 1985 Mexico City earthquake | September 19 |
1986 | 8.0 | United States, Aleutian Islands, Alaska | 19.0 | VII | Minor damage was reported in areas near the epicenter. A tsunami with heights of 10 ft (3.0 m) struck Hawaii, more than 6,400 km (4,000 mi) away. | 0 | 0 | May 7 | |
1987 | 7.9 | United States, Gulf of Alaska | 10.0 | VI | Minor damage was reported in areas near the epicentre and a small tsunami was observed. | 0 | 0 | November 30 | |
1988 | 7.7 | Myanmar-China border region | 17.8 | X | Some damage was also reported in Myanmar. | 938 | 7,700 | 1988 Lancang–Gengma earthquakes | November 6 |
1989 | 8.0 | Australia, Macquarie Island | 10.0 | V | – | 0 | 0 | May 23 | |
1990 | 7.8 | Philippines, Luzon | 24.4 | IX | – | 1,621 | 3,000 | 1990 Luzon earthquake | July 16 |
1991 | 7.7 | Costa Rica, Limón | 10.0 | IX | A 4 m (13 ft)-high tsunami was observed. | 127 | 759 | 1991 Limon earthquake | April 22 |
1992 | 7.8 | Indonesia, Sunda Islands | 23.5 | VIII | A tsunami struck with heights of 25 m (82 ft). | 2,500 | 0 | 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami | December 12 |
1993 | 7.8 | Guam, Offshore | 59.3 | IX | 71 people were injured and a tsunami up to 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) was observed. | 0 | 71 | 1993 Guam earthquake | August 8 |
1994 | 8.3 | Russia, Kuril Islands | 3.0 | IX | A 3.5 m (11 ft)-high tsunami was observed. | 12 | 1,742 | 1994 Kuril Islands earthquake | October 5 |
1995 | 8.0 | Chile, Antofagasta | 30.5 | VII | – | 3 | 59 | 1995 Antofagasta earthquake | July 30 |
1996 | 8.2 | Indonesia, Biak | 11.5 | VIII | A 7 m (23 ft)-high tsunami occurred. | 166 | 423 | 1996 Biak earthquake | February 17 |
1997 | 7.7 | Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula | 23.5 | VIII | An 8.2 m (27 ft)-high tsunami was observed. | 0 | 0 | 1997 Kamchatka earthquake | December 5 |
1998 | 8.1 | Antarctica, Balleny Islands | 10.0 | VI | Believed to be the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in this area to date. | 0 | 0 | 1998 Balleny Islands earthquake | March 25 |
1999 | 7.7 | Taiwan, Nantou County | 15.5 | IX | At least 105,479 buildings damaged or destroyed. | 2,444 | 11,305 | 1999 Jiji earthquake | September 21 |
2000 | 8.0 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland | 13.0 | VII | One person killed in a landslide, another from a heart attack. Two 7.8 Mw aftershocks occurred the following day. | 2 | 0 | 2000 New Ireland earthquakes | November 16 |
2001 | 8.4 | Peru, Arequipa | 33.0 | VIII | At least 90 drowned in a 7 m (23 ft)-high tsunami. | 145 | 2,713 | 2001 southern Peru earthquake | June 23 |
2002 | 7.9 | United States, Alaska | 4.2 | IX | It is the largest earthquake in Alaska in 16 years. | 0 | 1 | 2002 Denali earthquake | November 3 |
2003 | 8.3 | Japan, Hokkaidō | 23.5 | IX | Two missing. A 4 m (13 ft)-high tsunami observed. | 0 | 849 | 2003 Tokachi earthquake | September 26 |
2004 | 9.1–9.3 | Indonesia, Sumatra | 10.0 | IX | Majority of the deaths were from the associated tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa with heights up to 51 m (167 ft) in Banda Aceh. | 227,898 | 125,000 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami | December 26 |
2005 | 8.6 | Indonesia, Simeulue | 21.0 | IX | Ten fatalities in Sri Lanka due to evacuations. A 3 m (9.8 ft)-high tsunami damaged an airport. | 1,313 | 300 | 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake | March 28 |
2006 | 8.3 | Russia, Kuril Islands | 10.0 | VI | 1 person injured when a tsunami struck with heights of 15 m (49 ft). | 0 | 1 | 2006 Kuril Islands earthquake | November 15 |
2007 | 8.4 | Indonesia, Sumatra | 34.0 | VIII | A 3 m (9.8 ft) tsunami observed. | 23 | 0 | September 2007 Sumatra earthquakes | September 12 |
2008 | 8.0 Ms | China, Sichuan | 19.0 | XI | – | 87,587 | 374,177 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake | May 12 |
2009 | 8.1 | Samoa, Offshore | 18.0 | VII | A tsunami up to 14 m (46 ft) struck the Samoan coast. | 189 | 7 | 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami | September 29 |
2010 | 8.8 | Chile, Concepción | 22.9 | IX | A 10 m (33 ft) tsunami struck the Chilean coast. | 550 | 12,000 | 2010 Chile earthquake | February 27 |
2011 | 9.1 | Japan, Honshu | 29.0 | IX | A tsunami up to 40.5 m (133 ft) struck the Tohoku coast. | 19,747 | 6,000 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami | March 11 |
2012 | 8.6 | Indonesia, Indian Ocean | 20.0 | VII | An 8.2 Mw aftershock occurred a few hours later. | 10 | 12 | 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes | April 11 |
2013 | 8.3 | Russia, Sea of Okhotsk | 598.1 | VI | The quake was felt as far away as Moscow. | 0 | 0 | 2013 Okhotsk Sea earthquake | May 24 |
2014 | 8.2 | Chile, Iquique | 25.0 | VIII | – | 6 | 9 | 2014 Iquique earthquake | April 1 |
2015 | 8.3 | Chile, Coquimbo | 22.4 | IX | – | 21 | 34 | 2015 Illapel earthquake | September 16 |
2016 | 7.9 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland | 94.5 | VII | – | 0 | 0 | 2016 Solomon Islands earthquakes#December 17 earthquake | December 17 |
2017 | 8.2 | Mexico, Chiapas | 47.4 | IX | – | 98 | 250 | 2017 Chiapas earthquake | September 7 |
2018 | 8.2 | Fiji, Offshore | 600.0 | V | – | 0 | 0 | 2018 Fiji earthquake | August 19 |
2019 | 8.0 | Peru, Loreto | 122.6 | VIII | – | 2 | 0 | 2019 Peru earthquake | May 26 |
2020 | 7.8 | United States, Alaska Peninsula offshore | 28.0 | VII | Foreshock to the 8.2 in 2021, along with an event in October. | 0 | 0 | July 2020 Alaska Peninsula earthquake | July 22 |
2021 | 8.2 | United States, Alaska Peninsula offshore | 32.2 | VII | This is the largest earthquake in the United States since the 1965 Rat Islands earthquake. | 0 | 0 | 2021 Chignik earthquake | July 28 |
2022 | 7.3 | Japan, Fukushima offshore | 41.0 | VIII | - | 4 | 225 | 2022 Fukushima earthquake | March 16 |
Largest earthquakes by magnitude
Listed below are all the 46 known earthquakes with an estimated magnitude of 8.5 or higher since 1501. Limited to a timeframe with enough data, this gives a rough estimate of its frequency per century. (The timeframe does not include outlying events like the earlier 1498 Meiō earthquake, 1420 Caldera earthquake, 1361 Shōhei earthquake, 1356 Lisbon earthquake, 869 Jōgan earthquake, and 365 Crete earthquake, each estimated to have magnitude ≥8.5.)
Prior to the development and deployment of seismographs – starting around 1900 – magnitudes can only be estimated, based on historical reports of the extent and severity of damage.
Rank | Date | Location | Event | Magnitude |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | May 22, 1960 | Valdivia, Chile | 1960 Valdivia earthquake | 9.4–9.6 |
2 | June 11, 1585 | Pacific Ocean, Aleutian Islands (now Alaska, United States) | 1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake | 9.25 (est.) |
3 | July 8, 1730 | Valparaiso, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1730 Valparaíso earthquake | 9.1–9.3 (est.) |
4 | March 27, 1964 | Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States | 1964 Alaska earthquake | 9.2 |
5 | December 26, 2004 | Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake | 9.1–9.3 |
6 | October 17, 1737 | Kamchatka, Russia | 1737 Kamchatka earthquake | 9.0–9.3 (est.) |
7 | November 17, 1837 | Valdivia, Chile | 1837 Valdivia earthquake | 8.8–9.5 (est.) |
8 | March 11, 2011 | Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake | 9.1 |
9 | October 28, 1707 | Pacific Ocean, Shikoku region, Japan | 1707 Hōei earthquake | 8.7–9.3 (est.) |
10 | November 25, 1833 | Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) | 1833 Sumatra earthquake | 8.8–9.2 (est.) |
11 | May 17, 1841 | Kamchatka, Russian Empire | 1841 Kamchatka earthquake | 9.0 (est.) |
12 | November 4, 1952 | Kamchatka, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake | 9.0 |
13 | January 26, 1700 | Pacific Ocean, US and Canada (then claimed by the Spanish Empire and the British Empire) | 1700 Cascadia earthquake | 8.7–9.2 (est.) |
14 | August 13, 1868 | Arica, Chile (then Peru) | 1868 Arica earthquake | 8.5–9.3 (est.) |
16 | April 2, 1762 | Chittagong, Bangladesh (then Kingdom of Mrauk U) | 1762 Arakan earthquake | 8.8 (est.) |
17 | November 26, 1852 | Banda Islands, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) | 1852 Banda Sea earthquake | 8.8 (est.) |
18 | May 9, 1877 | Iquique, Chile (then Peru) | 1877 Iquique earthquake | 8.7–8.9 (est.) |
19 | January 31, 1906 | Ecuador – Colombia | 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake | 8.8 |
15 | February 27, 2010 | Maule, Chile | 2010 Chile earthquake | 8.8 |
20 | December 16, 1575 | Valdivia, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1575 Valdivia earthquake | 8.5–9.0 (est.) |
21 | November 1, 1755 | Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal | 1755 Lisbon earthquake | 8.5–9.0 (est.) |
22 | October 20, 1687 | Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1687 Peru earthquake | 8.7 (est.) |
23 | October 28, 1746 | Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1746 Lima–Callao earthquake | 8.6–8.8 (est.) |
24 | February 3, 1965 | Rat Islands, Alaska, United States | 1965 Rat Islands earthquake | 8.7 |
25 | March 28, 1787 | Oaxaca, Mexico (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1787 New Spain earthquake | 8.6 (est.) |
26 | February 2, 1816 | Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal | 1816 North Atlantic earthquake | 8.6 (est.) |
27 | April 1, 1946 | Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA | 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake | 8.6 |
28 | August 15, 1950 | Assam, India – Tibet, China | 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake | 8.6 |
29 | March 9, 1957 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska, United States | 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake | 8.6 |
30 | March 28, 2005 | Sumatra, Indonesia | 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake | 8.6 |
31 | April 11, 2012 | Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia | 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes | 8.6 |
32 | November 24, 1604 | Arica, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1604 Arica earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
33 | May 13, 1647 | Santiago, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1647 Santiago earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
34 | July 25, 1668 | Shandong, China | 1668 Shandong earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
35 | May 24, 1751 | Concepción, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) | 1751 Concepción earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
36 | March 31, 1761 | Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal | 1761 Lisbon earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
37 | April 4, 1819 | Copiapó, Chile | 1819 Copiapó earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
38 | November 19, 1822 | Valparaíso, Chile | 1822 Valparaíso earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
39 | February 20, 1835 | Concepción, Chile | 1835 Concepción earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
40 | February 8, 1843 | Guadeloupe region, Lesser Antilles | 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
41 | February 16, 1861 | Sumatra, Indonesia | 1861 Sumatra earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
42 | June 15, 1896 | Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan | 1896 Sanriku earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
43 | June 17, 1917 | Samoa offshore | 1917 Samoa earthquake | 8.5 (est.) |
44 | November 10, 1922 | Atacama Region, Chile Catamarca Province, Argentina | 1922 Vallenar earthquake | 8.5 |
45 | February 1, 1938 | Banda Sea, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) | 1938 Banda Sea earthquake | 8.5 |
46 | October 13, 1963 | Kuril Islands, Russia (USSR) | 1963 Kuril Islands earthquake | 8.5 |
Century | Number of magnitude ≥8.5 |
---|---|
1501–1600 | 2 |
1601–1700 | 5 |
1701–1800 | 9 |
1801–1900 | 13 |
1901–2000 | 12 |
2001–present | 5 |
Total | 46 |
Note that historical records are known to be incomplete. Earthquakes that occurred in remote areas prior to the advent of modern instrumentation in the early to mid 1900s were not well-reported, and exact locations and magnitudes of such events are often unknown. Therefore, the apparent increase in large earthquake frequency over the last few centuries is unlikely to be accurate.
Largest earthquakes by country/territory
- This list is a work in progress. Information is likely to be changed.
- The list refers to current country boundaries rather than those at the date of the earthquake.
- Please note, multiple countries could have the same earthquake listed, such as the 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake being listed for both Ecuador and Colombia.
- Unless otherwise noted, magnitudes are reported on the Moment magnitude scale (Mw).
Country/Territory | Magnitude | Date | More information |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 7.8 | 15 November 1921 | |
Albania | 6.7 | 30 November 1967 | |
Algeria | 7.1 | 10 October 1980 | 1980 El Asnam earthquake |
American Samoa | 6.4 | 11 October 1944 | |
Andorra | Me | 6.72 February 1428 | 1428 Catalonia earthquake |
Angola | 6.0 | 24 May 1914 | |
Anguilla | 6.3 | 16 February 1906 | |
Antarctica | 8.1 | 25 March 1998 | 1998 Balleny Islands earthquake |
Antigua and Barbuda | 8.0 | 16 April 1690 | |
Argentina | 7.5 Ms | 27 October 1894 | 1894 San Juan earthquake |
Armenia | 6.8 Ms | 7 December 1988 | 1988 Armenian earthquake |
Australia | 8.1 | 23 December 2004 | 2004 Tasman Sea earthquake |
Austria | 5.6–6.5 | 15 September 1590 | 1590 Neulengbach earthquake |
Azerbaijan | 7.0–7.3 | 30 September 1139 | 1139 Ganja earthquake |
Bangladesh | 8.8 | 2 April 1762 | 1762 Arakan earthquake |
Barbados | 6.5 | 18 February 2014 | |
Belgium | 6.3 | 18 September 1692 | |
Belize | 4.7 | 28 June 1985 | |
Benin | 4.4 | 11 September 2009 | |
Bhutan | 8.1 | 4 May 1714 | 1714 Bhutan earthquake |
Bolivia | 8.2 | 9 June 1994 | 1994 Bolivia earthquake |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6.1 | 27 October 1969 | 1969 Banja Luka earthquake |
Botswana | 6.8 | 11 October 1952 | |
Brazil | 7.6 | 9 November 1963 | |
British Indian Ocean Territory | 7.7 Ms | 30 November 1983 | 1983 Chagos Archipelago earthquake |
Brunei | 5.2 | 22 February 1992 | |
Bulgaria | 7.2 Ms | 4 April 1904 | 1904 Kresna earthquakes |
Burundi | 5.4 | 30 October 1966 | |
Cameroon | 5.9 | 12 September 1945 | |
Canada | 8.7–9.2 | 26 January 1700 | 1700 Cascadia earthquake |
Cape Verde | 6.5 | 15 August 1941 | |
Caribbean Netherlands | 5.2 | 10 March 2017 | |
Cayman Islands | 6.8 | 14 December 2004 | |
Central African Republic | 4.9 | 6 February 1994 | |
Chile | 9.4–9.6 | 22 May 1960 | 1960 Valdivia earthquake |
China | 8.6 | 15 August 1950 | 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake |
Cocos Islands | 7.9 | 18 June 2000 | |
Colombia | 8.8 | 31 January 1906 | 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake |
Comoros | 6.2 | 23 August 1918 | |
Congo | 5.2 | 26 April 1998 | |
Costa Rica | 7.7 | 22 April 1991 | 1991 Limon earthquake |
Croatia | 6.7 | 2 July 1898 | 1898 Trilj earthquake |
Cuba | 7.1 | 20 February 1917 | |
Cyprus | 7.0–7.5 | 11 May 1222 | 1222 Cyprus earthquake |
Czech Republic | ML | 4.823 December 1985 | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 6.9 | 13 December 1910 | |
Denmark | ML | 4.419 February 2010 | |
Djibouti | 6.5 | 20 August 1989 | |
Dominica | 6.4 | 8 January 1959 | |
Dominican Republic | 8.1 Ms | 4 August 1946 | 1946 Dominican Republic earthquake |
East Timor | 7.2 | 29 September 1905 | |
Ecuador | 8.8 | 31 January 1906 | 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake |
Egypt | 7.3 | 22 November 1995 | 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake |
El Salvador | MI | 8.019 December 1862 | |
Equatorial Guinea | 4.9 | 28 March 1999 | |
Eritrea | 6.6 | 28 December 1977 | |
Estonia | mb | 4.5–4.725 October 1976 | Osmussaar earthquake |
Eswatini | 4.4 | 4 August 1987 | |
Ethiopia | 6.5 | 25 August 1906 | |
Fiji | 8.2 | 19 August 2018 | 2018 Fiji earthquakes |
Finland | 4.7 | 4 November 1898 | |
France | 6.0 | 11 June 1909 | 1909 Provence earthquake |
French Guiana | 6.9 | 4 August 1885 | |
French Polynesia | 4.8 | 16 August 2012 | |
Gabon | 6.2 Ms | 23 September 1974 | |
Georgia | 7.0 | 29 April 1991 | 1991 Racha earthquake |
Germany | ML | 6.418 February 1756 | 1756 Düren earthquake |
Ghana | ML | 6.522 June 1939 | |
Greece | 8.5+ | 21 July 365 | 365 Crete earthquake |
Greenland | 7.4 | 20 November 1933 | 1933 Baffin Bay earthquake |
Grenada | 7.0 | 3 December 1831 | |
Guadeloupe | 8.5 | 8 February 1843 | 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake |
Guam | 7.8 | 8 August 1993 | 1993 Guam earthquake |
Guatemala | 7.7 | 6 August 1942 | 1942 Guatemala earthquake |
Guinea | 6.3 | 22 December 1983 | 1983 Guinea earthquake |
Guyana | 5.5 | 31 January 2021 | |
Haiti | 8.1 Ms | 7 May 1842 | 1842 Cap-Haïtien earthquake |
Honduras | 7.5 | 10 January 2018 | 2018 Swan Islands earthquake |
Hong Kong | 3.8 | 5 January 2020 | |
Hungary | 6.2–6.5 | 28 June 1763 | 1763 Komárom earthquake |
Iceland | 7.0 | 22 January 1910 | |
India | 8.6 | 15 August 1950 | 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake |
Indonesia | 9.1–9.3 | 26 December 2004 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake |
Iran | 7.9 Ms | 22 December 856 | 856 Damghan earthquake |
Iraq | 7.0 | 22 September 1666 | |
Ireland | ML | 4.06 June 2012 | |
Israel | 6.3 | 11 July 1927 | 1927 Jericho earthquake |
Italy | 7.4 | 11 January 1693 | 1693 Sicily earthquake |
Jamaica | 7.7 | 28 January 2020 | 2020 Caribbean earthquake |
Japan | 9.0–9.1 | 11 March 2011 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake |
Jersey | 5.4 | 30 July 1926 | |
Jordan | 6.3 | 11 July 1927 | 1927 Jericho earthquake |
Kazakhstan | 8.0 | 11 July 1889 & 3 January 1911 | 1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake |
Kenya | 6.7 | 6 January 1928 | |
Kiribati | 5.9 | 23 May 1982 | |
Kosovo | 5.7 | 24 April 2002 | 2002 Kosovo earthquake |
Kuwait | 4.7 | 3 June 1993 | |
Kyrgyzstan | 8.0 | 11 July 1889 & 3 January 1911 | 1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake |
Laos | 6.9 Ms | 24 June 1983 | |
Lebanon | 7.5 | 9 July 551 | 551 Beirut earthquake |
Liberia | 4.5 | 25 November 1995 | |
Libya | 6.8 | 19 April 1935 | |
Luxembourg | ML | 2.93 September 1986 | |
Madagascar | 6.2 | 4 July 1919 | |
Malawi | 6.3 | 10 March 1989 | 1989 Malawi earthquake |
Malaysia | 6.6 | 11 August 1923 | |
Maldives | 7.4 | 29 February 1944 | |
Mali | 4.2 | 11 January 1999 | |
Malta | 5.3 | 29 September 1992 | |
Marshall Islands | 5.6 | 22 March 1982 | |
Martinique | 7.5–8.0 | 11 January 1839 | 1839 Martinique earthquake |
Mauritania | 4.6 | 1 March 2012 | |
Mauritius | 6.7 | 26 July 1976 | |
Mayotte | 6.0 | 29 April 1952 | |
Mexico | 8.6 | 28 March 1787 | 1787 Mexico earthquake |
Micronesia | 7.8 | 16 August 1911 | |
Monaco | 6.3 | 19 July 1963 | |
Mongolia | 8.3 | 23 July 1905 | 1905 Bolnai earthquake |
Montenegro | 6.9 | 15 April 1979 | 1979 Montenegro earthquake |
Morocco | 6.3 | 24 February 2004 | 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake |
Mozambique | 7.0 | 22 February 2006 | 2006 Mozambique earthquake |
Myanmar | 8.0+ | 23 March 1839 & 12 September 1946 | 1839 Ava earthquake and 1946 Sagaing earthquakes |
Namibia | 5.4 | 4 April 2021 | |
Nepal | 8.2–8.8 | 6 June 1505 | 1505 Lo Mustang earthquake |
Netherlands | 5.3 | 13 April 1992 | 1992 Roermond earthquake |
New Caledonia | 7.9 | 9 August 1901 | |
New Zealand | 8.2 | 23 January 1855 | 1855 Wairarapa earthquake |
Nicaragua | 7.7 | 2 September 1992 | 1992 Nicaragua earthquake |
Nigeria | 4.5 | 7 March 2000 | |
North Korea | 6.8 | 8 October 1960 | |
North Macedonia | 6.7 | 8 March 1931 | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 7.7 | 29 July 2016 | |
Norway | 6.8 | 30 August 2012 | |
Oman | 5.7 | 30 March 1966 | |
Pakistan | 8.1 | 28 November 1945 | 1945 Balochistan earthquake |
Palau | 7.8 | 16 August 1911 | |
Panama | 7.7–7.9 | 7 September 1882 | 1882 Panama earthquake |
Papua New Guinea | 8.2 | 6 May 1919 | |
Paraguay | 6.5 | 28 February 1989 | |
Peru | 8.5–9.3 | 13 August 1868 | 1868 Arica earthquake |
Philippines | 8.3 | 15 August 1918 | 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake |
Poland | 5.6 | 3 December 1786 | |
Portugal | 8.5–9.0 | 1 November 1755 | 1755 Lisbon earthquake |
Puerto Rico | 8.0 | 2 May 1787 | 1787 Boricua earthquake |
Réunion | mb | 5.36 April 2007 | |
Romania | 7.9 | 26 October 1802 | 1802 Vrancea earthquake |
Russia | 9.0–9.3 | 16 October 1737 | 1737 Kamchatka earthquake |
Rwanda | 5.9 | 3 February 2008 | 2008 Lake Kivu earthquake |
Saint Barthélemy | 5.4 | 18 November 1990 | |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 6.5 | 16 March 1985 | |
Saint Lucia | 7.3 | 19 March 1953 | |
Saint Martin | 5.0 | 4 July 2012 | |
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 7.2 | 18 November 1929 | 1929 Grand Banks earthquake |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 6.1 | 6 July 1940 | |
Samoa | 8.5 | 25 June 1917 | 1917 Samoa earthquake |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 5.5 | 19 December 2019 | |
Saudi Arabia | 7.3 | 22 November 1995 | 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake |
Senegal | 5.5 | 21 May 1986 | |
Serbia | 6.0 | 15 May 1927 | |
Seychelles | 5.2 | 28 April 1995 | |
Slovakia | 5.8 | 28 June 1763 | |
Slovenia | ML | 6.114 April 1895 | 1895 Ljubljana earthquake |
Solomon Islands | 8.1 | 1 April 2007 | 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake |
Somalia | 6.0 | 22 January 1929 | |
South Africa | 6.8 | 31 December 1932 | |
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | 8.1 | 27 June 1929 & 12 August 2021 | 2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes |
South Korea | 7.5 | 26 June 1681 | 1681 Yangyang earthquake |
South Sudan | 7.2 Ms | 20 May 1990 | |
Spain | 7.8 | 29 March 1954 | |
Sri Lanka | 5.9 | 30 August 1973 | |
Sudan | 6.0 | 12 May 1938 | |
Sweden | 4.9 | 18 May 2020 | |
Switzerland | 6.0–7.1 | 18 October 1356 | 1356 Basel earthquake |
Syria | 7.6 Ms | 20 May 1202 | 1202 Syria earthquake |
Taiwan | 8.2 | 5 June 1920 | |
Tajikistan | 7.5 | 10 July 1949 | 1949 Khait earthquake |
Tanzania | 7.0 | 8 July 1919 | |
Thailand | 6.1 | 5 May 2014 | 2014 Mae Lao earthquake |
Tonga | 8.1 | 30 April 1919 | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 6.7 | 22 April 1997 | |
Tunisia | 5.5 | 20 February 1957 | |
Turkey | 7.8–8.0 Ms | 17 August 1668 | 1668 North Anatolia earthquake |
Turkmenistan | 7.3 Ms | 5 October 1948 | 1948 Ashgabat earthquake |
Tuvalu | 5.8 | 5 February 1983 and 8 March 1983 | |
Uganda | 6.5 | 30 June 1952 | |
Ukraine | 6.7 | 11 September 1927 | 1927 Crimean earthquakes |
United Arab Emirates | 5.0 | 11 March 2002 | |
United Kingdom | ML | 6.17 June 1931 | 1931 Dogger Bank earthquake |
United States | 9.25 | 11 June 1585 | 1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake |
U.S. Virgin Islands | 7.2 | 18 November 1867 | 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami |
Uruguay | 5.5 Ms | 5 June 1888 | 1888 Rio de la Plata earthquake |
Uzbekistan | 7.0 | 19 March 1984 | |
Vanuatu | 8.1 | 20 September 1920 | |
Venezuela | 7.6–7.7 | 29 October 1900 | 1900 San Narciso earthquake |
Vietnam | 6.8 | 1 November 1935 | |
Wallis and Futuna | 7.6 | 23 May 1956 | |
Yemen | 6.7 | 18 December 1908 | |
Zambia | 6.5 | 1 May 1919 | |
Zimbabwe | 5.5 | 25 September 1963 |
Costliest earthquakes
This is a list of major earthquakes by the dollar value of property (public and private) losses directly attributable to the earthquake. Rank values are assigned based on inflation-adjusted comparison of property damage in US dollars. Wherever possible, indirect and socioeconomic losses are excluded. Damage estimates for particular earthquakes may vary over time as more data becomes available.
Rank | Event | Location | Magnitude | Property damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami | Japan | 9.1 | $360 billion |
2 | 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake | Japan | 6.9 | $200 billion |
3 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake | Sichuan, China | 8.0 | $150 billion |
4 | 2004 Chūetsu earthquake | Japan | 6.8 | $28 billion |
5 | 1999 İzmit earthquake | Turkey | 7.6 | $20 billion |
6 | 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes | Italy | 6.1 | $15.8 billion |
7 | 2011 Christchurch earthquake | New Zealand | 6.3 | $15–40 billion |
8 | 2010 Chile earthquake | Chile | 8.8 | $15–30 billion |
9 | 1980 Irpinia earthquake | Italy | 6.9 | $15 billion |
10 | 1994 Northridge earthquake | Los Angeles, United States | 6.7 | $13–44 billion |
11 | 1976 Tangshan earthquake | Hebei, China | 7.8 | $10 billion |
12 | 1999 Jiji earthquake | Taiwan | 7.7 | $10 billion |
13 | April 2015 Nepal earthquake | Nepal | 7.8 | $10 billion |
14 | 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake | California, United States | 6.9 | $5.6–6 billion |
15 | 1923 Great Kantō earthquake | Tokyo, Japan | 8.0 | $600 million |
16 | 1906 San Francisco earthquake | San Francisco, United States | 7.7 to 7.9 (est.) | $400 million |
Images for kids
-
A pie chart comparing the seismic moment release of the three largest earthquakes for the hundred-year period from 1906 to 2005 with that for all earthquakes of magnitudes 8 for the same period. The 2011 Japan quake would be roughly similar to Sumatra.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Terremotos de mayor magnitud para niños