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List of earthquakes facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Map of earthquakes 1900-
Earthquakes (M6.0+) between 1900 and 2017

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.

Largest earthquakes by year

Year Magnitude Location Depth MMI Notes Deaths Injuries Event Date
1950 8.6 IndiaChina 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 United States 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 United States 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 MyanmarChina 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 Chile Valdivia, Chile 1960 Valdivia earthquake 9.4–9.6
2 June 11, 1585 United States Pacific Ocean, Aleutian Islands (now Alaska, United States) 1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake 9.25 (est.)
3 July 8, 1730 Chile Valparaiso, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1730 Valparaíso earthquake 9.1–9.3 (est.)
4 March 27, 1964 United States Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States 1964 Alaska earthquake 9.2
5 December 26, 2004 Indonesia Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake 9.1–9.3
6 October 17, 1737 Russia Kamchatka, Russia 1737 Kamchatka earthquake 9.0–9.3 (est.)
7 November 17, 1837 Chile Valdivia, Chile 1837 Valdivia earthquake 8.8–9.5 (est.)
8 March 11, 2011 Japan Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan 2011 Tōhoku earthquake 9.1
9 October 28, 1707 Japan Pacific Ocean, Shikoku region, Japan 1707 Hōei earthquake 8.7–9.3 (est.)
10 November 25, 1833 Indonesia Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) 1833 Sumatra earthquake 8.8–9.2 (est.)
11 May 17, 1841 Russia Kamchatka, Russian Empire 1841 Kamchatka earthquake 9.0 (est.)
12 November 4, 1952 Russia Kamchatka, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake 9.0
13 January 26, 1700 CanadaUnited States 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 Chile Arica, Chile (then Peru) 1868 Arica earthquake 8.5–9.3 (est.)
16 April 2, 1762 Bangladesh Chittagong, Bangladesh (then Kingdom of Mrauk U) 1762 Arakan earthquake 8.8 (est.)
17 November 26, 1852 Indonesia Banda Islands, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) 1852 Banda Sea earthquake 8.8 (est.)
18 May 9, 1877 Chile Iquique, Chile (then Peru) 1877 Iquique earthquake 8.7–8.9 (est.)
19 January 31, 1906 EcuadorColombia Ecuador – Colombia 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake 8.8
15 February 27, 2010 Chile Maule, Chile 2010 Chile earthquake 8.8
20 December 16, 1575 Chile Valdivia, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1575 Valdivia earthquake 8.5–9.0 (est.)
21 November 1, 1755 Portugal Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal 1755 Lisbon earthquake 8.5–9.0 (est.)
22 October 20, 1687 Peru Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1687 Peru earthquake 8.7 (est.)
23 October 28, 1746 Peru Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1746 Lima–Callao earthquake 8.6–8.8 (est.)
24 February 3, 1965 United States Rat Islands, Alaska, United States 1965 Rat Islands earthquake 8.7
25 March 28, 1787 Mexico Oaxaca, Mexico (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1787 New Spain earthquake 8.6 (est.)
26 February 2, 1816 Portugal Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal 1816 North Atlantic earthquake 8.6 (est.)
27 April 1, 1946 United States Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake 8.6
28 August 15, 1950 IndiaChina Assam, India – Tibet, China 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake 8.6
29 March 9, 1957 United States Andreanof Islands, Alaska, United States 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake 8.6
30 March 28, 2005 Indonesia Sumatra, Indonesia 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake 8.6
31 April 11, 2012 Indonesia Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes 8.6
32 November 24, 1604 Chile Arica, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1604 Arica earthquake 8.5 (est.)
33 May 13, 1647 Chile Santiago, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1647 Santiago earthquake 8.5 (est.)
34 July 25, 1668 China Shandong, China 1668 Shandong earthquake 8.5 (est.)
35 May 24, 1751 Chile Concepción, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire) 1751 Concepción earthquake 8.5 (est.)
36 March 31, 1761 Portugal Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal 1761 Lisbon earthquake 8.5 (est.)
37 April 4, 1819 Chile Copiapó, Chile 1819 Copiapó earthquake 8.5 (est.)
38 November 19, 1822 Chile Valparaíso, Chile 1822 Valparaíso earthquake 8.5 (est.)
39 February 20, 1835 Chile Concepción, Chile 1835 Concepción earthquake 8.5 (est.)
40 February 8, 1843 Guadeloupe Guadeloupe region, Lesser Antilles 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake 8.5 (est.)
41 February 16, 1861 Indonesia Sumatra, Indonesia 1861 Sumatra earthquake 8.5 (est.)
42 June 15, 1896 Japan Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan 1896 Sanriku earthquake 8.5 (est.)
43 June 17, 1917 Samoa Samoa offshore 1917 Samoa earthquake 8.5 (est.)
44 November 10, 1922 Chile Atacama Region, Chile Catamarca Province, Argentina 1922 Vallenar earthquake 8.5
45 February 1, 1938 Indonesia Banda Sea, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies) 1938 Banda Sea earthquake 8.5
46 October 13, 1963 Russia 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 Afghanistan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8 15 November 1921
Albania Albania &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 30 November 1967
Algeria Algeria &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.1000007.1 10 October 1980 1980 El Asnam earthquake
American Samoa American Samoa &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.4000006.4 11 October 1944
Andorra Andorra &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 Me 2 February 1428 1428 Catalonia earthquake
Angola Angola &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 24 May 1914
Anguilla Anguilla &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 16 February 1906
Antarctica Antarctica &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 25 March 1998 1998 Balleny Islands earthquake
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0 16 April 1690
Argentina Argentina &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5 Ms 27 October 1894 1894 San Juan earthquake
Armenia Armenia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 Ms 7 December 1988 1988 Armenian earthquake
Australia Australia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 23 December 2004 2004 Tasman Sea earthquake
Austria Austria &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.6000005.6–6.5 15 September 1590 1590 Neulengbach earthquake
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0–7.3 30 September 1139 1139 Ganja earthquake
Bangladesh Bangladesh &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.8000008.8 2 April 1762 1762 Arakan earthquake
Barbados Barbados &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 18 February 2014
Belgium Belgium &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 18 September 1692
Belize Belize &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.7000004.7 28 June 1985
Benin Benin &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.4000004.4 11 September 2009
Bhutan Bhutan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 4 May 1714 1714 Bhutan earthquake
Bolivia Bolivia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2 9 June 1994 1994 Bolivia earthquake
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.1000006.1 27 October 1969 1969 Banja Luka earthquake
Botswana Botswana &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 11 October 1952
Brazil Brazil &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.6000007.6 9 November 1963
British Indian Ocean Territory British Indian Ocean Territory &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 Ms 30 November 1983 1983 Chagos Archipelago earthquake
Brunei Brunei &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.2000005.2 22 February 1992
Bulgaria Bulgaria &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.2000007.2 Ms 4 April 1904 1904 Kresna earthquakes
Burundi Burundi &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.4000005.4 30 October 1966
Cameroon Cameroon &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.9000005.9 12 September 1945
Canada Canada &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.7000008.7–9.2 26 January 1700 1700 Cascadia earthquake
Cape Verde Cape Verde &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 15 August 1941
Caribbean Netherlands Caribbean Netherlands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.2000005.2 10 March 2017
Cayman Islands Cayman Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 14 December 2004
Central African Republic Central African Republic &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.9000004.9 6 February 1994
Chile Chile &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.4000009.4–9.6 22 May 1960 1960 Valdivia earthquake
China China &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.6000008.6 15 August 1950 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cocos Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.9000007.9 18 June 2000
Colombia Colombia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.8000008.8 31 January 1906 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake
Comoros Comoros &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.2000006.2 23 August 1918
Republic of the Congo Congo &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.2000005.2 26 April 1998
Costa Rica Costa Rica &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 22 April 1991 1991 Limon earthquake
Croatia Croatia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 2 July 1898 1898 Trilj earthquake
Cuba Cuba &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.1000007.1 20 February 1917
Cyprus Cyprus &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0–7.5 11 May 1222 1222 Cyprus earthquake
Czech Republic Czech Republic &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.8000004.8 ML 23 December 1985
Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.9000006.9 13 December 1910
Denmark Denmark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.4000004.4 ML 19 February 2010
Djibouti Djibouti &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 20 August 1989
Dominica Dominica &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.4000006.4 8 January 1959
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 Ms 4 August 1946 1946 Dominican Republic earthquake
East Timor East Timor &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.2000007.2 29 September 1905
Ecuador Ecuador &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.8000008.8 31 January 1906 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake
Egypt Egypt &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.3000007.3 22 November 1995 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake
El Salvador El Salvador &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0 MI 19 December 1862
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.9000004.9 28 March 1999
Eritrea Eritrea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.6000006.6 28 December 1977
Estonia Estonia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.5000004.5–4.7 mb 25 October 1976 Osmussaar earthquake
Eswatini Eswatini &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.4000004.4 4 August 1987
Ethiopia Ethiopia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 25 August 1906
Fiji Fiji &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2 19 August 2018 2018 Fiji earthquakes
Finland Finland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.7000004.7 4 November 1898
France France &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 11 June 1909 1909 Provence earthquake
French Guiana French Guiana &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.9000006.9 4 August 1885
French Polynesia French Polynesia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.8000004.8 16 August 2012
Gabon Gabon &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.2000006.2 Ms 23 September 1974
Georgia (country) Georgia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 29 April 1991 1991 Racha earthquake
Germany Germany &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.4000006.4 ML 18 February 1756 1756 Düren earthquake
Ghana Ghana &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 ML 22 June 1939
Greece Greece &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.5000008.5+ 21 July 365 365 Crete earthquake
Greenland Greenland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.4000007.4 20 November 1933 1933 Baffin Bay earthquake
Grenada Grenada &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 3 December 1831
Guadeloupe Guadeloupe &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.5000008.5 8 February 1843 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake
Guam Guam &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8 8 August 1993 1993 Guam earthquake
Guatemala Guatemala &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 6 August 1942 1942 Guatemala earthquake
Guinea Guinea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 22 December 1983 1983 Guinea earthquake
Guyana Guyana &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 31 January 2021
Haiti Haiti &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 Ms 7 May 1842 1842 Cap-Haïtien earthquake
Honduras Honduras &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5 10 January 2018 2018 Swan Islands earthquake
Hong Kong Hong Kong &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.8000003.8 5 January 2020
Hungary Hungary &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.2000006.2–6.5 28 June 1763 1763 Komárom earthquake
Iceland Iceland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 22 January 1910
India India &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.6000008.6 15 August 1950 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
Indonesia Indonesia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.1000009.1–9.3 26 December 2004 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
Iran Iran &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.9000007.9 Ms 22 December 856 856 Damghan earthquake
Iraq Iraq &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 22 September 1666
Republic of Ireland Ireland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04.0 ML 6 June 2012
Israel Israel &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 11 July 1927 1927 Jericho earthquake
Italy Italy &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.4000007.4 11 January 1693 1693 Sicily earthquake
Jamaica Jamaica &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 28 January 2020 2020 Caribbean earthquake
Japan Japan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09.0–9.1 11 March 2011 2011 Tōhoku earthquake
Jersey Jersey &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.4000005.4 30 July 1926
Jordan Jordan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 11 July 1927 1927 Jericho earthquake
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0 11 July 1889 & 3 January 1911 1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake
Kenya Kenya &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 6 January 1928
Kiribati Kiribati &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.9000005.9 23 May 1982
Kosovo Kosovo &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.7000005.7 24 April 2002 2002 Kosovo earthquake
Kuwait Kuwait &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.7000004.7 3 June 1993
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0 11 July 1889 & 3 January 1911 1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake
Laos Laos &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.9000006.9 Ms 24 June 1983
Lebanon Lebanon &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5 9 July 551 551 Beirut earthquake
Liberia Liberia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.5000004.5 25 November 1995
Libya Libya &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 19 April 1935
Luxembourg Luxembourg &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.9000002.9 ML 3 September 1986
Madagascar Madagascar &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.2000006.2 4 July 1919
Malawi Malawi &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 10 March 1989 1989 Malawi earthquake
Malaysia Malaysia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.6000006.6 11 August 1923
Maldives Maldives &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.4000007.4 29 February 1944
Mali Mali &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.2000004.2 11 January 1999
Malta Malta &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.3000005.3 29 September 1992
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.6000005.6 22 March 1982
Martinique Martinique &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5–8.0 11 January 1839 1839 Martinique earthquake
Mauritania Mauritania &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.6000004.6 1 March 2012
Mauritius Mauritius &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 26 July 1976
Mayotte Mayotte &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 29 April 1952
Mexico Mexico &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.6000008.6 28 March 1787 1787 Mexico earthquake
Federated States of Micronesia Micronesia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8 16 August 1911
Monaco Monaco &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 19 July 1963
Mongolia Mongolia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.3000008.3 23 July 1905 1905 Bolnai earthquake
Montenegro Montenegro &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.9000006.9 15 April 1979 1979 Montenegro earthquake
Morocco Morocco &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.3000006.3 24 February 2004 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake
Mozambique Mozambique &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 22 February 2006 2006 Mozambique earthquake
Myanmar Myanmar &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0+ 23 March 1839 & 12 September 1946 1839 Ava earthquake and 1946 Sagaing earthquakes
Namibia Namibia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.4000005.4 4 April 2021
Nepal Nepal &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2–8.8 6 June 1505 1505 Lo Mustang earthquake
Netherlands Netherlands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.3000005.3 13 April 1992 1992 Roermond earthquake
New Caledonia New Caledonia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.9000007.9 9 August 1901
New Zealand New Zealand &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2 23 January 1855 1855 Wairarapa earthquake
Nicaragua Nicaragua &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 2 September 1992 1992 Nicaragua earthquake
Nigeria Nigeria &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.5000004.5 7 March 2000
North Korea North Korea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 8 October 1960
North Macedonia North Macedonia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 8 March 1931
Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7 29 July 2016
Norway Norway &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 30 August 2012
Oman Oman &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.7000005.7 30 March 1966
Pakistan Pakistan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 28 November 1945 1945 Balochistan earthquake
Palau Palau &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8 16 August 1911
Panama Panama &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.7000007.7–7.9 7 September 1882 1882 Panama earthquake [es]
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2 6 May 1919
Paraguay Paraguay &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 28 February 1989
Peru Peru &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.5000008.5–9.3 13 August 1868 1868 Arica earthquake
Philippines Philippines &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.3000008.3 15 August 1918 1918 Celebes Sea earthquake
Poland Poland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.6000005.6 3 December 1786
Portugal Portugal &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.5000008.5–9.0 1 November 1755 1755 Lisbon earthquake
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08.0 2 May 1787 1787 Boricua earthquake
Réunion Réunion &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.3000005.3 mb 6 April 2007
Romania Romania &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.9000007.9 26 October 1802 1802 Vrancea earthquake
Russia Russia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09.0–9.3 16 October 1737 1737 Kamchatka earthquake
Rwanda Rwanda &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.9000005.9 3 February 2008 2008 Lake Kivu earthquake
Saint Barthélemy Saint Barthélemy &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.4000005.4 18 November 1990
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 16 March 1985
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.3000007.3 19 March 1953
Collectivity of Saint Martin Saint Martin &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05.0 4 July 2012
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.2000007.2 18 November 1929 1929 Grand Banks earthquake
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.1000006.1 6 July 1940
Samoa Samoa &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.5000008.5 25 June 1917 1917 Samoa earthquake
São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 19 December 2019
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.3000007.3 22 November 1995 1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake
Senegal Senegal &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 21 May 1986
Serbia Serbia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 15 May 1927
Seychelles Seychelles &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.2000005.2 28 April 1995
Slovakia Slovakia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.8000005.8 28 June 1763
Slovenia Slovenia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.1000006.1 ML 14 April 1895 1895 Ljubljana earthquake
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 1 April 2007 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake
Somalia Somalia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 22 January 1929
South Africa South Africa &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 31 December 1932
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 27 June 1929 & 12 August 2021 2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes
South Korea South Korea &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5 26 June 1681 1681 Yangyang earthquake [ko]
South Sudan South Sudan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.2000007.2 Ms 20 May 1990
Spain Spain &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8 29 March 1954
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.9000005.9 30 August 1973
Sudan Sudan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0 12 May 1938
Sweden Sweden &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.9000004.9 18 May 2020
Switzerland Switzerland &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06.0–7.1 18 October 1356 1356 Basel earthquake
Syria Syria &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.6000007.6 Ms 20 May 1202 1202 Syria earthquake
Taiwan Taiwan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.2000008.2 5 June 1920
Tajikistan Tajikistan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.5000007.5 10 July 1949 1949 Khait earthquake
Tanzania Tanzania &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 8 July 1919
Thailand Thailand &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.1000006.1 5 May 2014 2014 Mae Lao earthquake
Tonga Tonga &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 30 April 1919
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 22 April 1997
Tunisia Tunisia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 20 February 1957
Turkey Turkey &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.8000007.8–8.0 Ms 17 August 1668 1668 North Anatolia earthquake
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.3000007.3 Ms 5 October 1948 1948 Ashgabat earthquake
Tuvalu Tuvalu &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.8000005.8 5 February 1983 and 8 March 1983
Uganda Uganda &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 30 June 1952
Ukraine Ukraine &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 11 September 1927 1927 Crimean earthquakes
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05.0 11 March 2002
United Kingdom United Kingdom &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.1000006.1 ML 7 June 1931 1931 Dogger Bank earthquake
United States United States &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.2500009.25 11 June 1585 1585 Aleutian Islands earthquake
United States Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.2000007.2 18 November 1867 1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami
Uruguay Uruguay &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 Ms 5 June 1888 1888 Rio de la Plata earthquake
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07.0 19 March 1984
Vanuatu Vanuatu &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.1000008.1 20 September 1920
Venezuela Venezuela &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.6000007.6–7.7 29 October 1900 1900 San Narciso earthquake
Vietnam Vietnam &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.8000006.8 1 November 1935
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.6000007.6 23 May 1956
Yemen Yemen &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.7000006.7 18 December 1908
Zambia Zambia &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.5000006.5 1 May 1919
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.5000005.5 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 China 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 United States Los Angeles, United States 6.7 $13–44 billion
11 1976 Tangshan earthquake China 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 United States California, United States 6.9 $5.6–6 billion
15 1923 Great Kantō earthquake Japan Tokyo, Japan 8.0 $600 million
16 1906 San Francisco earthquake United States San Francisco, United States 7.7 to 7.9 (est.) $400 million

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Terremotos de mayor magnitud para niños

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