Frequency of Earthquakes Worldwide
Updated September 9, 2022 |
Infoplease Staff
The following table lists the frequency of earthquakes worldwide, according to magnitude and annual average.
| Descriptor | Magnitude | Annual average |
|---|---|---|
| Great | 8 or higher | 11 |
| Major | 7–7.9 | 172 |
| Strong | 6–6.9 | 1342 |
| Moderate | 5–5.9 | 1,3192 |
| Light | 4–4.9 | c. 13,000 |
| Minor | 3–3.9 | c. 130,000 |
| Very minor | 2–2.9 | c. 1,300,000 |
1. Based on observations since 1900. 2. Based on observations since 1990. NOTE: The NEIC estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year. Many go undetected because they hit remote areas or have very small magnitudes.
Source: National Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
| The Severity of an Earthquake | Earthquakes | Number of Earthquakes Worldwide, 1990–2007, and Mortality Figures |
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