New Zealand vs United States: Number of tsunamis
New Zealand
2 events
in 2023
United States
3 events
in 2024
New Zealand rank
4th
United States rank
2nd
Number of tsunamis over time
- New Zealand
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 3 events against 2 events in New Zealand, a difference of 1 events.
That makes United States's figure about 1.5 times New Zealand's.
The two have swapped places 9 times across 23 shared years of data; in 1855 it was New Zealand ahead.
New Zealand ranks 4th and United States ranks 2nd of 38 countries.
Across the 9 decades both report, New Zealand averaged higher in 3 and United States in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 0.5 events | New Zealand |
| 1860s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | United States |
| 1880s | 1 events | 1.5 events | 0.5 events | United States |
| 1890s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | New Zealand |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1980s | 1 events | 1.5 events | 0.5 events | United States |
| 2000s | 1.33 events | 1.67 events | 0.3333 events | United States |
| 2010s | 1.6 events | 1.6 events | 0 events | — |
| 2020s | 2.25 events | 2 events | 0.25 events | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of tsunamis, New Zealand or United States?
- United States, at 3 events against 2 events in New Zealand as of 2024.
- What is the difference in number of tsunamis between New Zealand and United States?
- 1 events, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and United States?
- 23 years are reported by both, from 1855 to 2023.
- How do New Zealand and United States rank globally for number of tsunamis?
- New Zealand ranks 4th and United States ranks 2nd of 38 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Number of tsunamis. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.