China vs Russia: Number of significant earthquakes
China
1 events
in 2024
Russia
1 events
in 2024
China rank
21st
Russia rank
21st
Number of significant earthquakes over time
- China
- Russia
How they compare
China currently reports 1 events against 1 events in Russia, a difference of 0 events.
The two have swapped places 28 times across 75 shared years of data; in 1652 it was Russia ahead.
China ranks 21st and Russia ranks 21st of 97 countries.
Across the 23 decades both report, China averaged higher in 15 and Russia in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Russia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1650s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1680s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1720s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | China |
| 1760s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | China |
| 1790s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1820s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 0.5 events | China |
| 1830s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | Russia |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1880s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | China |
| 1890s | 3.5 events | 1 events | 2.5 events | China |
| 1900s | 1.25 events | 1.75 events | 0.5 events | Russia |
| 1910s | 2.2 events | 1.8 events | 0.4 events | China |
| 1920s | 1.75 events | 1.75 events | 0 events | — |
| 1930s | 3.67 events | 1.67 events | 2 events | China |
| 1940s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | China |
| 1950s | 2.29 events | 1.86 events | 0.4286 events | China |
| 1960s | 5 events | 1.71 events | 3.29 events | China |
| 1970s | 1.83 events | 2.83 events | 1 events | Russia |
| 1980s | 4 events | 1 events | 3 events | China |
| 1990s | 3.17 events | 1.67 events | 1.5 events | China |
| 2000s | 7.86 events | 1.86 events | 6 events | China |
| 2010s | 7.17 events | 1.5 events | 5.67 events | China |
| 2020s | 3 events | 1 events | 2 events | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of significant earthquakes, China or Russia?
- China, at 1 events against 1 events in Russia as of 2024.
- What is the difference in number of significant earthquakes between China and Russia?
- 0 events, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Russia?
- 75 years are reported by both, from 1652 to 2024.
- How do China and Russia rank globally for number of significant earthquakes?
- China ranks 21st and Russia ranks 21st of 97 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 significant earthquakes. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
A significant earthquake meets at least one of the following: caused deaths, moderate damage ($1 million or more), a magnitude 7.5 or greater, Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) X or greater, or generated a tsunami. Due to data availability, recent data will be more complete than older historical estimates.