China vs South Africa: Number of significant earthquakes
China
1 events
in 2024
South Africa
1 events
in 2018
China rank
21st
South Africa rank
21st
Number of significant earthquakes over time
- China
- South Africa
How they compare
China currently reports 1 events against 1 events in South Africa, a difference of 0 events.
Across all 10 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.
China ranks 21st and South Africa ranks 21st of 97 countries.
China has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | China |
| 1960s | 4 events | 2 events | 2 events | China |
| 1970s | 4 events | 1 events | 3 events | China |
| 1990s | 4.5 events | 1.5 events | 3 events | China |
| 2000s | 5.33 events | 1 events | 4.33 events | China |
| 2010s | 6.5 events | 1 events | 5.5 events | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of significant earthquakes, China or South Africa?
- China, at 1 events against 1 events in South Africa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in number of significant earthquakes between China and South Africa?
- 0 events, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and South Africa?
- 10 years are reported by both, from 1942 to 2018.
- How do China and South Africa rank globally for number of significant earthquakes?
- China ranks 21st and South Africa 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.