France vs United States: Number of significant earthquakes
France
1 events
in 2023
United States
1 events
in 2024
France rank
21st
United States rank
21st
Number of significant earthquakes over time
- France
- United States
How they compare
France currently reports 1 events against 1 events in United States, a difference of 0 events.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 16 shared years of data; in 1812 it was United States ahead.
France ranks 21st and United States ranks 21st of 97 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 12 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | France | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | 1.5 events | 2.5 events | 1 events | United States |
| 1850s | 1.5 events | 3 events | 1.5 events | United States |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1900s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | United States |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1960s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | United States |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1990s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | United States |
| 2000s | 1.33 events | 3 events | 1.67 events | United States |
| 2010s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | United States |
| 2020s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of significant earthquakes, France or United States?
- France, at 1 events against 1 events in United States as of 2023.
- What is the difference in number of significant earthquakes between France and United States?
- 0 events, with France ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for France and United States?
- 16 years are reported by both, from 1812 to 2023.
- How do France and United States rank globally for number of significant earthquakes?
- France ranks 21st and United States 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.