Indonesia vs Japan: Number of significant earthquakes
Indonesia
5 events
in 2024
Japan
3 events
in 2024
Indonesia rank
1st
Japan rank
4th
Number of significant earthquakes over time
- Indonesia
- Japan
How they compare
Indonesia currently reports 5 events against 3 events in Japan, a difference of 2 events.
That makes Indonesia's figure about 1.7 times Japan's.
The two have swapped places 45 times across 105 shared years of data; in 1646 it was Japan ahead.
Indonesia ranks 1st and Japan ranks 4th of 97 countries.
Across the 28 decades both report, Indonesia averaged higher in 10 and Japan in 9.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Indonesia | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1640s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1650s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1700s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1710s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | Japan |
| 1760s | 1 events | 3 events | 2 events | Japan |
| 1770s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1800s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1820s | 1 events | 2 events | 1 events | Japan |
| 1830s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1840s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 0.3333 events | Indonesia |
| 1850s | 1.8 events | 2.2 events | 0.4 events | Japan |
| 1860s | 2.67 events | 1 events | 1.67 events | Indonesia |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1880s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | Indonesia |
| 1890s | 1.6 events | 2.2 events | 0.6 events | Japan |
| 1900s | 1.5 events | 2.75 events | 1.25 events | Japan |
| 1910s | 2 events | 2 events | 0 events | — |
| 1920s | 2.17 events | 1.67 events | 0.5 events | Indonesia |
| 1930s | 2.14 events | 3.57 events | 1.43 events | Japan |
| 1940s | 2 events | 1.67 events | 0.3333 events | Indonesia |
| 1950s | 1.33 events | 1.33 events | 0 events | — |
| 1960s | 1.83 events | 4.17 events | 2.33 events | Japan |
| 1970s | 3.5 events | 1.5 events | 2 events | Indonesia |
| 1980s | 2.71 events | 3.29 events | 0.5714 events | Japan |
| 1990s | 3.14 events | 2.57 events | 0.5714 events | Indonesia |
| 2000s | 6.8 events | 4 events | 2.8 events | Indonesia |
| 2010s | 5.5 events | 3.3 events | 2.2 events | Indonesia |
| 2020s | 5.25 events | 2.5 events | 2.75 events | Indonesia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of significant earthquakes, Indonesia or Japan?
- Indonesia, at 5 events against 3 events in Japan as of 2024.
- What is the difference in number of significant earthquakes between Indonesia and Japan?
- 2 events, with Indonesia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and Japan?
- 105 years are reported by both, from 1646 to 2024.
- How do Indonesia and Japan rank globally for number of significant earthquakes?
- Indonesia ranks 1st and Japan ranks 4th 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.