Indonesia vs Japan: Number of significant volcanic eruptions
Indonesia
4 events
in 2024
Japan
2 events
in 2018
Indonesia rank
1st
Japan rank
3rd
Number of significant volcanic eruptions over time
- Indonesia
- Japan
How they compare
Indonesia currently reports 4 events against 2 events in Japan, a difference of 2 events.
That makes Indonesia's figure about 2.0 times Japan's.
The two have swapped places 22 times across 49 shared years of data; in 1716 it was Japan ahead.
Indonesia ranks 1st and Japan ranks 3rd of 25 countries.
Across the 18 decades both report, Indonesia averaged higher in 8 and Japan in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Indonesia | Japan | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1710s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1820s | 2 events | 1 events | 1 events | Indonesia |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1850s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1870s | 3 events | 1 events | 2 events | Indonesia |
| 1890s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1900s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1910s | 1.67 events | 1.33 events | 0.3333 events | Indonesia |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 0 events | — |
| 1930s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 0.3333 events | Indonesia |
| 1940s | 1.25 events | 1.5 events | 0.25 events | Japan |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1.8 events | 0.8 events | Japan |
| 1960s | 1.5 events | 1.5 events | 0 events | — |
| 1970s | 2.75 events | 1.5 events | 1.25 events | Indonesia |
| 1980s | 1.33 events | 1.33 events | 0 events | — |
| 1990s | 2 events | 1.67 events | 0.3333 events | Indonesia |
| 2000s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 0.5 events | Indonesia |
| 2010s | 3.17 events | 1.17 events | 2 events | Indonesia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher number of significant volcanic eruptions, Indonesia or Japan?
- Indonesia, at 4 events against 2 events in Japan as of 2024.
- What is the difference in number of significant volcanic eruptions between Indonesia and Japan?
- 2 events, with Indonesia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Indonesia and Japan?
- 49 years are reported by both, from 1716 to 2018.
- How do Indonesia and Japan rank globally for number of significant volcanic eruptions?
- Indonesia ranks 1st and Japan ranks 3rd of 25 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 volcanic eruptions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
A significant eruption is classified as one that meets at least one of the following criteria: caused fatalities, caused moderate damage (approximately $1 million or more), with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or larger, caused a tsunami, or was associated with a major earthquake.