Number of tsunamis in Japan
Japan: Number of tsunamis was 3 events in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3 events
Change on year
down 25.0%
World rank
2nd
of 38 countries
All-time high
10 events
in 1938
All-time low
1 events
in 1026
Years of data
169
1026–2024
Number of tsunamis in Japan, 1026–2024
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
In 2024, number of tsunamis in Japan stood at 3 events.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of tsunamis in Japan peaked at 10 events in 1938 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1026.
Japan ranks 2nd of 38 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1020s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1080s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1090s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1240s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1250s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1330s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1340s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1360s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1400s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1420s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1430s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1440s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1490s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1510s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1520s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1580s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1590s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1600s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1610s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1630s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1640s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1660s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1670s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1690s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1710s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1720s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1730s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1740s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1750s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.4 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
| 1770s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1790s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1800s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1810s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1820s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1830s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1850s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1870s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.57 events | 1 events | 2 events | 7 |
| 1900s | 3 events | 1 events | 5 events | 3 |
| 1910s | 1.25 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1920s | 2 events | 1 events | 3 events | 4 |
| 1930s | 3.33 events | 1 events | 10 events | 6 |
| 1940s | 1.12 events | 1 events | 2 events | 8 |
| 1950s | 2.6 events | 1 events | 6 events | 5 |
| 1960s | 3.5 events | 1 events | 7 events | 6 |
| 1970s | 1.43 events | 1 events | 2 events | 7 |
| 1980s | 2.29 events | 1 events | 3 events | 7 |
| 1990s | 2.12 events | 1 events | 4 events | 8 |
| 2000s | 2.22 events | 1 events | 3 events | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.1 events | 1 events | 5 events | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.25 events | 1 events | 4 events | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.9 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5865 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 118.04 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of tsunamis in Japan?
- Number of tsunamis in Japan was 3 events in 2024, according to National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of tsunamis recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 10 events in 1938.
- What is the lowest number of tsunamis recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1026.
- How does Japan rank for number of tsunamis?
- Japan ranks 2nd out of 38 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of tsunamis rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of tsunamis. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 169 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).