Number of tsunamis in United States
United States: Number of tsunamis was 3 events in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3 events
Change on year
up 50.0%
World rank
2nd
of 38 countries
All-time high
4 events
in 1952
All-time low
1 events
in 1700
Years of data
87
1700–2024
Number of tsunamis in United States, 1700–2024
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
United States recorded 3 events for number of tsunamis in 2024.
That represents a change of up 50.0% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of tsunamis in United States peaked at 4 events in 1952 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1700.
That places United States 2nd out of 38 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of tsunamis in United States, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1700 | 1 events | — |
| 1788 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1811 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1812 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1855 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1856 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1869 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1874 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1880 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1886 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1900 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1901 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1927 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1930 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1944 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1946 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1951 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 1952 | 4 events | +100.0% |
| 1953 | 3 events | -25.0% |
| 1954 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 1957 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1965 | 4 events | +100.0% |
| 1967 | 1 events | -75.0% |
| 1970 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1988 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1989 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1991 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 1992 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1996 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 2003 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2006 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2009 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2018 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 2019 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 2020 | 4 events | +300.0% |
| 2021 | 1 events | -75.0% |
| 2022 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2024 | 3 events | +50.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 3.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1700s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1780s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1810s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1820s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1850s | 1.25 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1860s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1870s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1880s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1890s | 1.25 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1900s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 8 |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1920s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1930s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1940s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1950s | 2 events | 1 events | 4 events | 6 |
| 1960s | 2.33 events | 1 events | 4 events | 3 |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 5 |
| 1980s | 1.6 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
| 1990s | 1.75 events | 1 events | 3 events | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 6 |
| 2010s | 1.86 events | 1 events | 3 events | 7 |
| 2020s | 2.2 events | 1 events | 4 events | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of tsunamis in United States?
- Number of tsunamis in United States 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4 events in 1952.
- What is the lowest number of tsunamis recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1700.
- How does United States rank for number of tsunamis?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 38 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of tsunamis rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 87 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).