Number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of significant earthquakes was 4 events in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan, 1102–2023
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
In 2023, number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan stood at 4 events. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 33.3% on the previous year and up 300.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan peaked at 4 events in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1102.
That places Afghanistan 2nd out of 97 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1500s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1830s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1890s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1900s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1910s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1930s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1940s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1960s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1970s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1980s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.83 events | 1 events | 3 events | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.71 events | 1 events | 3 events | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 3 events | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.5 events | 3 events | 4 events | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.68 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 168.54 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan?
- Number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan was 4 events in 2023, according to National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of significant earthquakes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4 events in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of significant earthquakes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1102.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of significant earthquakes?
- Afghanistan ranks 2nd out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of significant earthquakes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 300.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 significant earthquakes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.