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.
Number of significant earthquakes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1102 | 1 events | — |
| 1505 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1921 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1922 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1982 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1983 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1991 | 3 events | +50.0% |
| 1994 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 1997 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1999 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 2000 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 2004 | 3 events | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1 events | -66.7% |
| 2008 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2010 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2012 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2016 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2018 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 2022 | 3 events | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 events | +33.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4 events is above the median for low income countries, which is 1 events, 4.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4 events is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1 events, 4.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
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.