Number of significant earthquakes in Greece

Greece: Number of significant earthquakes was 3 events in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
3 events
Change on year
up 200.0%
World rank
4th
of 97 countries
All-time high
4 events
in 1866
All-time low
1 events
in 1153
Years of data
175
1153–2021

Number of significant earthquakes in Greece, 1153–2021

1234115315872021

Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.

Analysis

Greece recorded 3 events for number of significant earthquakes in 2021.

That represents a change of up 200.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of significant earthquakes in Greece peaked at 4 events in 1866 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1153.

Greece ranks 4th of 97 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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1150s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1300s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1380s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1400s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1460s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1480s 2 events 1 events 3 events 2
1490s 1 events 1 events 1 events 4
1500s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1510s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1520s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1550s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1580s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1590s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1600s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1610s 1.5 events 1 events 2 events 2
1620s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1630s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 3
1650s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1660s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1670s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 3
1680s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1690s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1700s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1710s 2 events 2 events 2 events 1
1720s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1730s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1740s 1.67 events 1 events 2 events 3
1750s 1.25 events 1 events 2 events 4
1760s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1770s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1780s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1790s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1800s 2 events 2 events 2 events 1
1810s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 3
1820s 1.4 events 1 events 2 events 5
1830s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1840s 1 events 1 events 1 events 4
1850s 1.25 events 1 events 2 events 4
1860s 2 events 1 events 4 events 7
1870s 2 events 1 events 3 events 4
1880s 1.5 events 1 events 3 events 6
1890s 2.2 events 1 events 3 events 5
1900s 1.2 events 1 events 2 events 5
1910s 1.4 events 1 events 2 events 5
1920s 1.4 events 1 events 3 events 5
1930s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 6
1940s 1.75 events 1 events 3 events 4
1950s 2.4 events 1 events 3 events 5
1960s 2.5 events 1 events 4 events 6
1970s 1.8 events 1 events 2 events 5
1980s 2.14 events 1 events 4 events 7
1990s 1.17 events 1 events 2 events 6
2000s 1.44 events 1 events 2 events 9
2010s 1.67 events 1 events 3 events 6
2020s 2 events 1 events 3 events 2

Countries ranked near Greece

  1. 1 Indonesia 5 events compare
  2. 2 Afghanistan 4 events compare
  3. 2 Ukraine 4 events compare
  4. 4 Iran 3 events compare
  5. 4 Japan 3 events compare
  6. 4 Mexico 3 events compare
  7. 4 Peru 3 events compare
  8. 4 Philippines 3 events compare
  9. 4 Turkey 3 events compare

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for Greece

All data for Greece →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of significant earthquakes in Greece?
Number of significant earthquakes in Greece was 3 events in 2021, 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 Greece?
The highest recorded value was 4 events in 1866.
What is the lowest number of significant earthquakes recorded in Greece?
The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1153.
How does Greece rank for number of significant earthquakes?
Greece ranks 4th out of 97 countries with data for 2021.
Is number of significant earthquakes rising or falling in Greece?
Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Greece 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 — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Number of significant earthquakes
Unit
events
Source
National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
97 places, 4,005 data points, 1000–2024
Last refreshed

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.