Number of significant earthquakes in Italy
Italy: Number of significant earthquakes was 2 events in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
2 events
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
11th
of 97 countries
All-time high
8 events
in 1783
All-time low
1 events
in 1001
Years of data
198
1001–2018
Number of significant earthquakes in Italy, 1001–2018
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of significant earthquakes in Italy is 2 events, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant earthquakes in Italy peaked at 8 events in 1783 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1001.
Italy ranks 11th of 97 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1060s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1080s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1110s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1120s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1130s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1150s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1160s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1170s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1180s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1220s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1230s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1240s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1250s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1270s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1290s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1300s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1310s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1320s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1340s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1350s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1360s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1410s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1440s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1450s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1460s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1480s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1500s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1510s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1530s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1540s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1550s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1560s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1570s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1580s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1600s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1610s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1620s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1630s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1640s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1650s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1660s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1670s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1680s | 3 events | 3 events | 3 events | 1 |
| 1690s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1700s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1720s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1730s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1740s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1750s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1760s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1780s | 2.6 events | 1 events | 8 events | 5 |
| 1790s | 1.25 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1800s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1810s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1820s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1830s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 6 |
| 1840s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1850s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 2 events | 6 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1870s | 1.6 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
| 1880s | 1.4 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
| 1890s | 1.17 events | 1 events | 2 events | 6 |
| 1900s | 2 events | 1 events | 4 events | 6 |
| 1910s | 2 events | 1 events | 4 events | 8 |
| 1920s | 3 events | 1 events | 7 events | 9 |
| 1930s | 3 events | 1 events | 7 events | 5 |
| 1940s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 5 |
| 1950s | 2 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1960s | 1.4 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
| 1970s | 2 events | 1 events | 4 events | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.43 events | 1 events | 3 events | 7 |
| 1990s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.25 events | 1 events | 3 events | 4 |
| 2010s | 2.5 events | 2 events | 3 events | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 11 Croatia 2 events compare
- 11 Dominican Republic 2 events compare
- 11 Fiji 2 events compare
- 11 India 2 events compare
- 11 New Caledonia 2 events compare
- 11 New Zealand 2 events compare
- 11 Nicaragua 2 events compare
- 11 Trinidad and Tobago 2 events compare
- 11 Venezuela 2 events compare
More reference data data for Italy
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.4267 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 2.76 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.5909 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.896 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 131.87 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 significant earthquakes in Italy?
- Number of significant earthquakes in Italy was 2 events in 2018, 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 8 events in 1783.
- What is the lowest number of significant earthquakes recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1001.
- How does Italy rank for number of significant earthquakes?
- Italy ranks 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
- Is number of significant earthquakes rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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 — 198 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.