Number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of significant earthquakes was 2 events in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand, 1826–2023
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 2 events for number of significant earthquakes in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand peaked at 6 events in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1826.
That places New Zealand 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1830s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1850s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1880s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1890s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1900s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1930s | 2 events | 1 events | 3 events | 3 |
| 1940s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1960s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.2 events | 1 events | 2 events | 5 |
| 1980s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 1990s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.83 events | 1 events | 4 events | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.17 events | 1 events | 6 events | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.25 events | 2 events | 3 events | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2008 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0464 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5251 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5536 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 144.86 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 New Zealand?
- Number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand was 2 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6 events in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of significant earthquakes recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1826.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of significant earthquakes?
- New Zealand ranks 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of significant earthquakes rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 60 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.