Significant earthquakes in New Zealand
New Zealand: Significant earthquakes was 2 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
11th
of 97 countries
All-time high
6
in 2011
All-time low
1
in 1826
Years of data
60
1826–2023
Significant earthquakes in New Zealand, 1826–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 2 for significant earthquakes in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, significant earthquakes in New Zealand peaked at 6 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1, 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.
Significant earthquakes in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1826 | 1 | — |
| 1831 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1855 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 1868 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1880 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1913 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1914 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1922 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1929 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1932 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 1934 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1943 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1950 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1955 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1970 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1973 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1978 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1979 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2004 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2007 | 4 | +300.0% |
| 2008 | 1 | -75.0% |
| 2009 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | +400.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | -50.0% |
| 2014 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2016 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2020 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 2022 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 2 | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1830s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.67 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 1850s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1880s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1890s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1900s | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.33 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1920s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 1940s | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1960s | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 1980s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1990s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.83 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.17 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.25 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is significant earthquakes in New Zealand?
- Significant earthquakes in New Zealand was 2 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest significant earthquakes recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6 in 2011.
- What is the lowest significant earthquakes recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1826.
- How does New Zealand rank for significant earthquakes?
- New Zealand ranks 11th out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
- Is 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 Our World in Data, published as part 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).