Number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of significant earthquakes was 2 events in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2 events
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
11th
of 97 countries
All-time high
6 events
in 2011
All-time low
1 events
in 1826
Years of data
60
1826–2023
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.
Number of significant earthquakes in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1826 | 1 events | — |
| 1831 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1855 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 1868 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1880 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1913 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1914 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1922 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1929 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 1932 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 1934 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1943 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1950 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1955 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1970 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1973 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1978 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1979 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2004 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2007 | 4 events | +300.0% |
| 2008 | 1 events | -75.0% |
| 2009 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 events | +400.0% |
| 2011 | 6 events | +20.0% |
| 2013 | 3 events | -50.0% |
| 2014 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 2016 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2020 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2021 | 3 events | +50.0% |
| 2022 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 2 events | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 2.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2 events is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1 events, 2.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.