Number of significant earthquakes in Philippines

Philippines: Number of significant earthquakes was 3 events in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
3 events
Change on year
up 50.0%
World rank
4th
of 97 countries
All-time high
9 events
in 2019
All-time low
1 events
in 1599
Years of data
143
1599–2023

Number of significant earthquakes in Philippines, 1599–2023

0246810159918112023

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

Analysis

In 2023, number of significant earthquakes in Philippines stood at 3 events.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.0% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of significant earthquakes in Philippines peaked at 9 events in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1599.

That places Philippines 4th out of 97 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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
1590s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1600s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1610s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1620s 1 events 1 events 1 events 3
1630s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1640s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 3
1650s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1660s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1670s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1690s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1710s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1720s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1730s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1740s 1.25 events 1 events 2 events 4
1750s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1760s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1770s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1780s 2 events 2 events 2 events 1
1790s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1810s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1820s 1.5 events 1 events 2 events 2
1830s 2 events 2 events 2 events 1
1840s 1 events 1 events 1 events 1
1850s 1.33 events 1 events 2 events 3
1860s 1.4 events 1 events 2 events 5
1870s 1.57 events 1 events 2 events 7
1880s 2 events 1 events 3 events 5
1890s 2.33 events 1 events 7 events 6
1900s 1.71 events 1 events 4 events 7
1910s 1.56 events 1 events 3 events 9
1920s 2.43 events 1 events 4 events 7
1930s 1.2 events 1 events 2 events 5
1940s 1.25 events 1 events 2 events 4
1950s 1 events 1 events 1 events 5
1960s 1 events 1 events 1 events 2
1970s 1.71 events 1 events 4 events 7
1980s 1.83 events 1 events 3 events 6
1990s 1.67 events 1 events 4 events 6
2000s 1.38 events 1 events 3 events 8
2010s 3.38 events 1 events 9 events 8
2020s 1.75 events 1 events 3 events 4

Countries ranked near Philippines

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

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for Philippines

All data for Philippines →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of significant earthquakes in Philippines?
Number of significant earthquakes in Philippines was 3 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 Philippines?
The highest recorded value was 9 events in 2019.
What is the lowest number of significant earthquakes recorded in Philippines?
The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1599.
How does Philippines rank for number of significant earthquakes?
Philippines ranks 4th out of 97 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of significant earthquakes rising or falling in Philippines?
Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Philippines 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 — 143 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.