What is significant earthquakes in South Africa?

Significant earthquakes in South Africa was 1 in 2018, according to Our World in Data.

What is the highest significant earthquakes recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1969.

What is the lowest significant earthquakes recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1809.

How does South Africa rank for significant earthquakes?

South Africa ranks 21st out of 97 countries with data for 2018.

Is significant earthquakes rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this South Africa 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.

Significant earthquakes in South Africa

Name: Significant earthquakes in South Africa
Creator: Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Significant earthquakes was 1 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

World rank

21st

of 97 countries

All-time high

in 1969

All-time low

in 1809

Years of data

1809–2018

Significant earthquakes in South Africa, 1809–2018

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 1 for significant earthquakes in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, significant earthquakes in South Africa peaked at 2 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1809.

That places South Africa 21st out of 97 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Significant earthquakes in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Significant earthquakes in South Africa, 1809 to 2018.
Year	Value	Change
1809	1	—
1942	1	+0.0%
1969	2	+100.0%
1976	1	-50.0%
1986	1	+0.0%
1990	2	+100.0%
1997	1	-50.0%
2000	1	+0.0%
2005	1	+0.0%
2009	1	+0.0%
2014	1	+0.0%
2018	1	+0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 1 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1, 1.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
South Africa's 1 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1800s	1	1	1	1
1940s	1	1	1	1
1960s	2	2	2	1
1970s	1	1	1	1
1980s	1	1	1	1
1990s	1.5	1	2	2
2000s	1	1	1	3
2010s	1	1	1	2

Countries ranked near South Africa

See the full ranking of 97 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is significant earthquakes in South Africa?: Significant earthquakes in South Africa was 1 in 2018, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest significant earthquakes recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1969.
What is the lowest significant earthquakes recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1809.
How does South Africa rank for significant earthquakes?: South Africa ranks 21st out of 97 countries with data for 2018.
Is significant earthquakes rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa 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.

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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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Significant earthquakes in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/significant-earthquakes/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Significant earthquakes
Source: Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 97 places, 4,005 data points, 1000–2024
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026