Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy
Italy: Number of significant volcanic eruptions was 2 events in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
2 events
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
3rd
of 25 countries
All-time high
3 events
in 2001
All-time low
1 events
in 1302
Years of data
47
1169–2022
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy, 1169–2022
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
Italy recorded 2 events for number of significant volcanic eruptions in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 100.0% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy peaked at 3 events in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1302.
That places Italy 3rd out of 25 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 47 years of available data.
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1169 | 2 events | — |
| 1302 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1329 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1536 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1538 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1631 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1669 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1682 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1690 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1693 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1698 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1714 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1737 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1954 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1970 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 events | +200.0% |
| 2002 | 2 events | -33.3% |
| 2017 | 2 events | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2021 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2022 | 2 events | +100.0% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 2 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 2.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Italy's 2 events is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1 events, 2.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1160s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1300s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1320s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1530s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1630s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1660s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1680s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1690s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1710s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1730s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1770s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1790s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1800s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1810s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1830s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1900s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1930s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1940s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1980s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 5 |
| 1990s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.5 events | 2 events | 3 events | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.67 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 2020s | 1.5 events | 1 events | 2 events | 2 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 1 Indonesia 4 events compare
- 2 United States 3 events compare
- 3 Japan 2 events compare
- 3 Philippines 2 events compare
- 6 Chile 1 events compare
- 6 Colombia 1 events compare
- 6 Comoros 1 events compare
- 6 Costa Rica 1 events compare
- 6 Democratic Republic of Congo 1 events compare
- 6 Ecuador 1 events compare
- 6 Greece 1 events compare
- 6 Guatemala 1 events compare
- 6 Iceland 1 events compare
- 6 Mexico 1 events compare
- 6 New Zealand 1 events compare
- 6 Nicaragua 1 events compare
- 6 Papua New Guinea 1 events compare
- 6 Portugal 1 events compare
- 6 Russia 1 events compare
- 6 Solomon Islands 1 events compare
- 6 Spain 1 events compare
- 6 Tanzania 1 events compare
- 6 Tonga 1 events compare
- 6 Vanuatu 1 events compare
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy?
- Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Italy was 2 events in 2022, 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 volcanic eruptions recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 3 events in 2001.
- What is the lowest number of significant volcanic eruptions recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1302.
- How does Italy rank for number of significant volcanic eruptions?
- Italy ranks 3rd out of 25 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of significant volcanic eruptions rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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 volcanic eruptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
A significant eruption is classified as one that meets at least one of the following criteria: caused fatalities, caused moderate damage (approximately $1 million or more), with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or larger, caused a tsunami, or was associated with a major earthquake.