Number of significant volcanic eruptions in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of significant volcanic eruptions was 1 events in 2019. ▬ Flat
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, 1846–2019
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 1 events for number of significant volcanic eruptions in 2019. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant volcanic eruptions in New Zealand peaked at 1 events in 1846 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1846.
New Zealand ranks 6th of 25 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1846 | 1 events | — |
| 1886 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1 events | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 1 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 1 events is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1 events, 1.0× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1880s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1900s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 2000s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 3 Italy 2 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 Nicaragua 1 events compare
- 6 Papua New Guinea 1 events compare
- 6 Portugal 1 events
- 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 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 volcanic eruptions in New Zealand?
- Number of significant volcanic eruptions in New Zealand was 1 events in 2019, 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 1 events in 1846.
- What is the lowest number of significant volcanic eruptions recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1846.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of significant volcanic eruptions?
- New Zealand ranks 6th out of 25 countries with data for 2019.
- Is number of significant volcanic eruptions rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 volcanic eruptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 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.