Number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States
United States: Number of significant volcanic eruptions was 3 events in 2018. ▲ Rising
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States, 1540–2018
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States is 3 events, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 200.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States peaked at 3 events in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1540.
That places United States 2nd out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1540 | 1 events | — |
| 1784 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1819 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1820 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1992 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1993 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2010 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2012 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 2014 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 2016 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 events | +200.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 3.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1540s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1780s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1790s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1800s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1810s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1820s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1850s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1880s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1930s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1950s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1980s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.33 events | 1 events | 2 events | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.6 events | 1 events | 3 events | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States?
- Number of significant volcanic eruptions in United States was 3 events in 2018, 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3 events in 2018.
- What is the lowest number of significant volcanic eruptions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1540.
- How does United States rank for number of significant volcanic eruptions?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is number of significant volcanic eruptions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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 — 35 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.