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World > Geography > World Geography > Earthquakes

Frequency of Earthquakes Worldwide

The following table lists the frequency of earthquakes worldwide, according to magnitude and annual average.

Descriptor	Magnitude	Annual average
Great	8 or higher	1¹
Major	7–7.9	17²
Strong	6–6.9	134²
Moderate	5–5.9	1,319²
Light	4–4.9	c. 13,000
Minor	3–3.9	c. 130,000
Very minor	2–2.9	c. 1,300,000

1. Based on observations since 1900. 2. Based on observations since 1990. NOTE: The NEIC estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each year. Many go undetected because they hit remote areas or have very small magnitudes.

Source: National Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey.

The Severity of an Earthquake

Earthquakes

Number of Earthquakes Worldwide, 1990–2007, and Mortality Figures

More on Frequency of Earthquakes Worldwide from Infoplease:

Major Earthquakes around the World, 2008 - Summary of the largest earthquakes in 2007.
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2010 - Find information about the largest earthquakes that struck in 2009.
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2001 - Major Earthquakes around the World, 2001 Date Location Magnitude1 Jan. 1 Mindanao, Philippines 7.5 ...
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2000 - Major Earthquakes around the World, 2000 Date Location Magnitude1 Jan. 8 Tonga Islands 7.2 Feb. 25 ...
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2007 - Summary of the largest earthquakes in 2007.

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