Lists of 21st-century earthquakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a summary of significant earthquakes during the 21st century. In terms of fatalities, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was the most destructive event with 227,898 confirmed fatalities, followed by the 2010 Haiti earthquake with about 160,000 fatalities,[2] the 2008 Sichuan earthquake with 87,587 fatalities, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake suffered by Pakistan with 87,351 fatalities, and the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes with 62,013 fatalities.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami became the costliest natural disaster, resulting in approximately $360 billion in property damage at the time, followed by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes and the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which resulted in $163.6 billion and $150 billion in damage, respectively.
Unless otherwise noted, times are local time and magnitudes use the moment magnitude scale (Mw ).
List of deadliest earthquakes
- Note: 1,000 or more fatalities
List of largest earthquakes by magnitude
| Rank | Event | Magnitude | Fatalities | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake | 9.2–9.3 | 227,898 |  Indonesia, Sumatra, Indian Ocean |
December 26, 2004 |
| 2 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake | 9.0–9.1 | 19,759 |  Japan, Tōhoku, Pacific Ocean |
March 11, 2011 |
| 3 | 2010 Chile earthquake | 8.8 | 525 |  Chile, Maule |
February 27, 2010 |
| 2025 Kamchatka earthquake | 8.7–8.8 | 1 |  Russia, Kamchatka |
July 30, 2025 | |
| 5 | 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake | 8.6 | 1,314 | Indonesia, Sumatra |
March 28, 2005 |
| 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes | 8.6 & 8.2 | 10 | Indonesia, Indian Ocean |
April 11, 2012 |
- Note: Magnitude 8.5 or greater
List of deadliest earthquakes by year
List of largest earthquakes by year
These are the largest earthquakes by magnitude per year[5]
List of costliest earthquakes
| Rank | Event | Historic cost (year) | Adjusted for inflation (year) | Magnitude | Fatalities | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami | $360 billion (2013)[6] | $490.9 billion (2025) | 9.0–9.1 | 19,759 | Japan |
| 2 | 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes | $163.3 billion (2023)[7][8] | $170.2 billion (2025) | 7.8 & 7.7 | 59,488–62,013 |  Turkey,  Syria |
| 3 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake | $130 billion (2008)[9] | $191.8 billion (2025) | 7.9–8.3 | 87,587 |  China |
| 4 | 2004 Chūetsu earthquake | $28 billion (2004)[10][11] | $47.1 billion (2025) | 6.6 | 68 | Japan |
| 5 | 2010 Canterbury earthquake & 2011 Christchurch earthquake | $27.9 billion (2015)[12] | $37.4 billion (2025) | 7.1 & 6.2 | 187 |  New Zealand |
| 6 | 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes | $24–46 billion (2016)[13] | $31.8–60.9 billion (2024) | 7.0 | 277 | Japan |
| 7 | 2011 Sikkim earthquake | $22.3 billion (2011)[14] | $31.5 billion (2025) | 6.9 | 111 |  India |
| 8 | 2009 L'Aquila earthquake | $16 billion (2009)[15] | $23.7 billion (2025) | 6.3 | 308 |  Italy |
| 9 | 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes | $15.8 billion (2012)[16] | $21.9 billion (2025) | 6.1 & 5.8[17] | 27 | Italy |
| 10 | 2010 Chile earthquake | $15–30 billion (2010)[18] | $21.8–43.7 billion (2025) | 8.8 | 525 | Chile |
Lists of earthquakes by decade
Gallery
- 21st-century earthquakes gallery
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake occurred in a part of India with relatively low seismicity, devastating the cities of Anjar and Bhuj.
The 2003 Bam earthquake destroyed several historic landmarks, including a citadel.
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake destroyed several towns, and caused extensive damage and landslides as far as the Pakistani capital Islamabad.
The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake was a fairly moderate event, but caused widespread damage across eastern Java.
The 2007 Peru earthquake caused severe damage in the city of Pisco, and was the deadliest in the country since 1970.
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was the costliest earthquake in Chinese history, with over $150 billion USD.
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was the most destructive compared to its magnitude, due to poorly constructed buildings and the earthquake's proximity to the capital Port-au-Prince.
The 2010 Chile earthquake was the most significant earthquake to impact this country since the 1960 Valdivia earthquake and triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile.
The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a shallow event and very close to the city, resulting in extensive damage to population centers.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused a nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, resulting in the costliest natural disaster of all time.
The 2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes severely affected 150 villages and killed hundreds of people.
The 2015 Nepal earthquake caused extensive damage in Kathmandu and triggered the deadliest avalanche on Mount Everest.
The 2021 Haiti earthquake was the country's largest earthquake in its modern history.
The June 2022 Afghanistan earthquake caused severe destruction and many villages were destroyed.
The 2022 West Java earthquake killed hundreds and destroyed tens of thousands of houses, despite its moderate magnitude.
The 2023 Al Haouz earthquake was one of the deadliest and the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in modern-day Morocco.
The 2024 Noto earthquake was Japan's deadliest since 2011, with the towns of Suzu and Wajima largely destroyed.
The 2025 Myanmar earthquake caused extensive destruction in the country's largest cities, and collapsed a skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand.
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