Number of Magnitude 7.0 and Greater Earthquakes per Year,
Since 1900
1900 13 1930 13 1960 22 1990 18 1901 14 1931 26 1961 18 1991 16 1902 8 1932 13 1962 15 1992 13 1903 10 1933 14 1963 20 1993 12 1904 16 1934 22 1964 15 1994 13 1905 26 1935 24 1965 22 1995 20 1906 32 1936 21 1966 19 1996 15 1907 27 1937 22 1967 16 1997 16 1908 18 1938 26 1968 30 1998 12 1909 32 1939 21 1969 27 1999 18 1910 36 1940 23 1970 29 2000 15 1911 24 1941 24 1971 23 2001 16 1912 22 1942 27 1972 20 2002 13 1913 23 1943 41 1973 16 2003 15 1914 22 1944 31 1974 21 2004 16 1915 18 1945 27 1975 21 2005 11 1916 25 1946 35 1976 25 1917 21 1947 26 1977 16 1918 21 1948 28 1978 18 1919 14 1949 36 1979 15 1920 8 1950 39 1980 18 1921 11 1951 21 1981 14 1922 14 1952 17 1982 10 1923 23 1953 22 1983 15 1924 18 1954 17 1984 8 1925 17 1955 19 1985 15 1926 19 1956 15 1986 6 1927 20 1957 34 1987 11 1928 22 1958 10 1988 8 1929 19 1959 15 1989 7 Total 1900-2005 = 2061 earthquakes Average: 19.4 magnitude 7.0 and greater earthquakes per year
Based on new techniques, such as moment magnitude, a systematic review of all large events is underway. It is expected that as this review continues, these numbers will change. The review has been completed for events from 1990 to the present.
Statistics were compiled from the Earthquake Data Base System of the U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center, Golden CO