Deaths from earthquakes in China
China: Deaths from earthquakes was 3 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3 deaths
Change on year
down 98.0%
World rank
26th
of 51 countries
All-time high
830,000 deaths
in 1556
All-time low
1 deaths
in 1914
Years of data
166
1500–2024
Deaths from earthquakes in China, 1500–2024
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
China recorded 3 deaths for deaths from earthquakes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 98.0% on the previous year and down 99.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from earthquakes in China peaked at 830,000 deaths in 1556 and was at its lowest, 1 deaths, in 1914.
China ranks 26th of 51 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths from earthquakes in China, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1500 | 10,000 deaths | — |
| 1501 | 400 deaths | -96.0% |
| 1502 | 50 deaths | -87.5% |
| 1515 | 300 deaths | +500.0% |
| 1536 | 3 deaths | -99.0% |
| 1556 | 830,000 deaths | +27666566.7% |
| 1560 | 100 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1561 | 1,001 deaths | +901.0% |
| 1568 | 200 deaths | -80.0% |
| 1577 | 170 deaths | -15.0% |
| 1579 | 10 deaths | -94.1% |
| 1586 | 20 deaths | +100.0% |
| 1605 | 2,000 deaths | +9900.0% |
| 1606 | 2,000 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1609 | 840 deaths | -58.0% |
| 1611 | 2 deaths | -99.8% |
| 1622 | 12,000 deaths | +599900.0% |
| 1626 | 5,200 deaths | -56.7% |
| 1628 | 63 deaths | -98.8% |
| 1634 | 30 deaths | -52.4% |
| 1652 | 3,000 deaths | +9900.0% |
| 1654 | 10,400 deaths | +246.7% |
| 1668 | 42,578 deaths | +309.4% |
| 1679 | 13,162 deaths | -69.1% |
| 1680 | 2,700 deaths | -79.5% |
| 1683 | 1,001 deaths | -62.9% |
| 1688 | 190 deaths | -81.0% |
| 1695 | 20,000 deaths | +10426.3% |
| 1709 | 2,032 deaths | -89.8% |
| 1713 | 2,100 deaths | +3.3% |
| 1718 | 73,000 deaths | +3376.2% |
| 1725 | 614 deaths | -99.2% |
| 1730 | 658 deaths | +7.2% |
| 1738 | 336 deaths | -48.9% |
| 1739 | 50,000 deaths | +14781.0% |
| 1748 | 60 deaths | -99.9% |
| 1750 | 37 deaths | -38.3% |
| 1751 | 900 deaths | +2332.4% |
| 1755 | 340 deaths | -62.2% |
| 1761 | 170 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1763 | 1,000 deaths | +488.2% |
| 1765 | 2,068 deaths | +106.8% |
| 1785 | 36 deaths | -98.3% |
| 1786 | 435 deaths | +1108.3% |
| 1792 | 205 deaths | -52.9% |
| 1793 | 200 deaths | -2.4% |
| 1799 | 2,000 deaths | +900.0% |
| 1803 | 200 deaths | -90.0% |
| 1806 | 100 deaths | -50.0% |
| 1811 | 480 deaths | +380.0% |
| 1814 | 904 deaths | +88.3% |
| 1815 | 13,000 deaths | +1338.1% |
| 1816 | 2,854 deaths | -78.0% |
| 1819 | 126 deaths | -95.6% |
| 1820 | 430 deaths | +241.3% |
| 1822 | 12 deaths | -97.2% |
| 1827 | 84 deaths | +600.0% |
| 1829 | 200 deaths | +138.1% |
| 1830 | 7,477 deaths | +3638.5% |
| 1831 | 33 deaths | -99.6% |
| 1833 | 6,700 deaths | +20203.0% |
| 1834 | 88 deaths | -98.7% |
| 1837 | 37 deaths | -58.0% |
| 1839 | 229 deaths | +518.9% |
| 1850 | 20,650 deaths | +8917.5% |
| 1852 | 300 deaths | -98.5% |
| 1855 | 7 deaths | -97.7% |
| 1856 | 300 deaths | +4185.7% |
| 1861 | 2 deaths | -99.3% |
| 1863 | 9 deaths | +350.0% |
| 1870 | 2,300 deaths | +25455.6% |
| 1878 | 70 deaths | -97.0% |
| 1879 | 22,000 deaths | +31328.6% |
| 1880 | 8 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1881 | 480 deaths | +5900.0% |
| 1882 | 11 deaths | -97.7% |
| 1884 | 17 deaths | +54.5% |
| 1885 | 84 deaths | +394.1% |
| 1887 | 2,000 deaths | +2281.0% |
| 1891 | 31 deaths | -98.5% |
| 1893 | 378 deaths | +1119.4% |
| 1896 | 40 deaths | -89.4% |
| 1898 | 59 deaths | +47.5% |
| 1902 | 5,659 deaths | +9491.5% |
| 1904 | 400 deaths | -92.9% |
| 1905 | 13 deaths | -96.8% |
| 1906 | 281 deaths | +2061.5% |
| 1909 | 21 deaths | -92.5% |
| 1913 | 942 deaths | +4385.7% |
| 1914 | 1 deaths | -99.9% |
| 1915 | 170 deaths | +16900.0% |
| 1917 | 1,800 deaths | +958.8% |
| 1918 | 2,000 deaths | +11.1% |
| 1920 | 235,502 deaths | +11675.1% |
| 1921 | 10,000 deaths | -95.8% |
| 1923 | 4,800 deaths | -52.0% |
| 1924 | 100 deaths | -97.9% |
| 1925 | 5,812 deaths | +5712.0% |
| 1927 | 40,919 deaths | +604.0% |
| 1928 | 6 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1929 | 2 deaths | -66.7% |
| 1930 | 242 deaths | +12000.0% |
| 1931 | 10,000 deaths | +4032.2% |
| 1932 | 481 deaths | -95.2% |
| 1933 | 9,500 deaths | +1875.1% |
| 1934 | 1 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1935 | 102 deaths | +10100.0% |
| 1936 | 145 deaths | +42.2% |
| 1937 | 390 deaths | +169.0% |
| 1939 | 2 deaths | -99.5% |
| 1940 | 183 deaths | +9050.0% |
| 1941 | 147 deaths | -19.7% |
| 1942 | 90 deaths | -38.8% |
| 1944 | 3 deaths | -96.7% |
| 1945 | 17 deaths | +466.7% |
| 1947 | 4 deaths | -76.5% |
| 1948 | 913 deaths | +22725.0% |
| 1949 | 21 deaths | -97.7% |
| 1952 | 54 deaths | +157.1% |
| 1955 | 39 deaths | -27.8% |
| 1962 | 1 deaths | -97.4% |
| 1963 | 1 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 8,064 deaths | +806300.0% |
| 1969 | 3,014 deaths | -62.6% |
| 1970 | 15,621 deaths | +418.3% |
| 1974 | 20,000 deaths | +28.0% |
| 1975 | 300 deaths | -98.5% |
| 1976 | 242,769 deaths | +80823.0% |
| 1979 | 41 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1981 | 150 deaths | +265.9% |
| 1982 | 10 deaths | -93.3% |
| 1983 | 34 deaths | +240.0% |
| 1985 | 94 deaths | +176.5% |
| 1988 | 738 deaths | +685.1% |
| 1989 | 46 deaths | -93.8% |
| 1990 | 130 deaths | +182.6% |
| 1993 | 2 deaths | -98.5% |
| 1995 | 95 deaths | +4650.0% |
| 1996 | 369 deaths | +288.4% |
| 1997 | 23 deaths | -93.8% |
| 1998 | 78 deaths | +239.1% |
| 1999 | 1 deaths | -98.7% |
| 2000 | 8 deaths | +700.0% |
| 2001 | 6 deaths | -25.0% |
| 2002 | 2 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2003 | 315 deaths | +15650.0% |
| 2004 | 4 deaths | -98.7% |
| 2005 | 18 deaths | +350.0% |
| 2006 | 23 deaths | +27.8% |
| 2007 | 3 deaths | -87.0% |
| 2008 | 87,724 deaths | +2924033.3% |
| 2009 | 2 deaths | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 2,976 deaths | +148700.0% |
| 2011 | 25 deaths | -99.2% |
| 2012 | 86 deaths | +244.0% |
| 2013 | 296 deaths | +244.2% |
| 2014 | 622 deaths | +110.1% |
| 2015 | 5 deaths | -99.2% |
| 2016 | 4 deaths | -20.0% |
| 2017 | 37 deaths | +825.0% |
| 2019 | 17 deaths | -54.1% |
| 2020 | 5 deaths | -70.6% |
| 2021 | 29 deaths | +480.0% |
| 2022 | 122 deaths | +320.7% |
| 2023 | 151 deaths | +23.8% |
| 2024 | 3 deaths | -98.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3 deaths is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3 deaths, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- China's 3 deaths is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5 deaths, 86% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths from earthquakes in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1556 | +27666566.7% | 3 deaths | 830,000 deaths |
| 2008 | +2924033.3% | 3 deaths | 87,724 deaths |
| 1966 | +806300.0% | 1 deaths | 8,064 deaths |
| 1622 | +599900.0% | 2 deaths | 12,000 deaths |
| 2010 | +148700.0% | 2 deaths | 2,976 deaths |
| 1976 | +80823.0% | 300 deaths | 242,769 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500s | 3,483 deaths | 50 deaths | 10,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1510s | 300 deaths | 300 deaths | 300 deaths | 1 |
| 1530s | 3 deaths | 3 deaths | 3 deaths | 1 |
| 1550s | 830,000 deaths | 830,000 deaths | 830,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1560s | 433.67 deaths | 100 deaths | 1,001 deaths | 3 |
| 1570s | 90 deaths | 10 deaths | 170 deaths | 2 |
| 1580s | 20 deaths | 20 deaths | 20 deaths | 1 |
| 1600s | 1,613 deaths | 840 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1610s | 2 deaths | 2 deaths | 2 deaths | 1 |
| 1620s | 5,754 deaths | 63 deaths | 12,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1630s | 30 deaths | 30 deaths | 30 deaths | 1 |
| 1650s | 6,700 deaths | 3,000 deaths | 10,400 deaths | 2 |
| 1660s | 42,578 deaths | 42,578 deaths | 42,578 deaths | 1 |
| 1670s | 13,162 deaths | 13,162 deaths | 13,162 deaths | 1 |
| 1680s | 1,297 deaths | 190 deaths | 2,700 deaths | 3 |
| 1690s | 20,000 deaths | 20,000 deaths | 20,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1700s | 2,032 deaths | 2,032 deaths | 2,032 deaths | 1 |
| 1710s | 37,550 deaths | 2,100 deaths | 73,000 deaths | 2 |
| 1720s | 614 deaths | 614 deaths | 614 deaths | 1 |
| 1730s | 16,998 deaths | 336 deaths | 50,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1740s | 60 deaths | 60 deaths | 60 deaths | 1 |
| 1750s | 425.67 deaths | 37 deaths | 900 deaths | 3 |
| 1760s | 1,079 deaths | 170 deaths | 2,068 deaths | 3 |
| 1780s | 235.5 deaths | 36 deaths | 435 deaths | 2 |
| 1790s | 801.67 deaths | 200 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1800s | 150 deaths | 100 deaths | 200 deaths | 2 |
| 1810s | 3,473 deaths | 126 deaths | 13,000 deaths | 5 |
| 1820s | 181.5 deaths | 12 deaths | 430 deaths | 4 |
| 1830s | 2,427 deaths | 33 deaths | 7,477 deaths | 6 |
| 1850s | 5,314 deaths | 7 deaths | 20,650 deaths | 4 |
| 1860s | 5.5 deaths | 2 deaths | 9 deaths | 2 |
| 1870s | 8,123 deaths | 70 deaths | 22,000 deaths | 3 |
| 1880s | 433.33 deaths | 8 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 6 |
| 1890s | 127 deaths | 31 deaths | 378 deaths | 4 |
| 1900s | 1,275 deaths | 13 deaths | 5,659 deaths | 5 |
| 1910s | 982.6 deaths | 1 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 5 |
| 1920s | 37,143 deaths | 2 deaths | 235,502 deaths | 8 |
| 1930s | 2,318 deaths | 1 deaths | 10,000 deaths | 9 |
| 1940s | 172.25 deaths | 3 deaths | 913 deaths | 8 |
| 1950s | 46.5 deaths | 39 deaths | 54 deaths | 2 |
| 1960s | 2,770 deaths | 1 deaths | 8,064 deaths | 4 |
| 1970s | 55,746 deaths | 41 deaths | 242,769 deaths | 5 |
| 1980s | 178.67 deaths | 10 deaths | 738 deaths | 6 |
| 1990s | 99.71 deaths | 1 deaths | 369 deaths | 7 |
| 2000s | 8,810 deaths | 2 deaths | 87,724 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 452 deaths | 4 deaths | 2,976 deaths | 9 |
| 2020s | 62 deaths | 3 deaths | 151 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths from earthquakes in China?
- Deaths from earthquakes in China was 3 deaths in 2024, according to National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from earthquakes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 830,000 deaths in 1556.
- What is the lowest deaths from earthquakes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 deaths in 1914.
- How does China rank for deaths from earthquakes?
- China ranks 26th out of 51 countries with data for 2024.
- Is deaths from earthquakes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Deaths from earthquakes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 166 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Includes direct deaths from the event plus those from secondary impacts, such as a tsunami triggered by an earthquake. Due to data availability, recent data will be more complete than older historical estimates.