What is deaths from earthquakes in Japan?

Deaths from earthquakes in Japan was 549 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 Japan?

The highest recorded value was 105,385 deaths in 1923.

What is the lowest deaths from earthquakes recorded in Japan?

The lowest recorded value was 1 deaths in 1678.

How does Japan rank for deaths from earthquakes?

Japan ranks 3rd out of 51 countries with data for 2024.

Is deaths from earthquakes rising or falling in Japan?

Over the last ten years it is up 101.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Japan 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.

Deaths from earthquakes in Japan

Name: Deaths from earthquakes in Japan
Creator: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Japan: Deaths from earthquakes was 549 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)

549 deaths

Change on year

up 54,800.0%

World rank

3rd

of 51 countries

All-time high

105,385 deaths

in 1923

All-time low

1 deaths

in 1678

Years of data

104

1586–2024

Deaths from earthquakes in Japan, 1586–2024

Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.

Analysis

In 2024, deaths from earthquakes in Japan stood at 549 deaths.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 54,800.0% on the previous year and up 101.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deaths from earthquakes in Japan peaked at 105,385 deaths in 1923 and was at its lowest, 1 deaths, in 1678.

Japan ranks 3rd of 51 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1580s	8,000 deaths	8,000 deaths	8,000 deaths	1
1590s	374 deaths	40 deaths	708 deaths	2
1600s	6,001 deaths	6,001 deaths	6,001 deaths	1
1610s	4,450 deaths	200 deaths	8,700 deaths	2
1630s	150 deaths	150 deaths	150 deaths	1
1640s	339 deaths	117 deaths	700 deaths	3
1650s	39 deaths	39 deaths	39 deaths	1
1660s	1,150 deaths	800 deaths	1,500 deaths	2
1670s	169.33 deaths	1 deaths	500 deaths	3
1690s	394 deaths	394 deaths	394 deaths	1
1700s	3,323 deaths	58 deaths	7,000 deaths	4
1710s	530 deaths	56 deaths	1,004 deaths	2
1720s	5 deaths	5 deaths	5 deaths	1
1750s	2,100 deaths	2,100 deaths	2,100 deaths	1
1760s	1,700 deaths	1,700 deaths	1,700 deaths	1
1770s	13,486 deaths	13,486 deaths	13,486 deaths	1
1790s	7,894 deaths	757 deaths	15,030 deaths	2
1800s	234.5 deaths	19 deaths	450 deaths	2
1810s	59 deaths	59 deaths	59 deaths	1
1820s	1,443 deaths	1,443 deaths	1,443 deaths	1
1830s	182.5 deaths	85 deaths	280 deaths	2
1840s	6,022 deaths	45 deaths	12,000 deaths	2
1850s	2,483 deaths	26 deaths	6,757 deaths	5
1870s	804 deaths	804 deaths	804 deaths	1
1880s	20 deaths	20 deaths	20 deaths	1
1890s	11,784 deaths	751 deaths	27,328 deaths	3
1900s	42.33 deaths	18 deaths	68 deaths	3
1910s	84.5 deaths	12 deaths	157 deaths	2
1920s	21,769 deaths	14 deaths	105,385 deaths	5
1930s	477.14 deaths	2 deaths	3,022 deaths	7
1940s	1,633 deaths	2 deaths	5,131 deaths	7
1950s	17 deaths	1 deaths	33 deaths	2
1960s	21.2 deaths	1 deaths	56 deaths	5
1970s	36.33 deaths	27 deaths	53 deaths	3
1980s	54 deaths	2 deaths	110 deaths	5
1990s	2,223 deaths	3 deaths	6,434 deaths	3
2000s	10.12 deaths	1 deaths	40 deaths	8
2010s	6,253 deaths	49 deaths	18,438 deaths	3
2020s	138.75 deaths	1 deaths	549 deaths	4

Countries ranked near Japan

1 Morocco 2,946 deaths compare
2 Afghanistan 1,508 deaths compare
4 Israel 268 deaths compare
5 Nepal 159 deaths compare
6 Bolivia 105 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 51 places →

More health data for Japan

Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,294 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
Number of infants who die before age 1 178 deaths (2100)
Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 633,995 (2025)
Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 607,213 (2025)
Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 640,318 (2025)
Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 611,707 (2025)
Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 638,500 (2025)
Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 608,501 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is deaths from earthquakes in Japan?: Deaths from earthquakes in Japan was 549 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 Japan?: The highest recorded value was 105,385 deaths in 1923.
What is the lowest deaths from earthquakes recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 1 deaths in 1678.
How does Japan rank for deaths from earthquakes?: Japan ranks 3rd out of 51 countries with data for 2024.
Is deaths from earthquakes rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is up 101.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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 — 104 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Deaths from earthquakes
Unit: deaths
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 51 places, 1,550 data points, 1500–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.