Deaths from earthquakes in Portugal
Portugal: Deaths from earthquakes was 10 deaths in 1998. ◆ Volatile
Deaths from earthquakes in Portugal, 1522–1998
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deaths from earthquakes in Portugal is 10 deaths, measured in 1998.
Over the whole period, deaths from earthquakes in Portugal peaked at 50,300 deaths in 1755 and was at its lowest, 1 deaths, in 1935.
Portugal ranks 14th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1522 | 5,000 deaths | — |
| 1531 | 30,000 deaths | +500.0% |
| 1551 | 2,000 deaths | -93.3% |
| 1587 | 170 deaths | -91.5% |
| 1614 | 200 deaths | +17.6% |
| 1719 | 3 deaths | -98.5% |
| 1755 | 50,300 deaths | +1676566.7% |
| 1757 | 1,053 deaths | -97.9% |
| 1761 | 25 deaths | -97.6% |
| 1807 | 11 deaths | -56.0% |
| 1852 | 9 deaths | -18.2% |
| 1856 | 2 deaths | -77.8% |
| 1858 | 6 deaths | +200.0% |
| 1909 | 30 deaths | +400.0% |
| 1926 | 9 deaths | -70.0% |
| 1935 | 1 deaths | -88.9% |
| 1969 | 25 deaths | +2400.0% |
| 1980 | 69 deaths | +176.0% |
| 1998 | 10 deaths | -85.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 10 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 2 deaths, 5.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 10 deaths is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2 deaths, 5.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths from earthquakes in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1755 | +1676566.7% | 3 deaths | 50,300 deaths |
| 1969 | +2400.0% | 1 deaths | 25 deaths |
| 1531 | +500.0% | 5,000 deaths | 30,000 deaths |
| 1909 | +400.0% | 6 deaths | 30 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1520s | 5,000 deaths | 5,000 deaths | 5,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1530s | 30,000 deaths | 30,000 deaths | 30,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1550s | 2,000 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1580s | 170 deaths | 170 deaths | 170 deaths | 1 |
| 1610s | 200 deaths | 200 deaths | 200 deaths | 1 |
| 1710s | 3 deaths | 3 deaths | 3 deaths | 1 |
| 1750s | 25,676 deaths | 1,053 deaths | 50,300 deaths | 2 |
| 1760s | 25 deaths | 25 deaths | 25 deaths | 1 |
| 1800s | 11 deaths | 11 deaths | 11 deaths | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.67 deaths | 2 deaths | 9 deaths | 3 |
| 1900s | 30 deaths | 30 deaths | 30 deaths | 1 |
| 1920s | 9 deaths | 9 deaths | 9 deaths | 1 |
| 1930s | 1 deaths | 1 deaths | 1 deaths | 1 |
| 1960s | 25 deaths | 25 deaths | 25 deaths | 1 |
| 1980s | 69 deaths | 69 deaths | 69 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More health data for Portugal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1616 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,112 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 38 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.39 % 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 0.0199 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.15 % 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 Portugal?
- Deaths from earthquakes in Portugal was 10 deaths in 1998, 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 50,300 deaths in 1755.
- What is the lowest deaths from earthquakes recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 deaths in 1935.
- How does Portugal rank for deaths from earthquakes?
- Portugal ranks 14th out of 51 countries with data for 1998.
- Where does this Portugal 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 — 19 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.