Deaths from tsunamis in China
China: Deaths from tsunamis was 2 deaths in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Deaths from tsunamis in China, 1668–2015
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
China recorded 2 deaths for deaths from tsunamis in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 91.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths from tsunamis in China peaked at 42,578 deaths in 1668 and was at its lowest, 2 deaths, in 2009.
That places China 10th out of 20 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths from tsunamis in China, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1668 | 42,578 deaths | — |
| 1833 | 6,700 deaths | -84.3% |
| 1918 | 2,000 deaths | -70.1% |
| 1935 | 100 deaths | -95.0% |
| 1969 | 10 deaths | -90.0% |
| 1985 | 10 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 24 deaths | +140.0% |
| 2007 | 8 deaths | -66.7% |
| 2009 | 2 deaths | -75.0% |
| 2015 | 2 deaths | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2 deaths is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2 deaths, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- China's 2 deaths is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.5 deaths, 80% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1660s | 42,578 deaths | 42,578 deaths | 42,578 deaths | 1 |
| 1830s | 6,700 deaths | 6,700 deaths | 6,700 deaths | 1 |
| 1910s | 2,000 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 2,000 deaths | 1 |
| 1930s | 100 deaths | 100 deaths | 100 deaths | 1 |
| 1960s | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 1 |
| 1980s | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 10 deaths | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.33 deaths | 2 deaths | 24 deaths | 3 |
| 2010s | 2 deaths | 2 deaths | 2 deaths | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 7 Chile 15 deaths compare
- 8 Papua New Guinea 3 deaths compare
- 8 Philippines 3 deaths compare
- 10 Mexico 2 deaths compare
- 10 Russia 2 deaths compare
- 13 Canada 1 deaths compare
- 13 Greece 1 deaths compare
- 13 Indonesia 1 deaths compare
- 13 Italy 1 deaths compare
- 13 Norway 1 deaths compare
- 13 Peru 1 deaths compare
- 13 Solomon Islands 1 deaths compare
- 13 United States 1 deaths compare
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 tsunamis in China?
- Deaths from tsunamis in China was 2 deaths in 2015, according to National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths from tsunamis recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 42,578 deaths in 1668.
- What is the lowest deaths from tsunamis recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 deaths in 2009.
- How does China rank for deaths from tsunamis?
- China ranks 10th out of 20 countries with data for 2015.
- Is deaths from tsunamis rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.7%. 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 tsunamis. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Due to data availability, recent data will be more complete than older historical estimates.