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Most Earthquake-Prone Countries in the World: Just as the world welcomed the year 2025 with hopeful anticipation, a series of earthquakes struck southern Tibet on Tuesday morning, near the Nepal border.
The tremors were felt across a large part of northern India, including Bihar, which experienced a significant earthquake measuring 7.1 in magnitude, with its epicentre located 93 kilometres northeast of Lobuche, near the Nepal-Tibet frontier, occurring on January 7 at 6:35 am.
Registering at 7.1 in magnitude, this quake was the most powerful in the area since the catastrophic earthquake in April 2015 in Nepal, which resulted in approximately 10,000 fatalities.
Several Asian countries are highly prone to earthquakes, with China and Indonesia experiencing the most seismic activity, and Japan recording the most number of earthquakes globally when looked at in relative terms.
Indonesia is the most earthquake-prone country and has experienced 2,212 earthquake events (magnitude 4 or above), which placed it above Mexico and the Philippines, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
In an analysis of the most devastating earthquakes globally, China surpasses Indonesia, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. government.
Between 1990 and early 2024, China endured a staggering 186 earthquakes that inflicted damages of at least $1 million, resulted in a minimum of 10 fatalities, reached a magnitude of 7.5, or triggered tsunamis.
In comparison, Indonesia recorded 166 such significant seismic events during the same timeframe, while Japan followed in fourth place with 98 major earthquakes.
The NOAA’s data sheds light on the impact of seismic activity across the globe, highlighting the countries most affected by these catastrophic events over the nearly three-decade period.
| Rank | Country | Number of Major Earthquakes (1990-2024) |
| 1 | China | 186 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 166 |
| 3 | Iran | 109 |
| 4 | Japan | 98 |
| 5 | United States | 78 |
| 6 | Turkey | 62 |
| 7 | India | 58 |
| 8 | Philippines | 55 |
| 9 | Italy | 23 |
Source: NOAA, accessed via Statista
Note: The earthquake counts presented are for the period between 1990 and January 2, 2024, and are based on events meeting at least one of the following criteria: damages exceeding $1 million, a death toll of 10 or more, or a magnitude of 7.5 or greater.
India’s vulnerability to earthquakes stems from its geographical position at the convergence of multiple tectonic plates, its intricate geological structure, and a rapidly growing population paired with widespread unregulated construction practices.
As a result, the nation is particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. Ranking as the seventh most earthquake-prone country in the world, India has endured 58 significant earthquakes throughout its history.
According to ndma.gov.in, approximately 59 per cent of its land area is at risk of experiencing moderate to severe seismic events, capable of registering an intensity of VII on the MSK scale or higher.
The entire Himalayan region is especially at risk for powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes exceeding 8.0. Over the past 50 years, four major quakes have struck this area: the Shillong earthquake in 1897 (M8.7), the Kangra quake in 1905 (M8.0), the Bihar-Nepal earthquake in 1934 (M8.3), and the Assam-Tibet quake in 1950 (M8.6).
