How much rarer is each step up in earthquake magnitude?
In 2025 the world recorded 6,428 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 to 4.9, 1,983 of magnitude 5, 129 of magnitude 6, 15 of magnitude 7 and 1 of magnitude 8 or more. Each step up in magnitude is roughly ten times rarer, and releases about 32 times more energy. Countless smaller quakes go unrecorded worldwide, so the chart starts at 4.5.
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Source and date
- Data as of
- Published
The data
| Magnitude | Earthquakes worldwide in the year |
|---|---|
| 4.5 to 4.9 | 6,428 |
| 5.0 to 5.9 | 1,983 |
| 6.0 to 6.9 | 129 |
| 7.0 to 7.9 | 15 |
| 8.0 or more | 1 |