This is a list of major earthquakes by the dollar value of property (public and private) losses directly attributable to the earthquake. Only earthquakes that have caused over $1 billion US dollars are listed here. Rank values are assigned based on inflation-adjusted comparison of property damage in US dollars. Wherever possible, indirect and socioeconomic losses are excluded. Damage estimates for particular earthquakes may vary over time as more data becomes available. Losses from earthquake–induced landslides and tsunamis are also be included.
Rank | Event | Location | Magnitude | Historic cost (year) | Adjusted for inflation (year) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami | data-sort-value="9.0" | 9.1[1] | $235 billion (2011)[2] | $320.4 billion (2023) | |
2 | 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake | data-sort-value="6.9" | 6.9 | $30-200 billion (1995)[3] [4] | $60.0-399.9 billion (2023) | |
3 | 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake | Turkey, Syria | data-sort-value="7.8" | 7.8 and 7.7 | $163.3 billion (2023)[5] [6] | $163.3 billion (2023) |
4 | 2008 Sichuan earthquake | Sichuan, China | data-sort-value="8." | 8.0 | $150 billion (2008)[7] | $212.3 billion (2023) |
5 | 1994 Northridge earthquake | California, United States | 6.7 | $40 billion (1994)[8] | $82.2 billion (2023) | |
6 | 2010 Canterbury earthquake2011 Christchurch earthquake | 7.0 and 6.2 | $ (2015)[9] | $56.2 billion (2023) | ||
7 | 2004 Chūetsu earthquake | data-sort-value="6.8" | 6.8 | $28 billion (2004)[10] [11] | $45.1 billion (2024) | |
8 | 2011 Sikkim earthquake | data-sort-value="6.9" | 6.9 | $22.3 billion (2011)[12] | $30.2 billion (2024) | |
9 | 1999 İzmit earthquake | data-sort-value="7.6" | 7.6 | $6.5-20 billion (1999)[13] | $11.9-36.6 billion (2023) | |
10 | 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes | 7.0 | $24-46 billion (2016)[14] | $30.5-58.4 billion (2024) | ||
11 | 2024 Noto earthquake | data-sort-value="7.5" | 7.5 | $17.6 billion (2024)[15] | $17.6 billion (2024) | |
12 | 2009 L'Aquila earthquake | data-sort-value="6.3" | 6.3 | $16 billion (2009)[16] | $22.7 billion (2024) | |
13 | 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes | data-sort-value="6.1" | 6.1[17] | $15.8 billion (2012)[18] | $20.9 billion (2024) | |
15 | 1980 Irpinia earthquake | data-sort-value="6.9" | 6.9 | $20 billion (1980) | $73.9 billion (2024) | |
16 | 1988 Armenian earthquake | 6.8 | $16.2 billion (1977) | $41.7 billion (2024) | ||
17 | 2010 Chile earthquake | data-sort-value="8.8" | 8.8 | $15-30 billion (2010)[19] | $20.3-40.6 billion (2024) | |
18 | 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami | 9.1-9.3 | $15 billion (2004)[20] | $24.2 billion (2024) | ||
19 | 2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake | 6.6 | $12.5 billion (2007) | $18.4 billion (2024) | ||
20 | 2020 Zagreb earthquake | 5.3 | $11.7 billion (2020)[21] | $13.7 billion (2024) | ||
21 | 1976 Tangshan earthquake | Hebei, China | 7.6 | $10 billion (1976)[22] | $53.5 billion (2024) | |
22 | 1999 Jiji earthquake | data-sort-value="7.7" | 7.7 | $10 billion (1999) | $18.2 billion (2024) | |
23 | April 2015 Nepal earthquake | data-sort-value="7.8" | 7.8 | $10 billion (2015)[23] | $12.8 billion (2024) | |
24 | 2014 Ludian earthquake | 6.1 | $9.9 billion (2014)[24] | $12.7 billion (2024) | ||
25 | 2022 Fukushima earthquake | 7.3 | $8.8 billion (2022) | $9.1 billion (2024) | ||
26 | 2017 Puebla earthquake | 7.1 | $8 billion (2017) | $9.9 billion (2024) | ||
27 | 2010 Haiti earthquake | 7.0 | $7.8-8.5 billion (2010)[25] | $10.9-11.8 billion (2024) | ||
28 | 2021 Fukushima earthquake | 7.1 | $7.7 billion (2021) | $8.6 billion (2024) | ||
29 | 2023 Marrakesh–Safi earthquake | 6.8 | $7 billion (2023) | $7 billion (2024) | ||
30 | 2018 Osaka earthquake | 5.5 | $7 billion (2018) | $8.4 billion (2024) | ||
31 | 2013 Lushan earthquake | 6.6 | $6.8 billion (2013) | $8.8 billion (2024) | ||
32 | 2005 Kashmir earthquake | 7.6 | $6.6 billion (2005) | $12.8 billion (2024) | ||
33 | 2017 Iran-Iraq earthquake | 7.3 | $6.2 billion (2017)[26] | $7.7 billion (2024) | ||
34 | 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake | California, United States | data-sort-value="6.9" | 6.9 | $5.6–6 billion (1989) | $13.7-14.7 billion (2024) |
35 | 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes | California, United States | 7.1 | $5.3 billion (2019) | $6.3 billion (2024) | |
36 | 1980 El Asnam earthquake | 7.3 | $5.2 billion (1980) | $19.2 billion (2024) | ||
37 | 2003 Boumerdès earthquake | 6.8 | $5 billion (2003) | $8.2 billion (2024) | ||
38 | August 2016 Central Italy earthquake | 6.2 | $5 billion (2016) | $6.3 billion (2024) | ||
39 | 2020 Petrinja earthquake | 6.4 | $5 billion (2020)[27] | $5.8 billion (2024) | ||
40 | 1985 Mexico City earthquake | 8.0 | $5 billion (1985)[28] | $14.1 billion (2024) | ||
41 | 2017 Chiapas earthquake | 8.2 | $4 billion (2017) | $4.9 billion (2024) | ||
42 | 1976 Friuli earthquake | 6.5 | $3.6 billion (1976) | $19.2 billion (2024) | ||
43 | 2016 Ecuador earthquake | 7.8 | $3.3 billion (2016) | $4.1 billion (2024) | ||
44 | 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake | 6.3 | $3.1 billion (2006) | $4.6 billion (2024) | ||
45 | June 2011 Christchurch earthquake | 6.0 | $3 billion (2011) | $4 billion (2024) | ||
46 | 1972 Nicaragua earthquake | 6.3 | $2.9 billion (1972) | $21.6 billion (2024) | ||
47 | 1979 Montenegro earthquake | 6.9 | $2.7 billion (1979) | $12.6 billion (2024) | ||
48 | 2009 Sumatra earthquakes | 7.6 | $2.2 billion (2009) | $3.1 billion (2024) | ||
scope=”row” | 49 | 1976 Guatemala earthquake | 7.6 | $2.1 billion (1976) | $11.4 billion (2024) | |
scope=”row” | 50 | 1977 Vrancea earthquake | 7.5 | $2.1 billion (1977) | $10.5 billion (2024) | |
51 | 2001 Gujarat earthquake | 7.7 | $2.1 billion (2001) | $3.7 billion (2024) | ||
52 | 1982 North Yemen earthquake | 6.3 | $2 billion (1982) | $6.3 billion (2024) | ||
53 | 2001 Nisqually earthquake | Washington, United States | 6.8 | $2 billion (2001)[29] | $3.4 billion (2024) | |
54 | 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake | 6.6 | $2 billion (2018) | $2.4 billion (2024) | ||
55 | 2023 Jishishan earthquake | 5.9 | $2 billion (2023) | $2 billion (2024) | ||
56 | 1985 Algarrobo earthquake | 8.0 | $1.5 billion (1985) | $4.2 billion (2024) | ||
57 | 2011 Van earthquakes | 7.1 | $1.5 billion (2011) | $2 billion (2024) | ||
58 | 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami | 7.5 | $1.5 billion (2018) | $1.8 billion (2024) | ||
59 | 2021 Haiti earthquake | 7.2 | $1.5 billion (2021)[30] | $1.6 billion (2024) | ||
60 | 2019 Sichuan earthquake | 5.8 | $1.3 billion (2019) | $1.5 billion (2024) | ||
61 | 2010 Baja California earthquake | 7.2 | $1.1 billion (2010) | $1.5 billion (2024) | ||
62 | 1948 Fukui earthquake | 6.8 | $1 billion (1948) | $12.6 billion (2024) | ||
63 | 1960 Valdivia earthquake | 9.5 | $1 billion | $10.2 billion (2024) | ||
64 | 1963 Skopje earthquake | 6.0 | $1 billion | $9.9 billion (2024) | ||
65 | 1981 Sirch earthquake | 7.1 | $1 billion (1981) | $3.3 billion (2024) | ||
66 | 2012 Yiliang earthquakes | 5.5 | $1 billion | $1.3 billion (2024) | ||
67 | 2010 Kaohsiung earthquake | 6.3 | $1 billion | $1.3 billion (2024) | ||
68 | 2019 Albania earthquake | 6.4 | $1 billion | $1.1 billion (2024) | ||
Rank | Event | Location | Magnitude | Historic cost (year) | Adjusted for inflation (year) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1939 Chillán earthquake | 7.9 | $920 million (1939) | $20.1 billion (2024) | ||
2 | 1906 San Francisco earthquake | data-sort-value="7.7" | 7.7–7.9 | $400 million (1906)[31] | $13.6 billion (2024) | |
3 | 1923 Great Kantō earthquake | 8.0 | $600 million (1923) | $10.6 billion (2024) | ||
4 | 1953 Concepción earthquake | 7.6 | $500 million (1953) | $5.7 billion (2024) | ||
5 | 1970 Ancash earthquake | 7.9 | $530 million (1970) | $4.1 billion (2024) | ||
6 | 1971 San Fernando earthquake | 6.6 | $530 million (1971)[32] | $4.1 billion (2024) | ||
7 | 1978 Miyagi earthquake | 7.7 | $865 million (1978) | $4 billion (2024) | ||
8 | 1964 Alaska earthquake | 9.2 | $400 million (1964) | $3.9 billion (2024) | ||
9 | 1966 Tashkent earthquake | 5.2 | $300 million (1966) | $2.8 billion (2024) | ||
10 | 1968 Belice earthquake | 6.1 | $320 million (1968) | $2.8 billion (2024) | ||
11 | 1981 Gulf of Corinth earthquakes | 6.7 | $812 million (1981) | $2.7 billion (2024) | ||
12 | 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake | 7.4 | $800 million (1983) | $2.4 billion (2024) | ||
13 | 1972 Ancona earthquake | 4.9 | $300 million (1972) | $2.1 billion (2024) | ||
14 | 1986 Vrancea earthquake | 7.2 | $730 million (1977) | $2 billion (2024) | ||
15 | 1915 Avezzano earthquake | 6.7 | $60 million (1915) | $1.8 billion (2024) | ||
16 | 1971 Aconcagua earthquake | 7.8 | $236 million (1971) | $1.7 billion (2024) | ||
17 | 1944 San Juan earthquake | 6.9 | $100 million (1944) | $1.7 billion (2024) | ||
18 | 1967 Caracas earthquake | 6.6 | $140 million (1967) | $1.2 billion (2024) | ||
19 | 1965 Valparaíso earthquake and the El Cobre dam failures | 7.4 | $125 million (1965) | $1.2 billion (2024) | ||
20 | 1983 Popayán earthquake | 5.5 | $410 million (1983) | $1.2 billion (2024) | ||
21 | 1960 Agadir earthquake | 5.9 | $120 million (1960) | $1.2 billion (2024) | ||
22 | 1978 Thessaloniki earthquake | 6.4 | $250 million (1978) | $1.1 billion (2024) | ||
23 | 1953 Ionian earthquake | 6.8 | $100 million (1953) | $1.1 billion (2024) | ||
24 | 1976 Bali earthquake | 6.5 | $195 million (1976) | $1 billion (2024) | ||