Major Earthquakes
Updated February 23, 2017 | Factmonster Staff
![Updated by an Factmonster Editor on February 23, 2017](/themes/ip/images/info-circle.png)
The Question:
How big does an earthquake have to be to be considered "major" and how many major earthquakes happen each year?
The Answer:
For an earthquake to be considered "major" it must have a magnitude between 7 and 7.9.
According to the National Earthquake Information Center, 18 major earthquakes occur each year around the world.
Here is a link to a chart of the Frequency of Earthquakes Worldwide.
-The Fact Monster
See also: