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Countries with Volcano Deaths

Since 141 B.C., which countries have had the most deaths due to volcanic eruptions?
Source: Our World in Data. Based on the modern-day territory of the country, even if it wasn't a country at the time.
We also give you the mountain and year of the deadliest incident
Overseas regions marked in blue
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Featured Quiz
Last updated: November 16, 2019
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First submittedNovember 13, 2019
Times taken30,326
Average score66.7%
Rating4.76
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Deaths
Deadliest incident
Country
143,000
Mt. Tambora (1815)
Indonesia
30,000
Ilopango (536)
El Salvador
29,500
Mt. Pelée (1902)
France (Martinique)
25,500
Nevado del Ruiz (1985)
Colombia
22,200
Mt. Unzen (1792)
Japan
10,200
Santa María (1902)
Guatemala
10,200
Laki (1784)
Iceland
7,900
Mt. Hibok-Hibok (1875)
Philippines
7,100
Mt. Vesuvius (1631)
Italy
5,600
Keanakakoi (1790)
United States
5,500
Mt. Lamington (1951)
Papua New Guinea
5,400
Tungurahua (1640)
Ecuador
2,000
San Cristóbal (1998)
Nicaragua
2,200
El Chichón (1982)
Mexico
1,900
Mt. Ararat (1840)
Turkey
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27 Comments
Tramp
+3
Level 76
Nov 16, 2019
I looked into Mt. Etna being the most deadly eruption, because I was always under the impression that it was a fairly safe volcano as far as volcanoes go. The event in 1169 was deadly because of an earthquake/tsunami. Only a few sources refer to an eruption from Etna, and it seems as though no eruption at all actually took place. I'm not sure which eruption actually was the deadliest though.
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Nov 16, 2019
It was in the source data so I included it. But I feel like you are right so I removed that incident.
martiii
+2
Level 51
Dec 13, 2022
Here in Italy we say that Mt Etna is a friendly volcano cause the lava always goes the opposite direction compared to where the towns and villages are. At least that's what they always told me as a kid. On the other hand Mt Vesuvius is much more dangerous, the government has a plan ready in case the volcano erupts and hits the city of Naples (one of the most populous of the country) so that its population can be equally divided between all the Italian regions and then migrate there
Arp2600
+6
Level 87
Nov 16, 2019
Martinique is as much an overseas territory for France as Hawaii is for the USA. Be consistent please...
Quizmaster
+5
Level ∞
Nov 16, 2019
Changed to overseas region.
Arp2600
+4
Level 87
Nov 16, 2019
Well, I still don't see why you need to specify that. "Pelée" is clearly a French word ;).
Arii78
+11
Level 45
Feb 5, 2020
Hm, @Arp2600, France isn't the only french-speaking country.
CaoMaru
+2
Level 49
Feb 5, 2020
I think it's good to have it specified. For consistency, Hawaii could also be classed as an overseas region, but.....no one would get France if it wasn't clear.
abeels
+3
Level 84
Feb 3, 2020
Add New Zealand in light of the White Island tragedy?
Comraedemu
+4
Level 31
Feb 4, 2020
New Zealand needs to be added, Tarawera, Tangawi, and both white island eruptions could all be good examples.
WelshWizard
+8
Level 85
Feb 4, 2020
The quiz is the countries with the most volcano-related deaths. Not countries with notably volcanic activity.
Werifesteria
+5
Level 65
Feb 4, 2020
Have 1900 people been killed by volcanoes in New Zealand since 141 BC? I doubt it. Also, does this count deaths by falling into volcanic hot springs, boiling mud, and fumaroles?
Arii78
+1
Level 45
Feb 5, 2020
I think that would be counted as accidents independent of volcanic activity.
Sifhraven
+6
Level 72
Feb 4, 2020
Not their biggest fan (often used without good reason, when there is no way you can accidentally guess one of the other answers), but this quiz could benefit from a yellow box. I got 15/15 by guessing and if I am honest, I could have only answered you 2 with 100% certainty (vesuvius and ararat). The rest I got by looking at the languages, and by naming countries known for volcanic activity (so usually without a specific question in mind)
AlexThirkell
+3
Level 75
Dec 3, 2020
Maybe take off a minute or so of time to prevent over-guessing, but I think yellow-box would be a bit drastic.
EvanAviator
+3
Level 59
Mar 22, 2022
yellow box would make it very impossible
JackintheBox
+2
Level 80
Feb 4, 2020
Got all but Iceland!
tshalla
+2
Level 76
Mar 22, 2022
That's a lot of people relative to population.
kalbahamut
+7
Level 81
Feb 5, 2020
Do these stats include virgin sacrifices?
Zefyrinus
+4
Level 72
Jun 11, 2020
Missed three Central American countries because I thought I had already guessed them. But that was on the previous quiz I took, about floods. *facepalm*
Anderis
+6
Level 71
Oct 6, 2020
I'm surprised not to see any of the East African Rift countries in here. According to Polish Wikipedia article, Nyiragongo's 1977 eruption alone killed around 2000 people, although the English one doesn't mention such high numbers.
PenguinTorpedo
+1
Level 49
Nov 12, 2021
I just guessed that there just wasnt much African population to be killed for most of history
Anderis
+3
Level 71
Mar 22, 2022
Iceland makes the list despite being far less populated than Africa.

I guess it's about keeping the written record, the actual number of casualties must have been big enough for a few African countries to make the list IMO but there isn't sufficient evidence or something. That's the only way I can explain it.

JWatson24
+4
Level 71
Mar 22, 2022
Just wondering, how did people estimate the number of people who died from Ilopango? I can't imagine there are very good population records of El Salvador (or anywhere really) from that time.
Unitedsquadron
+1
Level 69
Mar 22, 2022
Based on the time period, I would guess some early Mayan era records, probably in stone.
FedericoGuzman
+1
Level 74
Mar 23, 2022
I live near Nevado del Ruiz and you can drive by the remains of the town that dissapeared with the eruption. It's chilling.
laskadelrey
+1
Level 69
Feb 6, 2024
I grew up halfway up Tungurahua, so beautiful even when it erupted but so terrifying especially after the big eruption in 2006. Great quiz!
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