1974 earthquake summary reported by the National Earthquake Information Service

For the second consecutive year, earthquake activity in the United States and around the world was below the long term average according to the National Earthquake Information Service (NEIS) in Golden, Colorado. However, more than 5,300 earthquake-related deaths were reported in 1974, up sharply from the approximately 650 deaths in 1973. On the basis of data collected by nearly 600 cooperating seismograph stations around the world, the NEIS reported 13 major shocks and no great shocks as compared with a long term average of 18 major and one great earthquake per year.