World Map › Europe › France
Country
Map of France
Europe · Paris
France spans the Eurasian, South American and Caribbean plates. It has 16 volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years, 11 of which have erupted since 1900. Since 1900, 14 major earthquakes have been recorded, causing at least 50 deaths. Its exposure to natural hazards is 4.0 out of 10 (INFORM index), a medium level. Its overall risk index, which accounts for its ability to cope, is 2.6 out of 10.
- Capital
- Paris
- Population
- 68,605,616
- Area
- 643,801 km²
- Continent
- Europe
Tectonic Plates
Natural Hazards
Exposure to natural hazards according to the European Commission's INFORM index, from 0 (very low) to 10 (very high), overall and for each type of hazard.
Overall Risk Index
This overall score combines hazard exposure with the vulnerability of the population (3.1 out of 10) and the lack of coping capacity (2.1 out of 10). A highly exposed but well-prepared country therefore gets a low overall score.
People Exposed Each Year
- 16,666to strong shaking (intensity VI and above)
- 4to tsunamis
- 440,814to river floods
- 99,534to coastal floods
Overall Risk Index Over Time
Hazard Levels
Hazard level assessed by ThinkHazard! (World Bank, GFDRR), meaning the likelihood of a damaging event, from very low to high.
- River FloodHigh
- Urban FloodHigh
- Coastal FloodHigh
- LandslideHigh
- WildfireHigh
- EarthquakeMedium
- VolcanoMedium
- Water ScarcityMedium
- Extreme HeatMedium
- TsunamiLow
Volcanoes (16)
Volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years; year of the last known eruption.
- Piton de la Fournaise 2026
- Fani Maoré 2019
- Boomerang Seamount 1995
- Macdonald 1989
- Teahitia 1985
- Soufriere Guadeloupe 1977
- Rocard 1972
- Moua Pihaa 1970
- Matthew Island 1956
- Mount Pelée 1932
- Hunter Island 1903
- St. Paul 1793
- Mayotte 2,050 BCE
- Chaîne des Puys 4,040 BCE
- Île de l'Est ?
- Mehetia ?
Major Earthquakes Since 1900
Earthquakes that caused deaths or significant damage, or of magnitude 7.5 and above (NOAA).
Deadliest
- 1909Vernegues, Charleval, La Roque D'Antheron · M 6.240 deaths
- 1991France · M 3.89 deaths
- 1967Arette, Lanne, Montory · M 5.31 deaths
Regions
Regions with volcanoes, major earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones or famous faults.
Tsunamis
20 major tsunamis have reached France since 1900, killing 1 people in the country. The deadliest and highest are listed below.
- 1979Tsunami (France) · 3.0 m1 deaths
- 1902Tsunami (France) · 4.0 m
- 1902Tsunami (France) · 3.0 m
- 2004Tsunami (Indonesia) · 2.7 m
- 1907Tsunami (Indonesia) · 2.0 m
- 2004Tsunami (France) · 2.0 m
- 2010Tsunami (Indonesia) · 1.7 m
- 2007Tsunami (Indonesia) · 1.1 m
Tropical Cyclones
5 major tropical cyclones have made landfall in France since 1950. The deadliest and most powerful are listed below.
- 1973Hurricane Fran · 102 km/h
- 1963Hurricane Beulah · 93 km/h
- 1987Tropical Storm Clotilda · 81 km/h
- 2024Hurricane Kirk · 80 km/h
- 2008Cyclone Hondo · 74 km/h
Sources : Natural Earth · Wikidata · INFORM Risk Index (1 September 2026 v 0.7.3), Commission européenne, CC BY 4.0 · NOAA NCEI · ThinkHazard!, GFDRR, CC BY · Bird (2003), PB2002 · Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution