List of earthquakes in 1947
This is a list of earthquakes in 1947. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. Events which occurred in remote areas will be excluded from the list as they wouldn't have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Although a fairly busy year in terms of magnitude 7.0+ events, the death toll was relatively low at 745. Up to 733 deaths were attributed to two events in Iran and Peru. The largest events measured 7.6 which compared with recent years was quite modest. Magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were generally spread around the world with Indonesia seeing the most.
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | Depth | Date |
| 1 | 500 |  South Khorasan Province, Iran | |||
| 2 | 233 |  Junin Region, Peru |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Depth | Date |
| 1 | 0 |  off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia | |||
| 1 | 233 | Junin Region, Peru | |||
| 2 | 0 |  northeast of Taiwan | |||
| 3 | 0 |  China .png" /> Qinghai Province, China | |||
| 3 | 0 | off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia | |||
| 3 | 0 |  Arunachal Pradesh, India | |||
| 3 | 3 |  Peloponnese, Greece | |||
| 4 | 0 |  eastern Managua, Nicaragua | |||
| 4 | 0 |  Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina | |||
| 4 | 0 |  Northern Mariana Islands | |||
| 4 | 0 | central Alaska | |||
| 5 | 0 |  Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand | |||
| 5 | 0 |  Leyte, Philippines | |||
| 5 | 0 | Molucca Sea, Indonesia | |||
| 5 | 0 | Northern Mariana Islands | |||
| 5 | 0 |  eastern Sea of Japan | |||
| 5 | 0 | Southeast Indian Ridge |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on January 21 at a depth of 35.2 km.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck under eastern Managua, Nicaragua on January 26 at a depth of 162.5 km. Some damage was reported.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina on January 29 at a depth of 565.8 km.
February
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on February 2 at a depth of 130.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck western Xizang, China on February 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on February 18 at a depth of 429.0 km.
March
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Madang Province, Papua New Guinea on March 2 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Qinghai Province, China on March 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand on March 25 at a depth of 165.0 km. A small tsunami and some damage was reported in the area.
- A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on March 26 at an unknown depth. One person was killed and at least one was injured. Many homes were destroyed.
April
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia on April 2 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southern California in the Mojave Desert on April 10 at a depth of 6.0 km. Some damage was caused.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands, Russia on April 14 at a depth of 30.0 km.
May
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southwest of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on May 6 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Alor Archipelago, Indonesia on May 27 at a depth of 100.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia on May 27 at a depth of 15.0 km.
June
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Central Macedonia, Greece on June 4 at a depth of 80.0 km.
- A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China on June 7 at an unknown depth. Three deaths were caused and some homes collapsed.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Leyte, Philippines on June 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on June 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on June 13 at a depth of 35.0 km. Six days later a slightly larger event was recorded in the area.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on June 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.
July
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Himachal Pradesh, India on July 10 at a depth of 60.0 km.
- A small magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck North Khorasan Province, Iran on July 10 at a depth of 9.0 km. Some damage was reported.
- An earthquake struck Narino Department, Colombia on July 14 at a depth of 10.0 km. The magnitude was unknown. Two people died and some damage was reported.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Salta Province, Argentina on July 25 at a depth of 580.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on July 26 at a depth of 80.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Arunachal Pradesh, India on July 29 at a depth of 20.0 km.
August
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Pakistan on August 5 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Acre, Brazil on August 6 at a depth of 603.3 km.
- A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Algeria on August 6 at an unknown depth. Three people died and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeast of Cuba on August 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.
September
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Tonga on September 2 at a depth of 230.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on September 3 at a depth of 110.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck South Khorasan Province, Iran on September 23 at a depth of 15.0 km. Five-hundred people died and major damage was reported.
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck northeast of Taiwan on September 26 at a depth of 121.5 km.
October
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Kerman Province, Iran on October 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Peloponnese, Greece on October 6 at a depth of 15.0 km. Three people were killed, 20 more were hurt, and 7,000 homes were destroyed.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck central Alaska on October 16 at a depth of 26.0 km.
November
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Junin Region, Peru on November 1 at a depth of 20.0 km. Major damage was caused and 233 people died.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the eastern Sea of Japan on November 4 at a depth of 15.0 km. A tsunami generated some damage on the coast of Hokkaido.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands on November 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck northern Hokkaido, Japan on November 14 at a depth of 160.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southern Montana on November 23 at a depth of 35.0 km.
December
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Southeast Indian Ridge on December 24 at a depth of 60.0 km.