Many people worry that the Earth is shaking more often these days—but the story is more nuanced. Here’s what’s really driving the apparent uptick:

Improved Detection and Reporting
Over the past few decades, seismic networks around the globe have grown dramatically. More sensitive instruments and a denser array of seismometers mean we now record many tiny quakes that would have gone unnoticed in the past. In fact, the USGS’s ComCat catalog shows an increasing number of reported events, not because the Earth is suddenly more restless, but because our “ears” are much better tuned than before USGS+1.

Stable Rate of Large Tectonic Quakes
When it comes to major earthquakes—say magnitude 7 and above—the long-term record (since about 1900) averages around 15–16 such events per year worldwide. There’s no clear upward trend in these large, plate-boundary quakes; yearly fluctuations are just part of the normal randomness of tectonic processes USGS.

Induced Seismicity from Human Activities
In certain regions—especially the central and eastern U.S.—earthquake rates have risen sharply since about 2010. Scientific studies link the majority of this surge to deep-well wastewater injection from oil and gas operations. Pumping fluids underground increases pore pressure in faults, effectively “lubricating” them and triggering tremors that otherwise wouldn’t occur Wikipedia+1.

Other Anthropogenic Triggers
Beyond wastewater disposal, a variety of industrial and engineering activities can induce quakes. Large reservoirs alter stress on underlying faults when they’re filled or drained; heavy groundwater extraction likewise shifts crustal loads; and even geothermal energy projects can produce seismic events. While most are small, they add to regional seismicity and public concern Wikipedia.

Climate Change and Natural Modulations
Earth’s changing climate can subtly modulate seismic activity too. Rapid glacier melt reduces pressure on fault zones, potentially triggering minor tremors in formerly glaciated mountains. Isostatic rebound (the slow “bounce-back” of Earth’s crust after ice melts) also alters stress fields, and intense rainfall or rapid snowmelt can lubricate shallow faults. These effects tend to produce low-magnitude events, but they can give the impression of a more “seismic” planet Scientific Americanseismo.ethz.ch.

Bottom Line
Most of the world’s shaking still comes from plate-tectonic forces that haven’t changed their behavior, but our improved detection, plus localized human and climate-driven triggers, make it look like earthquakes are on the rise. Understanding these drivers helps scientists refine hazard assessments and guide safety measures, so we’re better prepared no matter what kind of quake strikes.