Magnetic North Pole Movement by Decade

Magnetic North Pole Movement by Decade (1900-2024)

Average Speed Color Key

Slow (0-5 mi/year)

Medium (5-15 mi/year)

Fast (15-25 mi/year)

Very Fast (25+ mi/year)

Decade	Miles/Year	Total Miles	Km/Year	Total Km
1900s	2.62	23.56	4.21	37.91
1910s	4.04	36.40	6.51	58.58
1920s	6.97	62.77	11.22	101.02
1930s	7.53	67.78	12.12	109.08
1940s	9.36	84.23	15.06	135.56
1950s	5.28	47.50	8.49	76.44
1960s	4.22	37.94	6.78	61.06
1970s	7.06	63.51	11.36	102.21
1980s	8.61	77.45	13.85	124.64
1990s	20.27	182.41	32.62	293.55
2000s	33.85	304.62	54.47	490.23
2010s	32.80	295.24	52.79	475.15
2020s*	25.35	101.40	40.80	163.18

Decade

Miles/Year

Total Miles

Km/Year

Total Km

1900s

2.62

23.56

4.21

37.91

1910s

4.04

36.40

6.51

58.58

1920s

6.97

62.77

11.22

101.02

1930s

7.53

67.78

12.12

109.08

1940s

9.36

84.23

15.06

135.56

1950s

5.28

47.50

8.49

76.44

1960s

4.22

37.94

6.78

61.06

1970s

7.06

63.51

11.36

102.21

1980s

8.61

77.45

13.85

124.64

1990s

20.27

182.41

32.62

293.55

2000s

33.85

304.62

54.47

490.23

2010s

32.80

295.24

52.79

475.15

2020s*

25.35

101.40

40.80

163.18

* 2020s is a partial decade (2020-2024)

Key Findings

Slowest decade: 1900s at 2.62 miles/year (4.21 km/year)
Fastest decade: 2000s at 33.85 miles/year (54.47 km/year)
Acceleration factor: 12.9x faster in 2000s compared to 1900s

Acceleration Trend

1900-1949 average: 6.11 miles/year (9.83 km/year)
1950-1999 average: 9.08 miles/year (14.62 km/year)
2000-2024 average: 30.67 miles/year (49.35 km/year)

Data source: NOAA IGRF (International Geomagnetic Reference Field) magnetic north pole coordinates. Distances calculated using Haversine formula between consecutive yearly positions.