Increase in eartquakes

I was fasinated when I went trough the following stats yesterday! According to the USGS records, there has been a phenominal rise in worldwide earthquakes. See the stats for yourrself:

1940’s – 44 earthquakes
1950’s – 46
1960’s – 58
1970’s – 44
1980’s – 46
1990’s – 55
2000  -  7
2001  -  7
2002  -  45
2003  -  69
2004  -  48
2005  -  50
2006  [...]