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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has catalogued 3,478 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 20th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.8.

Afghanistan ranks 20th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 166 M4+ events a year alongside 98 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1902 to 2026, peaking in 2023.

3,478
M4+ events (since 2005)
98
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.8
Strongest
~166
M4+ per year

The verdict

Afghanistan is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 3,478 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 98 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

2023
busiest year (6 major events)
152 km
average recorded event depth
23%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Iran sits immediately above at 3,554 events and Timor Leste sits immediately below at 3,416.

Where Afghanistan sits in the catalog

Rank 20th of 187 tracked countries (89th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Iran sits immediately above at 3,554 events and Timor Leste sits immediately below at 3,416.

  • Iran - next more active (3,554 M4+)
  • Timor Leste - next less active (3,416 M4+)

Afghanistan's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

3,478 Top 11% higher than 89% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). This entry sits in this band. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Afghanistan 0 5,000+ every tracked country, bucketed by value

Each bar is a 500-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present

How Afghanistan compares to its nearest peers

Afghanistan ranks in the 89th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Afghanistan vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 21 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes 02,0004,0006,0008,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Afghanistan vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9
Greece 4,606 M7.0
Peru 4,598 M8.0
Fiji 4,498 M7.9
Argentina 4,379 M7.0
India 4,086 M7.5
Iran 3,554 M7.7
Afghanistan (this page) 3,478 M7.5
Timor Leste 3,416 M7.3
Taiwan 2,531 M7.4
Turkey 2,249 M7.8
Guatemala 1,951 M7.4
New Caledonia 1,917 M7.5
Colombia 1,721 M7.3
Tajikistan 1,583 M7.2
El Salvador 1,501 M7.3
Nicaragua 1,416 M6.6
Pakistan 1,262 M7.7

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Afghanistan by year

Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year

Value

What this shows Afghanistan's most active year for major earthquakes was 2023 (6 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%0.7%
Share of Afghanistan's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

23 of 3,478 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 98 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Afghanistan.

How the 98 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 85.7%

M7.0-7.9

14

14.3%

M6.0-6.9

84

85.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 98 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 152 km.

Afghanistan23.5%76.5%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Afghanistan's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

23

23.5% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

75

76.5% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Afghanistan

The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag Location Depth
7.8 71 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 240.0 km
7.7 52 km ESE of Farkhār, Afghanistan 200.0 km
7.5 Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan 231.0 km
7.5 35 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 228.7 km
7.4 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 207.8 km
7.4 51 km SW of Jurm, Afghanistan 225.6 km
7.4 75 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 98.7 km
7.4 55 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 214.5 km
7.4 50 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan 100.0 km
7.3 42 km NNW of B?my?n, Afghanistan 25.0 km

Significant earthquake record (98 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Afghanistan since 1900, most recent first.

Mag Location Depth
6.1 43 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 199.0 km
6.2 30 km SE of Mazār-e Sharīf, Afghanistan 28.0 km
6.0 35 km WSW of Asadābād, Afghanistan 8.0 km
6.4 45 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 204.0 km
6.3 34 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan 9.0 km
6.3 24 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan 8.0 km
6.3 25 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan 8.0 km
6.3 32 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan 14.0 km
6.5 40 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 192.0 km
6.0 44 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 203.0 km
6.0 55 km SW of Kh?st, Afghanistan 4.0 km
6.1 49 km SW of Jurm, Afghanistan 212.0 km
6.2 37 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 193.7 km
6.6 42 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 212.0 km
6.3 42 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 206.0 km
7.5 Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan 231.0 km
6.3 47 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 220.1 km
6.2 53 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 210.0 km
6.2 39 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 185.9 km
6.6 50 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 204.8 km
6.0 35 km SSW of ?uk?mat? Azrah, Afghanistan 10.0 km
6.2 47 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 222.1 km
6.5 53 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 224.6 km
6.0 46 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 207.0 km
6.1 16 km E of Nahr?n, Afghanistan 8.0 km
7.4 51 km SW of Jurm, Afghanistan 225.6 km
6.3 54 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 209.0 km
6.2 77 km NNW of P?r?n, Afghanistan 129.3 km
6.1 32 km S of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 106.5 km
6.2 49 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 202.5 km
6.3 65 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 141.4 km
6.3 66 km NNW of P?r?n, Afghanistan 107.7 km
6.0 51 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 206.9 km
6.5 31 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 228.4 km
6.0 27 km WNW of ?uk?mat? Azrah, Afghanistan 33.0 km
6.6 24 km E of Rust?q, Afghanistan 33.0 km
6.4 46 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 235.6 km
6.3 53 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 207.0 km
6.5 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 196.0 km
6.3 49 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 222.7 km
6.0 57 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 238.7 km
6.3 29 km S of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 112.6 km
6.0 48 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 194.5 km
7.0 53 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 214.5 km
6.4 48 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 204.2 km
6.7 53 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 212.9 km
6.9 77 km NW of P?r?n, Afghanistan 142.4 km
6.4 50 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 216.8 km
6.0 77 km SE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 113.1 km
6.3 56 km E of Khand?d, Afghanistan 33.0 km
6.2 62 km E of Khand?d, Afghanistan 12.2 km
6.3 42 km ENE of Jurm, Afghanistan 109.9 km
6.0 74 km N of P?r?n, Afghanistan 95.1 km
6.3 48 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 195.0 km
6.1 26 km SSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 95.4 km
6.1 81 km SE of ‘Al?qahd?r? D?sh?, Afghanistan 164.5 km
6.2 45 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 202.1 km
6.4 76 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 120.1 km
7.4 75 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 98.7 km
6.4 48 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 207.6 km
6.1 21 km N of Jal?l?b?d, Afghanistan 33.0 km
6.1 55 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 171.8 km
7.4 55 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 214.5 km
6.2 45 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 208.8 km
6.6 14 km NW of Nahr?n, Afghanistan 36.0 km
6.3 54 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 228.7 km
6.1 26 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 229.0 km
6.1 43 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 190.0 km
6.5 57 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 211.0 km
6.2 36 km SSW of Farkhār, Afghanistan 23.5 km
6.2 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 212.6 km
6.2 Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan 205.6 km
6.6 40 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 215.6 km
7.4 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 207.8 km
6.6 43 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 195.5 km
6.3 31 km NNW of Nahr?n, Afghanistan 35.0 km
6.7 51 km ESE of Farkh?r, Afghanistan 216.2 km
6.1 43 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 211.8 km
6.5 19 km S of ?uk?mat? Azrah, Afghanistan 10.0 km
7.3 42 km NNW of B?my?n, Afghanistan 25.0 km
7.5 35 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 228.7 km
6.4 19 km WSW of A?bak, Afghanistan 35.0 km
6.0 6 km NNW of Fayzabad, Afghanistan 20.0 km
7.8 71 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 240.0 km
7.1 55 km ESE of Farkhār, Afghanistan 200.0 km
6.3 76 km NE of Bāzārak, Afghanistan 205.0 km
6.5 29 km E of Jurm, Afghanistan 205.0 km
6.3 58 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 205.0 km
6.8 78 km NNW of Pārūn, Afghanistan 205.0 km
7.4 50 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan 100.0 km
6.4 21 km WNW of Balkh, Afghanistan 35.0 km
6.8 40 km SW of Qarchī Gak, Afghanistan 35.0 km
7.7 52 km ESE of Farkhār, Afghanistan 200.0 km
7.0 74 km NE of Bāzārak, Afghanistan 220.0 km
6.6 29 km SE of Jurm, Afghanistan 190.0 km
6.5 57 km NNW of Pārūn, Afghanistan 190.0 km
6.8 42 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 225.0 km
7.2 Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan 200.0 km

Other countries in this catalog sample

A Afghanistan-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.

Croatia

65 M4+ events · strongest M6.4

M6.4

Tajikistan

1,583 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

Switzerland

12 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Dominica

55 M4+ events · strongest M5.6

M5.6

Mongolia

196 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Indonesia

37,560 M4+ events · strongest M8.6

M8.6

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Afghanistan-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

Venezuela

531 M4+ events

M7.5

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events

M7.8

India

4,086 M4+ events

M7.5

Understand the data

Iran

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Timor Leste

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Afghanistan? ▼
The USGS catalog records 3,478 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Afghanistan since 2005, an average of about 166 per year. Separately, 98 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Afghanistan? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Afghanistan measured magnitude 7.8. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Afghanistan? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Afghanistan ranks 20th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2023, with 6.
How deep are earthquakes in Afghanistan? ▼
Across the 98 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 152 km. 23% were shallow (under 70 km), where surface shaking is strongest at a given magnitude.
Where does this data come from? ▼
Every figure is derived from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward (the period of consistent global completeness); the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900. Nothing is modelled or estimated.

About Afghanistan's figures

3,478 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.8 · average M4.4 · 98 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 17, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What Afghanistan's numbers mean

Afghanistan ranks 20th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 166 M4+ earthquakes strike Afghanistan per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2023 was the busiest year on record with 6 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 23% of Afghanistan's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
  • The strongest catalogued event reached M7.8. Compare against neighboring or similarly-ranked countries before drawing conclusions from magnitude alone. Compare strongest earthquakes

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-19.