Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Alaska Earthquake
Alaska Earthquake ranks 163rd of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.
- 5
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 11
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M9.2
- Strongest
- ~0
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Alaska Earthquake has logged 5 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 11 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 9.2.
- #163
- of 215 countries by M4+ activity
- 5
- catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
- M9.2
- strongest earthquake on record
- 11
- major M6+ events since 1900
Average catalogued magnitude is 7.6 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Alaska Earthquake by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1938
1938: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1946
1946: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1957
1957: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1964
1964: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1986
1986: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2002
2002: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2020
2020: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2021
2021: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2023
2023: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025
2025: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Alaska Earthquake's most active year for major earthquakes was 2020 (2 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 11 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Alaska Earthquake.
M8+
6
54.5%
M7.0-7.9
5
45.5%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 11 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 27 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
11
100.0% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Alaska Earthquake
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake | 25.0 km | Mar 28, 1964 |
| 8.6 | 1957 Atka, Alaska Earthquake | 25.0 km | Mar 9, 1957 |
| 8.6 | 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake | 15.0 km | Apr 1, 1946 |
| 8.2 | 1938 Semidi Islands, Alaska Earthquake | 35.0 km | Nov 10, 1938 |
| 8.2 | 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake | 35.0 km | Jul 29, 2021 |
| 8.0 | 1986 Atka, Alaska Earthquake | 33.0 km | May 7, 1986 |
| 7.9 | 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska Earthquake | 4.2 km | Nov 3, 2002 |
| 7.8 | 2020 Perryville, Alaska Earthquake | 28.0 km | Jul 22, 2020 |
| 7.6 | 2020 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake | 28.4 km | Oct 19, 2020 |
| 7.3 | 2025 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake | 38.0 km | Jul 16, 2025 |
Significant earthquake record (11 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Alaska Earthquake since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.3 | 2025 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake | 38.0 km | Jul 16, 2025 |
| 7.2 | 2023 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake | 25.0 km | Jul 16, 2023 |
| 8.2 | 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake | 35.0 km | Jul 29, 2021 |
| 7.6 | 2020 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake | 28.4 km | Oct 19, 2020 |
| 7.8 | 2020 Perryville, Alaska Earthquake | 28.0 km | Jul 22, 2020 |
| 7.9 | 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska Earthquake | 4.2 km | Nov 3, 2002 |
| 8.0 | 1986 Atka, Alaska Earthquake | 33.0 km | May 7, 1986 |
| 9.2 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake | 25.0 km | Mar 28, 1964 |
| 8.6 | 1957 Atka, Alaska Earthquake | 25.0 km | Mar 9, 1957 |
| 8.6 | 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake | 15.0 km | Apr 1, 1946 |
| 8.2 | 1938 Semidi Islands, Alaska Earthquake | 35.0 km | Nov 10, 1938 |
Countries with similar seismic activity
Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Alaska Earthquake.
Understand the data
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have occurred in Alaska Earthquake? ▼
What was the strongest earthquake in Alaska Earthquake? ▼
How seismically active is Alaska Earthquake? ▼
How deep are earthquakes in Alaska Earthquake? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
About this data
Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.
Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.
Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.