Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Canada

Canada has catalogued 1,026 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 33rd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.8.

Canada ranks 33rd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 49 M4+ events a year alongside 101 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1901 to 2024, peaking in 2012.

Compiled by PlainQuake, Earthquake Data Editorial Process · July 19, 2026

1,026
M4+ events (since 2005): 101
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.8
Strongest: ~49
M4+ per year

The verdict

Canada is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,026 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 101 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

2012
busiest year (4 major events): 13 km
average recorded event depth: 100%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Ecuador sits immediately above at 1,130 events and Iceland sits immediately below at 982.

Where Canada sits in the catalog

Rank 33rd of 187 tracked countries (82th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Ecuador sits immediately above at 1,130 events and Iceland sits immediately below at 982.

Ecuador - next more active (1,130 M4+)
Iceland - next less active (982 M4+)

Canada's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

1,026 Top 18% higher than 82% of 187 countries

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 Canada compares to its nearest peers

Canada ranks in the 82th 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).

Canada vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat

Read the chart (all 21 values)

Country	M4+ events	Strongest magnitude
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
Myanmar	1,136	M7.7
Ecuador	1,130	M7.8
Canada (this page)	1,026	M7.8
Iceland	982	M6.3
Bolivia	832	M6.8
Wallis and Futuna	807	M6.7
Costa Rica	717	M7.6
Panama	704	M6.7
Nepal	694	M7.8
Micronesia	672	M6.6
Kyrgyzstan	625	M6.7
Italy	609	M6.6
Ethiopia	574	M5.9

2008

3
2009

1
2011

1
2012

4
2013

2
2014

1
2015

1
2017

1
2018

3
2019

4
2023

1
2024

2

What this shows Canada's most active year for major earthquakes was 2012 (4 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Share of Canada's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

24 of 1,026 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 101 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Canada.

How the 101 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 95.0%

M6.0-6.9 95.0%

M7.0-7.9

5.0%

M6.0-6.9

95.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 101 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 13 km.

Depth distribution of Canada's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

101

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Canada

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.8	206 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada	14.0 km	Oct 28, 2012
7.5	8 km NNW of Courtenay, Canada	15.0 km	Jun 23, 1946
7.5	262 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	May 26, 1929
7.3	288 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada	19.9 km	Jun 24, 1970
7.1	British Columbia-Yukon border, Canada	0.0 km	Jan 18, 1901
6.9	32 km SW of Vernon, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 6, 1918
6.9	Northwest Territories, Canada	6.0 km	Dec 23, 1985
6.8	210 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 22, 2018
6.8	212 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 17, 1980
6.7	189 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Nov 2, 2004

Significant earthquake record (101 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.5	271 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	3.8 km	Sep 15, 2024
6.4	209 km WSW of Tofino, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 11, 2024
6.0	237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	7.0 km	Apr 13, 2023
6.3	203 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	6.6 km	Dec 25, 2019
6.0	189 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 23, 2019
6.0	201 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 23, 2019
6.2	250 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 4, 2019
6.5	237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 22, 2018
6.8	210 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 22, 2018
6.5	223 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 22, 2018
6.0	Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada	31.0 km	Jan 8, 2017
6.2	282 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	8.0 km	Apr 24, 2015
6.5	107 km WSW of Vernon, Canada	10.0 km	Apr 24, 2014
6.0	230 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	9.9 km	Sep 4, 2013
6.1	243 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	2.7 km	Sep 3, 2013
6.1	176 km WSW of Vernon, Canada	13.7 km	Nov 8, 2012
6.2	241 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	9.0 km	Oct 30, 2012
6.3	237 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada	9.0 km	Oct 28, 2012
7.8	206 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada	14.0 km	Oct 28, 2012
6.4	66 km SW of Vernon, Canada	22.0 km	Sep 9, 2011
6.6	254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	17.0 km	Nov 17, 2009
6.1	Haida Gwaii Region, Canada	10.0 km	Jan 9, 2008
6.4	251 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jan 5, 2008
6.6	267 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Jan 5, 2008
6.7	189 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Nov 2, 2004
6.4	62 km SW of Vernon, Canada	23.7 km	Jul 19, 2004
6.1	225 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	20.0 km	Oct 12, 2001
6.0	211 km WSW of Tofino, Canada	10.0 km	Sep 14, 2001
6.0	247 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jan 11, 2001
6.0	203 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 2, 1999
6.1	254 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Aug 30, 1998
6.2	144 km W of Tofino, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 6, 1996
6.0	269 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Aug 3, 1993
6.0	200 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Apr 6, 1992
6.7	213 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	19.7 km	Apr 6, 1992
6.1	247 km WSW of Tofino, Canada	10.0 km	Jan 2, 1992
6.0	264 km SSE of Salluit, Canada	5.1 km	Dec 25, 1989
6.2	Northwest Territories, Canada	10.0 km	Mar 25, 1988
6.9	Northwest Territories, Canada	6.0 km	Dec 23, 1985
6.7	Northwest Territories, Canada	10.0 km	Oct 5, 1985
6.8	212 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 17, 1980
6.1	227 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jun 11, 1978
6.7	250 km W of Tofino, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 20, 1976
6.0	254 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	16.0 km	Feb 23, 1976
6.1	Melville Island region, Nunavut, Canada	20.0 km	Dec 27, 1972
6.6	176 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 23, 1972
6.1	118 km WNW of Tofino, Canada	20.0 km	Jul 5, 1972
6.0	230 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	17.1 km	Dec 5, 1971
6.2	230 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	12.5 km	Mar 13, 1971
7.3	288 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada	19.9 km	Jun 24, 1970
6.1	242 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Mar 31, 1964
6.1	187 km WNW of Clyde River, Canada	15.0 km	Sep 4, 1963
6.2	248 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	20.0 km	Dec 1, 1960
6.5	295 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	15.0 km	Jul 4, 1960
6.5	243 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Aug 26, 1959
6.1	65 km WSW of Vernon, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 16, 1957
6.1	Vancouver Island, Canada region	15.0 km	Mar 24, 1957
6.5	269 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 21, 1956
6.4	236 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Jun 28, 1956
6.5	Haida Gwaii Region, Canada	15.0 km	Feb 19, 1956
6.3	253 km SSE of Fort McPherson, Canada	10.0 km	Mar 1, 1955
6.4	207 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 4, 1953
6.3	250 km SSE of Fort McPherson, Canada	15.0 km	Jan 11, 1953
6.0	190 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Sep 27, 1951
6.3	241 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	10.0 km	Aug 23, 1949
6.4	Haida Gwaii Region, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 30, 1948
6.0	191 km WSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	15.0 km	Feb 28, 1948
6.3	294 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 18, 1946
6.3	238 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 18, 1946
7.5	8 km NNW of Courtenay, Canada	15.0 km	Jun 23, 1946
6.3	298 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada	15.0 km	Oct 29, 1945
6.1	Haida Gwaii Region, Canada	15.0 km	Aug 10, 1944
6.2	101 km SSW of Haines Junction, Canada	15.0 km	Feb 3, 1944
6.2	240 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 19, 1942
6.5	76 km SSW of Fort McPherson, Canada	10.0 km	Jun 5, 1940
6.3	67 km SSW of Fort McPherson, Canada	15.0 km	May 29, 1940
6.6	252 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Jul 18, 1939
6.7	280 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada	10.0 km	Mar 22, 1938
6.3	252 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 21, 1936
6.2	2 km ESE of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Canada	15.0 km	Nov 1, 1935
6.3	181 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Sep 24, 1935
6.4	286 km NNW of Clyde River, Canada	15.0 km	Aug 31, 1934
6.0	230 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	15.0 km	Jul 1, 1930
6.7	235 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Sep 17, 1929
7.5	262 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	May 26, 1929
6.3	255 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 1, 1929
6.4	216 km W of Tofino, Canada	15.0 km	Nov 1, 1926
6.1	216 km SW of Vernon, Canada	15.0 km	Oct 30, 1926
6.0	119 km SSW of Ucluelet, Canada	10.0 km	Sep 17, 1926
6.3	7 km NW of Saint-Pacôme, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 1, 1925
6.1	246 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 30, 1924
6.4	46 km NNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 29, 1920
6.3	27 km WSW of Campbell River, Canada	15.0 km	Oct 10, 1919
6.9	32 km SW of Vernon, Canada	15.0 km	Dec 6, 1918
6.0	237 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Apr 17, 1918
6.1	266 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Jul 21, 1914
6.5	247 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Mar 11, 1912
6.5	212 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	15.0 km	Nov 6, 1910
6.5	9 km NNW of Campbell River, Canada	15.0 km	Jan 24, 1906
6.3	79 km SW of Hay River, Canada	15.0 km	Jul 14, 1905

Showing the first 100 of 101 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Somalia

332 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Angola

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

South Africa

191 M4+ events · strongest M5.4

M5.4

Mayotte

232 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Switzerland

12 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Turkey

2,249 M4+ events

M7.8

New Caledonia

1,917 M4+ events

M7.5

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events

M7.8

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events

M7.4

Venezuela

531 M4+ events

M7.5

China

4,952 M4+ events

M7.9

Understand the data

Ecuador

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Iceland

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Canada? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,026 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Canada since 2005, an average of about 49 per year. Separately, 101 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Canada? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Canada measured magnitude 7.8. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Canada? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Canada ranks 33rd of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2012, with 4.

How deep are earthquakes in Canada? ▼

Across the 101 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 13 km. 100% 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 Canada's figures

1,026 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.8 · average M4.5 · 101 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 14, 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 Canada's numbers mean

Canada ranks 33rd of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

About 49 M4+ earthquakes strike Canada per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2012 was the busiest year on record with 4 significant events. See the full country ranking
100% of Canada'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.