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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Canada

Canada has catalogued 1,033 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.

1,033
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 1,033 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 1,135 events and Iceland sits immediately below at 985.

Follow Canada events (RSS)

Catalog event strip

Event tape CANADA · Canada M4+ · 33rd/187

Canada · 1,033 M4+ · max M7.8 · 101 M6+

  • PCT 1,033
  • VS-PEER 33rd/187
  • COMCAT M7.8
  • TAPE 101
  • EPIC near Ecuador
  • YOY 100% shallow

Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →

Observed impact record

What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Canada

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 27 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.4. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations
27
Average observed MMI
5.4
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
15 / 14

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.

1. Wallis and F…8082. Bolivia8353. Iceland9854. Canada1,0335. Ecuador1,1356. Myanmar1,146
M4+ catalog count for Canada and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

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 1,135 events and Iceland sits immediately below at 985.

  • Ecuador - next more active (1,135 M4+)
  • Iceland - next less active (985 M4+)

Canada's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

1,033 Top 18% higher than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,000–4,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,500–5,000: 4 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Canada 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

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Canada by year

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

Value

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.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%2.3%
Share of Canada's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

24 of 1,033 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%

M7.0-7.9

5

5.0%

M6.0-6.9

96

95.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

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

Canada100%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Canada's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

101

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Canada

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

Mag Location Depth
7.8 206 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada 14.0 km
7.5 8 km NNW of Courtenay, Canada 15.0 km
7.5 262 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
7.3 288 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada 19.9 km
7.1 British Columbia-Yukon border, Canada 0.0 km
6.9 32 km SW of Vernon, Canada 15.0 km
6.9 Northwest Territories, Canada 6.0 km
6.8 210 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.8 212 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.7 189 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km

Significant earthquake record (101 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.5 271 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 3.8 km
6.4 209 km WSW of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 7.0 km
6.3 203 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 6.6 km
6.0 189 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 201 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.2 250 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.5 237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.8 210 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.5 223 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada 31.0 km
6.2 282 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 8.0 km
6.5 107 km WSW of Vernon, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 230 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 9.9 km
6.1 243 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 2.7 km
6.1 176 km WSW of Vernon, Canada 13.7 km
6.2 241 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 9.0 km
6.3 237 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada 9.0 km
7.8 206 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada 14.0 km
6.4 66 km SW of Vernon, Canada 22.0 km
6.6 254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 17.0 km
6.1 Haida Gwaii Region, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 251 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.6 267 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.7 189 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 62 km SW of Vernon, Canada 23.7 km
6.1 225 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 20.0 km
6.0 211 km WSW of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 247 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 203 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.1 254 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.2 144 km W of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 269 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 200 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.7 213 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 19.7 km
6.1 247 km WSW of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 264 km SSE of Salluit, Canada 5.1 km
6.2 Northwest Territories, Canada 10.0 km
6.9 Northwest Territories, Canada 6.0 km
6.7 Northwest Territories, Canada 10.0 km
6.8 212 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.1 227 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.7 250 km W of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.0 254 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 16.0 km
6.1 Melville Island region, Nunavut, Canada 20.0 km
6.6 176 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.1 118 km WNW of Tofino, Canada 20.0 km
6.0 230 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 17.1 km
6.2 230 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 12.5 km
7.3 288 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada 19.9 km
6.1 242 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.1 187 km WNW of Clyde River, Canada 15.0 km
6.2 248 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 20.0 km
6.5 295 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 243 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 65 km WSW of Vernon, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 Vancouver Island, Canada region 15.0 km
6.5 269 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.4 236 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 Haida Gwaii Region, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 253 km SSE of Fort McPherson, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 207 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 250 km SSE of Fort McPherson, Canada 15.0 km
6.0 190 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 241 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 Haida Gwaii Region, Canada 15.0 km
6.0 191 km WSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 294 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.3 238 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
7.5 8 km NNW of Courtenay, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 298 km S of Prince Rupert, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 Haida Gwaii Region, Canada 15.0 km
6.2 101 km SSW of Haines Junction, Canada 15.0 km
6.2 240 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 76 km SSW of Fort McPherson, Canada 10.0 km
6.3 67 km SSW of Fort McPherson, Canada 15.0 km
6.6 252 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.7 280 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada 10.0 km
6.3 252 km SW of Prince Rupert, Canada 15.0 km
6.2 2 km ESE of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 181 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.4 286 km NNW of Clyde River, Canada 15.0 km
6.0 230 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada 15.0 km
6.7 235 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
7.5 262 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 255 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.4 216 km W of Tofino, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 216 km SW of Vernon, Canada 15.0 km
6.0 119 km SSW of Ucluelet, Canada 10.0 km
6.3 7 km NW of Saint-Pacôme, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 246 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.4 46 km NNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 27 km WSW of Campbell River, Canada 15.0 km
6.9 32 km SW of Vernon, Canada 15.0 km
6.0 237 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.1 266 km WSW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 247 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 212 km W of Port McNeill, Canada 15.0 km
6.5 9 km NNW of Campbell River, Canada 15.0 km
6.3 79 km SW of Hay River, Canada 15.0 km

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

333 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

1,146 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.

Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Turkey

2,252 M4+ events

M7.8

New Caledonia

1,921 M4+ events

M7.5

Philippines

14,420 M4+ events

M7.8

Venezuela

538 M4+ events

M7.5

China

4,994 M4+ events

M7.9

Pakistan

1,270 M4+ events

M7.7

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.