Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Canada

Canada ranks 33rd of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

1,014
M4+ events (since 2005): 100
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.8
Strongest: ~48
M4+ per year

The verdict

Canada has logged 1,014 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 100 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

#33
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 1,014
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.8
strongest earthquake on record: 100
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

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.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 100 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Canada.

M7.0-7.9

5.0%

M6.0-6.9

95.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 100 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 13 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

100

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 (100 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
6.5	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
7.1	British Columbia-Yukon border, Canada	0.0 km	Jan 18, 1901

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Canada.

Myanmar

983 M4+ events · strongest M6.9

M6.9

Iceland

982 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Ecuador

1,069 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

India region

835 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Bolivia

832 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

Wallis and Futuna

805 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

Earthquake preparedness

Before, during and after a quake.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Canada? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,014 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Canada since 2005, an average of about 48 per year. Separately, 100 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 215 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 100 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 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.

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