PlainQuake

Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in China

China has catalogued 4,952 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 13th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.0.

China ranks 13th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 236 M4+ events a year alongside 273 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1902 to 2026, peaking in 1976.

4,952
M4+ events (since 2005)
273
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.0
Strongest
~236
M4+ per year

The verdict

China is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,952 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 273 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.

1976
busiest year (8 major events)
30 km
average recorded event depth
98%
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 Solomon Islands sits immediately above at 6,129 events and Greece sits immediately below at 4,606.

Where China sits in the catalog

Rank 13th of 187 tracked countries (93th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Solomon Islands sits immediately above at 6,129 events and Greece sits immediately below at 4,606.

China's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

4,952 Top 7% higher than 93% 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%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). This entry sits in this band. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. China 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 China compares to its nearest peers

China ranks in the 93th 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).

China 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 05,00010,00015,00020,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
China vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 14,262 M7.8
Chile 13,836 M8.8
Russia 12,525 M8.8
Tonga 10,847 M7.6
Mexico 8,356 M8.2
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China (this page) 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 3,478 M7.5
Timor Leste 3,416 M7.3
Taiwan 2,531 M7.4
Turkey 2,249 M7.8

Major (M6+) earthquakes in China by year

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

Value

What this shows China's most active year for major earthquakes was 1976 (8 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%0.6%
Share of China's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

31 of 4,952 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 273 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for China.

How the 273 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 85.7%

M7.0-7.9

39

14.3%

M6.0-6.9

234

85.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 273 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 30 km.

China97.8%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of China's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

267

97.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

6

2.2% of events

Strongest earthquakes in China

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

Mag Location Depth
8.0 95 km WSW of Shihezi, China 15.0 km
7.9 125 km E of Baiyin, China 15.0 km
7.9 58 km W of Tianpeng, China 19.0 km
7.9 172 km SE of Altay, China 10.0 km
7.8 108 km WSW of Laojunmiao, China 15.0 km
7.8 Southern Qinghai, China 15.0 km
7.8 Southern Qinghai, China 10.0 km
7.7 145 km NW of Jinghong, China 17.8 km
7.7 89 km WSW of Nagqu, China 30.0 km
7.7 31 km SSW of Wuwei, China 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (273 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.3 262 km SSE of Dunhuang, China 10.0 km
7.0 128 km WNW of Aykol, China 13.0 km
6.6 44 km SE of Kangding, China 12.0 km
6.6 northern Qinghai, China 13.0 km
7.3 Southern Qinghai, China 10.0 km
6.1 25 km NW of Dali, China 9.0 km
6.3 278 km SE of Hotan, China 10.0 km
6.0 104 km ENE of Kashgar, China 5.5 km
6.3 102 km NNW of Xinyuan, China 20.0 km
6.5 168 km SW of Mawu, China 9.0 km
6.0 58 km SSE of Shihezi, China 17.6 km
6.4 57 km WNW of Zangguy, China 20.0 km
6.1 125 km SW of Jianshui, China 8.5 km
6.2 33 km WSW of Zhaotong, China 12.0 km
6.9 272 km ESE of Hotan, China 10.0 km
6.6 56 km WSW of Linqiong, China 14.0 km
6.2 281 km SE of Hotan, China 13.0 km
6.3 117 km E of Xinyuan, China 18.0 km
6.1 239 km NNW of Qamdo, China 7.6 km
6.9 233 km NNW of Qamdo, China 17.0 km
6.3 294 km SW of Laojunmiao, China 13.0 km
6.3 northern Qinghai, China 19.0 km
6.3 39 km WSW of Dêqên, China 12.0 km
6.0 Sichuan-Yunnan border region, China 11.0 km
6.0 46 km NW of Guangyuan, China 6.0 km
6.1 39 km WNW of Guangyuan, China 18.0 km
6.1 39 km NW of Tianpeng, China 10.0 km
7.9 58 km W of Tianpeng, China 19.0 km
7.2 226 km SE of Hotan, China 10.0 km
6.1 119 km NNE of Jinghong, China 5.0 km
6.1 92 km NW of Aksu, China 22.0 km
6.0 75 km SSW of Dadukou, China 10.0 km
6.4 278 km SSW of Laojunmiao, China 14.0 km
6.3 107 km E of Kashgar, China 11.0 km
6.4 21 km ENE of Chaihe, China 586.3 km
7.3 50 km SW of Dongning, China 566.0 km
7.8 Southern Qinghai, China 10.0 km
6.1 257 km WSW of Xining, China 10.0 km
7.1 57 km ENE of Wangqing, China 565.7 km
6.4 118 km E of Kashgar, China 33.0 km
6.2 82 km E of Kashgar, China 15.0 km
6.0 87 km E of Kashgar, China 33.0 km
6.0 36 km NW of Baotou, China 26.0 km
6.3 83 km NE of Kashgar, China 28.2 km
6.6 47 km N of Lijiang, China 11.1 km
6.2 79 km SE of Dadukou, China 10.0 km
6.8 158 km W of Jinghong, China 12.5 km
6.1 southern Xinjiang, China 14.1 km
6.1 68 km SW of Dêqên, China 14.1 km
6.0 118 km WSW of Aykol, China 20.6 km
6.3 141 km WSW of Xining, China 9.6 km
6.5 153 km WSW of Xining, China 8.1 km
6.3 148 km WSW of Xining, China 10.0 km
6.0 93 km W of Kashgar, China 33.0 km
6.0 northern Qinghai, China 12.2 km
6.1 157 km WNW of Tianpeng, China 14.6 km
6.2 239 km W of Kangding, China 14.0 km
6.1 244 km W of Kangding, China 7.7 km
6.4 231 km SE of Qamdo, China 13.3 km
6.1 126 km NW of Jinghong, China 14.5 km
7.7 145 km NW of Jinghong, China 17.8 km
6.2 Southern Qinghai, China 7.6 km
6.2 89 km WNW of Aksu, China 28.9 km
6.0 102 km WSW of Wuwei, China 8.0 km
6.4 Southern Qinghai, China 33.0 km
6.1 263 km NE of Saga, China 33.0 km
6.2 51 km WSW of Kashgar, China 15.3 km
7.0 66 km W of Kashgar, China 6.8 km
6.0 51 km NE of Juegang, China 18.2 km
6.1 35 km WNW of Dongning, China 557.9 km
6.2 90 km NW of Kashgar, China 16.1 km
6.0 173 km NE of Burang, China 33.0 km
6.5 185 km NNE of Burang, China 33.0 km
6.0 Southern Qinghai, China 10.0 km
6.8 131 km NW of Kangding, China 33.0 km
6.2 142 km NNW of Rikaze, China 33.0 km
6.2 124 km S of Jianshui, China 33.0 km
6.3 Xinjiang-Qinghai border region, China 27.0 km
6.3 5 km ENE of Gaojingzhuang, China 15.0 km
6.5 115 km NE of Lijiang, China 33.0 km
6.7 94 km NNW of Jiangyou, China 33.0 km
6.4 99 km NNW of Jiangyou, China 33.0 km
6.9 121 km NNW of Jiangyou, China 16.0 km
7.4 6 km SW of Linxi, China 26.0 km
7.5 17 km NE of Penguanzhuang, China 23.0 km
6.9 169 km SW of Dali, China 8.0 km
6.1 196 km NNE of Nagqu, China 33.0 km
6.3 142 km S of Hotan, China 33.0 km
7.0 6 km E of Dashiqiao, China 33.0 km
6.0 70 km SSW of Kangding, China 33.0 km
6.8 72 km WSW of Xunchang, China 11.0 km
6.4 123 km NNE of Jinghong, China 33.0 km
6.1 151 km NNW of Jiangyou, China 33.0 km
7.4 203 km NW of Kangding, China 33.0 km
6.2 38 km NNW of Tumxuk, China 13.5 km
6.1 11 km NNW of Simao, China 23.2 km
6.0 22 km NE of Simao, China 10.0 km
6.0 271 km SW of Shaliuhe, China 10.0 km
6.1 92 km WNW of Aksu, China 9.5 km
6.0 111 km W of Tumxuk, China 14.8 km

Showing the first 100 of 273 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Cameroon

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.6

M4.6

Tanzania

368 M4+ events · strongest M6.0

M6.0

Zambia

62 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Armenia

27 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

Ecuador

1,130 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Sudan

51 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Fiji

4,498 M4+ events

M7.9

New Zealand

7,523 M4+ events

M8.1

India

4,086 M4+ events

M7.5

Tonga

10,847 M4+ events

M7.6

Iran

3,554 M4+ events

M7.7

Vanuatu

7,572 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

Solomon Islands

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Greece

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in China? ▼
The USGS catalog records 4,952 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in China since 2005, an average of about 236 per year. Separately, 273 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in China? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in China measured magnitude 8.0. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is China? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, China ranks 13th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1976, with 8.
How deep are earthquakes in China? ▼
Across the 273 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 30 km. 98% 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 China's figures

4,952 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M8.0 · average M4.5 · 273 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 China's numbers mean

China ranks 13th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 236 M4+ earthquakes strike China per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1976 was the busiest year on record with 8 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 98% of China'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 M8.0. 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.