PlainQuake

Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Djibouti

Djibouti ranks 56th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

260
M4+ events (since 2005)
10
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M6.5
Strongest
~12
M4+ per year

The verdict

Djibouti has logged 260 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 10 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 6.5.

#56
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
260
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M6.5
strongest earthquake on record
10
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.

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Djibouti by year

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

Value

What this shows Djibouti's most active year for major earthquakes was 1989 (6 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 2025

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 10 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Djibouti.

M6.0-6.9

10

100.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 10 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 12 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

10

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Djibouti

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

Mag Location Depth
6.5 12 km ENE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 11.6 km
6.4 17 km NNE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 15.8 km
6.2 4 km WSW of Arta, Djibouti 7.4 km
6.2 10 km WNW of Djibouti, Djibouti 15.0 km
6.1 26 km NNW of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 9.7 km
6.1 20 km N of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 11.7 km
6.1 18 km NNE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 10.0 km
6.1 18 km N of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 10.0 km
6.1 26 km NNW of 'Ali Sabieh, Djibouti 15.0 km
6.0 39 km SSE of Holhol, Djibouti 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (10 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 4 km WSW of Arta, Djibouti 7.4 km
6.1 26 km NNW of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 9.7 km
6.4 17 km NNE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 15.8 km
6.1 20 km N of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 11.7 km
6.1 18 km NNE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 10.0 km
6.1 18 km N of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 10.0 km
6.5 12 km ENE of Gâlâfi, Djibouti 11.6 km
6.2 10 km WNW of Djibouti, Djibouti 15.0 km
6.1 26 km NNW of 'Ali Sabieh, Djibouti 15.0 km
6.0 39 km SSE of Holhol, Djibouti 15.0 km

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Djibouti.

Honduras

269 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Russia region

251 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Albania

273 M4+ events · strongest M6.4

M6.4

Algeria

245 M4+ events · strongest M6.0

M6.0

Australia

279 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Mayotte

232 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

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 Djibouti? ▼
The USGS catalog records 260 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Djibouti since 2005, an average of about 12 per year. Separately, 10 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Djibouti? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Djibouti measured magnitude 6.5. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Djibouti? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Djibouti ranks 56th of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1989, with 6.
How deep are earthquakes in Djibouti? ▼
Across the 10 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 12 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.

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.