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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Greece

Greece has catalogued 4,606 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 14th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.

Greece ranks 14th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 219 M4+ events a year alongside 132 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1904 to 2025, peaking in 1915.

4,606
M4+ events (since 2005)
132
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.7
Strongest
~219
M4+ per year

The verdict

Greece is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,606 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 132 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

1915
busiest year (6 major events)
23 km
average recorded event depth
94%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder China sits immediately above at 4,952 events and Peru sits immediately below at 4,598.

Where Greece sits in the catalog

Rank 14th of 187 tracked countries (93th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder China sits immediately above at 4,952 events and Peru sits immediately below at 4,598.

  • China - next more active (4,952 M4+)
  • Peru - next less active (4,598 M4+)

Greece's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

4,606 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. Greece 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 Greece compares to its nearest peers

Greece 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).

Greece 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
Greece vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
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 4,952 M7.9
Greece (this page) 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
Guatemala 1,951 M7.4

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Greece by year

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

Value

What this shows Greece's most active year for major earthquakes was 1915 (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 2005–present
0%100%0.6%
Share of Greece's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

28 of 4,606 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 132 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Greece.

How the 132 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 95.5%

M7.0-7.9

6

4.5%

M6.0-6.9

126

95.5%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 132 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 23 km.

Greece93.9%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Greece's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

124

93.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

8

6.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Greece

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

Mag Location Depth
7.7 19 km SSE of Amorgós, Greece 20.0 km
7.3 15 km NNW of Karpathos, Greece 15.0 km
7.3 4 km WNW of Koróni, Greece 15.0 km
7.2 61 km W of Eresós, Greece 10.0 km
7.0 13 km NNE of Néon Karlovásion, Greece 21.0 km
7.0 26 km SW of Lixoúri, Greece 14.3 km
7.0 5 km NNW of Kéfalos, Greece 15.0 km
7.0 55 km S of Mýrina, Greece 10.7 km
6.9 21 km SSW of Kamariótissa, Greece 6.4 km
6.9 35 km S of Methóni, Greece 29.0 km

Significant earthquake record (132 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 66 km SE of Emporeío, Greece 64.0 km
6.0 20 km SSE of Fry, Greece 76.2 km
6.4 4 km SW of Palekastro, Greece 20.0 km
6.0 6 km N of Thrapsanón, Greece 6.0 km
6.3 9 km W of Týrnavos, Greece 8.0 km
7.0 13 km NNE of Néon Karlovásion, Greece 21.0 km
6.5 91 km S of Néa Anatolí, Greece 10.0 km
6.0 45 km WNW of Kíssamos, Greece 69.0 km
6.8 32 km SW of Lithakiá, Greece 14.0 km
6.6 11 km ENE of Kos, Greece 7.0 km
6.3 5 km S of Plomári, Greece 12.0 km
6.5 19 km SSW of Lefkáda, Greece 11.0 km
6.0 26 km SSW of Fry, Greece 20.0 km
6.9 21 km SSW of Kamariótissa, Greece 6.4 km
6.0 8 km NNW of Lixoúri, Greece 5.0 km
6.1 1 km ENE of Lixoúri, Greece 8.0 km
6.6 36 km W of Kíssamos, Greece 40.0 km
6.0 73 km S of Pýrgos, Greece 19.0 km
6.2 68 km S of Pýrgos, Greece 10.0 km
6.0 42 km NW of Fry, Greece 59.9 km
6.4 95 km S of Néa Anatolí, Greece 19.0 km
6.4 35 km SSW of Lárdos, Greece 52.0 km
6.4 15 km ESE of Várda, Greece 16.0 km
6.2 58 km SSW of Koróni, Greece 9.9 km
6.5 50 km S of Koróni, Greece 28.0 km
6.9 35 km S of Methóni, Greece 29.0 km
6.2 15 km WNW of Leonídio, Greece 75.0 km
6.7 26 km NE of Kýthira, Greece 66.0 km
6.1 74 km WSW of Kastrí, Greece 24.5 km
6.3 8 km S of Kanaláki, Greece 10.0 km
6.2 49 km NW of Fry, Greece 88.0 km
6.5 32 km WNW of Skýros, Greece 10.0 km
6.0 5 km WNW of Fylí, Greece 10.0 km
6.6 22 km SW of Lithakiá, Greece 33.0 km
6.0 36 km SSW of Eresós, Greece 17.9 km
6.4 47 km SSE of Koróni, Greece 24.0 km
6.2 Dodecanese Islands, Greece 33.0 km
6.5 8 km WNW of Galaxídhion, Greece 14.2 km
6.6 10 km W of Aianí, Greece 14.0 km
6.1 15 km NNE of Pánormos, Greece 76.0 km
6.1 14 km WNW of Gouménissa, Greece 13.3 km
6.0 1 km ENE of Paralía Vérgas, Greece 11.2 km
6.2 40 km WSW of Kíssamos, Greece 39.1 km
6.1 37 km NNE of Psará, Greece 22.5 km
6.8 39 km NW of Mýrina, Greece 2.4 km
6.4 18 km NW of Lixoúri, Greece 19.1 km
7.0 26 km SW of Lixoúri, Greece 14.3 km
6.8 28 km SSE of Karyes, Greece 10.0 km
6.5 29 km E of Skýros, Greece 13.3 km
7.2 61 km W of Eresós, Greece 10.0 km
6.4 3 km WSW of Erythrés, Greece 28.5 km
6.4 13 km SSW of Kaparéllion, Greece 33.0 km
6.7 5 km SW of Domvraína, Greece 33.0 km
6.3 14 km SE of Vamvakoú, Greece 20.0 km
6.4 6 km S of Áno Lekhónia, Greece 14.0 km
6.4 8 km ESE of Kolchikón, Greece 3.0 km
6.0 62 km WSW of Palaióchora, Greece 33.0 km
6.4 45 km WSW of Lithakiá, Greece 33.0 km
6.2 16 km NW of Lixoúri, Greece 16.5 km
6.1 16 km SW of Xylókastro, Greece 81.5 km
6.2 16 km WSW of Palaióchora, Greece 36.2 km
6.3 4 km SSE of Antikyra, Greece 13.0 km
6.1 19 km WSW of Mandráki, Greece 18.5 km
7.0 55 km S of Mýrina, Greece 10.7 km
6.6 22 km NNE of Skýros, Greece 10.0 km
6.2 14 km NE of Kerasochóri, Greece 10.0 km
6.1 8 km SSW of Aráchova, Greece 24.1 km
6.0 22 km SE of Chóra Sfakíon, Greece 53.3 km
6.1 19 km SW of Dimitsána, Greece 16.4 km
6.8 6 km SW of Galaxídhion, Greece 60.7 km
6.0 6 km NNW of Patitírion, Greece 20.0 km
6.2 2 km WSW of Fylí, Greece 152.7 km
6.1 5 km WNW of Agía Galíni, Greece 35.0 km
6.3 29 km SSW of Lithakiá, Greece 15.0 km
6.4 15 km ESE of Fársala, Greece 10.0 km
6.0 76 km S of Methóni, Greece 15.0 km
6.1 63 km N of Sitia, Greece 15.0 km
7.7 19 km SSE of Amorgós, Greece 20.0 km
6.2 4 km NNE of Káto Lekhónia, Greece 15.0 km
6.0 32 km SE of Karyes, Greece 15.0 km
6.7 7 km NE of Anávra, Greece 10.0 km
6.2 8 km SSE of Valsamáta, Greece 15.0 km
6.2 10 km NE of Katastárion, Greece 15.0 km
6.8 15 km ENE of Póros, Greece 10.0 km
6.5 13 km ESE of Itháki, Greece 10.0 km
6.3 8 km NE of Póros, Greece 15.0 km
6.5 46 km SSE of Kastrí, Greece 25.0 km
6.4 39 km SSW of Tympáki, Greece 15.0 km
6.4 19 km WNW of Préveza, Greece 15.0 km
6.6 35 km NW of Itháki, Greece 15.0 km
7.3 15 km NNW of Karpathos, Greece 15.0 km
7.3 4 km WNW of Koróni, Greece 15.0 km
6.3 29 km SW of Kíssamos, Greece 15.0 km
6.2 14 km W of Rizómylos, Greece 15.0 km
6.2 16 km S of Néa Anatolí, Greece 15.0 km
6.0 14 km WSW of Xylókastro, Greece 10.0 km
6.1 8 km NW of Fylí, Greece 15.0 km
6.2 66 km SSW of Folégandros, Greece 70.0 km
6.3 9 km SE of Néa Apollonía, Greece 10.0 km
6.4 14 km E of Kardámaina, Greece 15.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 132 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

United States

17,280 M4+ events · strongest M8.2

M8.2

Djibouti

260 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Barbados

66 M4+ events · strongest M6.5

M6.5

Jordan

5 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Lebanon

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Niger

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.6

M4.6

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Wallis and Futuna

807 M4+ events

M6.7

Colombia

1,721 M4+ events

M7.3

El Salvador

1,501 M4+ events

M7.3

Brazil

101 M4+ events

M6.8

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events

M7.4

Iraq

185 M4+ events

M7.3

Understand the data

China

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Peru

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Greece? ▼
The USGS catalog records 4,606 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Greece since 2005, an average of about 219 per year. Separately, 132 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Greece? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Greece measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Greece? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Greece ranks 14th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1915, with 6.
How deep are earthquakes in Greece? ▼
Across the 132 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 23 km. 94% 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 Greece's figures

4,606 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.4 · 132 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 18, 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 Greece's numbers mean

Greece ranks 14th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 219 M4+ earthquakes strike Greece per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1915 was the busiest year on record with 6 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 94% of Greece'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 M7.7. 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.