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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Iceland

Iceland ranks 35th 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.

982
M4+ events (since 2005)
13
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.0
Strongest
~47
M4+ per year

The verdict

Iceland has logged 982 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 13 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.0.

#35
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
982
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M7.0
strongest earthquake on record
13
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 Iceland by year

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

Value

What this shows Iceland's most active year for major earthquakes was 2000 (2 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 13 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Iceland.

M6.0-6.9

13

100.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 13 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 12 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

13

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Iceland

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

Mag Location Depth
7.0 79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland 10.0 km
6.9 41 km W of Siglufjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.8 67 km E of Selfoss, Iceland 15.0 km
6.5 12 km ENE of Selfoss, Iceland 10.0 km
6.5 25 km E of Selfoss, Iceland 10.0 km
6.4 36 km ENE of Norðurþing, Iceland 33.0 km
6.4 98 km NNW of Siglufjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.3 1 km ESE of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.3 8 km N of Selfoss, Iceland 9.0 km
6.2 19 km SW of Dalvík, Iceland 10.0 km

Significant earthquake record (13 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.0 27 km NNE of Siglufjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.3 8 km N of Selfoss, Iceland 9.0 km
6.5 12 km ENE of Selfoss, Iceland 10.0 km
6.5 25 km E of Selfoss, Iceland 10.0 km
6.0 52 km NNE of Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland 7.6 km
6.4 36 km ENE of Norðurþing, Iceland 33.0 km
6.1 13 km S of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.9 41 km W of Siglufjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.2 19 km SW of Dalvík, Iceland 10.0 km
6.3 1 km ESE of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.4 98 km NNW of Siglufjörður, Iceland 10.0 km
6.8 67 km E of Selfoss, Iceland 15.0 km
7.0 79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland 10.0 km

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Iceland.

Myanmar

983 M4+ events · strongest M6.9

M6.9

Canada

1,014 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

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 Iceland? ▼
The USGS catalog records 982 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Iceland since 2005, an average of about 47 per year. Separately, 13 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Iceland? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Iceland measured magnitude 7.0. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Iceland? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Iceland ranks 35th of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2000, with 2.
How deep are earthquakes in Iceland? ▼
Across the 13 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.