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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in India

India has catalogued 4,086 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 18th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.0.

India ranks 18th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 195 M4+ events a year alongside 140 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2025, peaking in 1950.

4,086
M4+ events (since 2005)
140
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.0
Strongest
~195
M4+ per year

The verdict

India is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,086 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 140 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.

1950
busiest year (13 major events)
30 km
average recorded event depth
93%
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 Argentina sits immediately above at 4,379 events and Iran sits immediately below at 3,554.

Where India sits in the catalog

Rank 18th of 187 tracked countries (90th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Argentina sits immediately above at 4,379 events and Iran sits immediately below at 3,554.

  • Argentina - next more active (4,379 M4+)
  • Iran - next less active (3,554 M4+)

India's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

4,086 Top 10% higher than 90% 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%). This entry sits in this band. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. India 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 India compares to its nearest peers

India ranks in the 90th 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).

India 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 05,00010,00015,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
India vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
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 4,606 M7.0
Peru 4,598 M8.0
Fiji 4,498 M7.9
Argentina 4,379 M7.0
India (this page) 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
New Caledonia 1,917 M7.5
Colombia 1,721 M7.3
Tajikistan 1,583 M7.2
El Salvador 1,501 M7.3

Major (M6+) earthquakes in India by year

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

Value

What this shows India's most active year for major earthquakes was 1950 (13 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%0.7%
Share of India's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

28 of 4,086 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 140 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for India.

How the 140 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 91.4%

M7.0-7.9

12

8.6%

M6.0-6.9

128

91.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 140 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 30 km.

India92.9%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of India's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

130

92.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

10

7.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in India

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

Mag Location Depth
8.0 43 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 20.0 km
7.9 The 1905 Kangra, India Earthquake 20.0 km
7.7 17 km NW of Bhach?u, India 16.0 km
7.6 37 km S of Sarupathar, India 15.0 km
7.5 Nicobar Islands, India region 35.0 km
7.5 266 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 24.0 km
7.3 85 km SE of Phek, India 90.5 km
7.3 73 km W of Shi Yomi, India 20.0 km
7.2 Nicobar Islands, India region 16.0 km
7.2 13 km W of Dergaon, India 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (140 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 23.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 10.0 km
6.0 8 km NNW of Dhekiajuli, India 34.0 km
6.1 239 km E of Port Blair, India 10.0 km
6.4 156 km NNE of Shi Yomi, India 8.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 10.0 km
6.7 29 km W of Imph?l, India 55.0 km
6.6 Nicobar Islands, India region 10.0 km
6.0 276 km SE of Kon?rka, India 47.2 km
6.9 43 km NW of Mangan, India 50.0 km
6.2 62 km E of W?ngjing, India 85.0 km
7.5 Nicobar Islands, India region 35.0 km
6.5 98 km SE of Port Blair, India 112.0 km
6.6 217 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 34.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 23.0 km
7.5 266 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 24.0 km
6.2 121 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India 20.0 km
6.1 144 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India 15.0 km
6.6 124 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India 17.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 15.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 11.0 km
6.2 Andaman Islands, India region 24.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 16.0 km
6.1 41 km WNW of Bamboo Flat, India 19.0 km
7.2 Nicobar Islands, India region 16.0 km
6.3 Nicobar Islands, India region 30.0 km
6.1 Andaman Islands, India region 23.2 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 55.4 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 14.0 km
6.2 Nicobar Islands, India region 12.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 8.0 km
6.2 203 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 13.3 km
6.3 194 km N of Bamboo Flat, India 26.4 km
6.6 Nicobar Islands, India region 16.1 km
6.0 99 km ENE of Port Blair, India 100.2 km
6.5 152 km NNE of Bamboo Flat, India 21.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 33.0 km
7.7 17 km NW of Bhach?u, India 16.0 km
6.3 83 km NNE of Sarupathar, India 33.0 km
6.6 9 km NNW of P?palkoti, India 15.0 km
6.1 42 km SW of Saiha, India 54.4 km
6.0 11 km WNW of Kar?mganj, India 34.9 km
6.9 130 km ENE of Thang, India 33.0 km
6.4 109 km SE of Phek, India 117.5 km
6.1 115 km E of W?ngjing, India 121.7 km
6.2 20 km SSW of Ausa, India 6.8 km
6.0 274 km SSE of Port Blair, India 66.0 km
6.8 32 km E of Uttark?shi, India 10.3 km
6.3 120 km E of W?ngjing, India 119.2 km
7.3 85 km SE of Phek, India 90.5 km
6.3 45 km SSE of Koh?ma, India 49.5 km
6.0 238 km E of Leh, India 9.1 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 27.0 km
6.0 20 km SW of Lakhipur, India 22.6 km
6.0 15 km SW of Chur?ch?ndpur, India 33.0 km
6.8 166 km NE of Bamboo Flat, India 78.0 km
6.1 15 km ENE of Gangtok, India 17.0 km
6.2 Nicobar Islands, India region 33.0 km
6.1 176 km N of Thang, India 63.0 km
6.4 58 km NNE of Sarupathar, India 27.0 km
6.0 84 km NE of Sar?han, India 33.0 km
6.8 120 km E of Man?li, India 33.0 km
6.1 48 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India 33.0 km
6.0 50 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India 25.0 km
6.6 Nicobar Islands, India region 33.0 km
6.3 253 km E of Port Blair, India 16.3 km
6.3 Nicobar Islands, India region 23.7 km
7.0 61 km ESE of Tuensang, India 70.9 km
6.5 6 km WSW of Pātan, India 10.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 10.0 km
6.3 133 km NE of Joshīmath, India 19.0 km
6.7 138 km NE of Josh?math, India 20.0 km
6.6 53 km N of Ziro, India 25.0 km
6.3 Nicobar Islands, India region 45.0 km
6.0 178 km S of Port Blair, India 78.0 km
6.2 179 km NNE of Bamboo Flat, India 27.0 km
6.1 17 km NE of Sarupathar, India 25.0 km
6.3 22 km ESE of Sarupathar, India 35.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 50.0 km
6.1 15 km NE of B?geshwar, India 15.0 km
6.2 22 km SSW of Kakching, India 65.0 km
6.7 6 km SE of Jahāngīrpur, India 15.0 km
6.0 20 km NNE of Anj?r, India 15.0 km
6.2 109 km NE of Sar?han, India 15.0 km
6.4 57 km WSW of Shi Yomi, India 15.0 km
6.0 Nicobar Islands, India region 25.0 km
6.1 85 km NNE of P?sigh?t, India 25.0 km
6.3 3 km NE of Shi Yomi, India 25.0 km
6.0 126 km NNE of Sarupathar, India 25.0 km
6.3 38 km N of Shi Yomi, India 20.0 km
6.2 14 km NNW of Ch?bua, India 25.0 km
6.2 7 km NE of Mor?nha, India 25.0 km
6.1 94 km NNE of Sarupathar, India 25.0 km
6.3 136 km NNE of P?sigh?t, India 20.0 km
6.1 28 km N of Along, India 25.0 km
6.2 56 km NNW of Tezu, India 25.0 km
6.0 20 km WNW of Maibong, India 25.0 km
6.2 64 km NE of P?sigh?t, India 25.0 km
7.3 73 km W of Shi Yomi, India 20.0 km
6.4 265 km E of Leh, India 25.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 140 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Vanuatu

7,572 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

United Arab Emirates

6 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Bhutan

35 M4+ events · strongest M6.1

M6.1

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Armenia

27 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

France

53 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

El Salvador

1,501 M4+ events

M7.3

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

Honduras

269 M4+ events

M7.5

Understand the data

Argentina

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Iran

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in India? ▼
The USGS catalog records 4,086 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in India since 2005, an average of about 195 per year. Separately, 140 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in India? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in India measured magnitude 8.0. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is India? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, India ranks 18th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1950, with 13.
How deep are earthquakes in India? ▼
Across the 140 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 30 km. 93% 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 India's figures

4,086 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M8.0 · average M4.5 · 140 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 12, 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 India's numbers mean

India ranks 18th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 195 M4+ earthquakes strike India per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1950 was the busiest year on record with 13 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 93% of India'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.