Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in India

India ranks 22nd of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

3,244
M4+ events (since 2005): 110
Major M6+ (since 1900): M8.0
Strongest: ~154
M4+ per year

The verdict

India has logged 3,244 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 110 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.

#22
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 3,244
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M8.0
strongest earthquake on record: 110
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.

2003

1
2004

2
2006

1
2008

3
2009

1
2010

2
2011

2
2014

1
2016

1
2017

1
2020

1
2021

1

What this shows India's most active year for major earthquakes was 1950 (12 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 110 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for India.

M7.0-7.9

8.2%

M6.0-6.9

101

91.8%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 110 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 32 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

100

90.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

9.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in India

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.0	43 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	20.0 km	Jun 26, 1941
7.7	17 km NW of Bhach?u, India	16.0 km	Jan 26, 2001
7.6	37 km S of Sarupathar, India	15.0 km	Jan 27, 1931
7.5	266 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	24.0 km	Aug 10, 2009
7.3	85 km SE of Phek, India	90.5 km	Aug 6, 1988
7.3	73 km W of Shi Yomi, India	20.0 km	Jul 29, 1947
7.2	13 km W of Dergaon, India	15.0 km	Oct 23, 1943
7.2	64 km NNE of Sarupathar, India	15.0 km	Dec 12, 1908
7.0	61 km ESE of Tuensang, India	70.9 km	Jul 29, 1970
7.0	28 km SSW of Lakhipur, India	15.0 km	Jul 2, 1930

Significant earthquake record (110 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.0	8 km NNW of Dhekiajuli, India	34.0 km	Apr 28, 2021
6.1	239 km E of Port Blair, India	10.0 km	Jul 17, 2020
6.4	156 km NNE of Shi Yomi, India	8.0 km	Nov 17, 2017
6.7	29 km W of Imph?l, India	55.0 km	Jan 3, 2016
6.0	276 km SE of Kon?rka, India	47.2 km	May 21, 2014
6.9	43 km NW of Mangan, India	50.0 km	Sep 18, 2011
6.2	62 km E of W?ngjing, India	85.0 km	Feb 4, 2011
6.5	98 km SE of Port Blair, India	112.0 km	May 31, 2010
6.6	217 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	34.0 km	Mar 30, 2010
7.5	266 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	24.0 km	Aug 10, 2009
6.2	121 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India	20.0 km	Aug 10, 2008
6.1	144 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India	15.0 km	Jun 28, 2008
6.6	124 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India	17.0 km	Jun 27, 2008
6.1	41 km WNW of Bamboo Flat, India	19.0 km	Feb 3, 2006
6.2	203 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	13.3 km	Dec 26, 2004
6.3	194 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	26.4 km	Dec 26, 2004
6.0	99 km ENE of Port Blair, India	100.2 km	Aug 11, 2003
6.5	152 km NNE of Bamboo Flat, India	21.0 km	Sep 13, 2002
7.7	17 km NW of Bhach?u, India	16.0 km	Jan 26, 2001
6.3	83 km NNE of Sarupathar, India	33.0 km	Jun 7, 2000
6.6	9 km NNW of P?palkoti, India	15.0 km	Mar 28, 1999
6.1	42 km SW of Saiha, India	54.4 km	Nov 21, 1997
6.0	11 km WNW of Kar?mganj, India	34.9 km	May 8, 1997
6.9	130 km ENE of Thang, India	33.0 km	Nov 19, 1996
6.4	109 km SE of Phek, India	117.5 km	May 6, 1995
6.1	115 km E of W?ngjing, India	121.7 km	Aug 8, 1994
6.2	20 km SSW of Ausa, India	6.8 km	Sep 29, 1993
6.0	274 km SSE of Port Blair, India	66.0 km	Dec 8, 1992
6.8	32 km E of Uttark?shi, India	10.3 km	Oct 19, 1991
6.3	120 km E of W?ngjing, India	119.2 km	Jan 9, 1990
7.3	85 km SE of Phek, India	90.5 km	Aug 6, 1988
6.3	45 km SSE of Koh?ma, India	49.5 km	May 18, 1987
6.0	238 km E of Leh, India	9.1 km	Jul 6, 1986
6.0	20 km SW of Lakhipur, India	22.6 km	Dec 30, 1984
6.0	15 km SW of Chur?ch?ndpur, India	33.0 km	May 6, 1984
6.8	166 km NE of Bamboo Flat, India	78.0 km	Jan 24, 1983
6.1	15 km ENE of Gangtok, India	17.0 km	Nov 19, 1980
6.1	176 km N of Thang, India	63.0 km	Feb 13, 1980
6.4	58 km NNE of Sarupathar, India	27.0 km	Aug 12, 1976
6.0	84 km NE of Sar?han, India	33.0 km	Jan 19, 1975
6.8	120 km E of Man?li, India	33.0 km	Jan 19, 1975
6.1	48 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India	33.0 km	Feb 16, 1974
6.0	50 km SW of Bamboo Flat, India	25.0 km	Feb 16, 1974
6.3	253 km E of Port Blair, India	16.3 km	Mar 28, 1971
7.0	61 km ESE of Tuensang, India	70.9 km	Jul 29, 1970
6.5	6 km WSW of Pātan, India	10.0 km	Dec 10, 1967
6.3	133 km NE of Joshīmath, India	19.0 km	Mar 6, 1966
6.7	138 km NE of Josh?math, India	20.0 km	Mar 6, 1966
6.6	53 km N of Ziro, India	25.0 km	Oct 21, 1964
6.0	178 km S of Port Blair, India	78.0 km	Jun 13, 1964
6.2	179 km NNE of Bamboo Flat, India	27.0 km	Nov 16, 1962
6.1	17 km NE of Sarupathar, India	25.0 km	Sep 22, 1962
6.3	22 km ESE of Sarupathar, India	35.0 km	Feb 20, 1962
6.1	15 km NE of B?geshwar, India	15.0 km	Dec 28, 1958
6.2	22 km SSW of Kakching, India	65.0 km	Jul 1, 1957
6.7	6 km SE of Jahāngīrpur, India	15.0 km	Oct 10, 1956
6.0	20 km NNE of Anj?r, India	15.0 km	Jul 21, 1956
6.2	109 km NE of Sar?han, India	15.0 km	Jun 27, 1955
6.4	57 km WSW of Shi Yomi, India	15.0 km	Apr 14, 1951
6.1	85 km NNE of P?sigh?t, India	25.0 km	Dec 3, 1950
6.3	3 km NE of Shi Yomi, India	25.0 km	Oct 8, 1950
6.0	126 km NNE of Sarupathar, India	25.0 km	Oct 3, 1950
6.3	38 km N of Shi Yomi, India	20.0 km	Sep 30, 1950
6.2	14 km NNW of Ch?bua, India	25.0 km	Sep 13, 1950
6.2	7 km NE of Mor?nha, India	25.0 km	Aug 26, 1950
6.1	94 km NNE of Sarupathar, India	25.0 km	Aug 22, 1950
6.3	136 km NNE of P?sigh?t, India	20.0 km	Aug 18, 1950
6.1	28 km N of Along, India	25.0 km	Aug 17, 1950
6.2	56 km NNW of Tezu, India	25.0 km	Aug 16, 1950
6.0	20 km WNW of Maibong, India	25.0 km	Aug 15, 1950
6.2	64 km NE of P?sigh?t, India	25.0 km	Aug 15, 1950
7.3	73 km W of Shi Yomi, India	20.0 km	Jul 29, 1947
6.4	265 km E of Leh, India	25.0 km	Nov 6, 1946
6.3	53 km W of Bamboo Flat, India	20.0 km	Aug 8, 1945
6.4	6 km ESE of Chamba, India	20.0 km	Jun 22, 1945
6.4	58 km NE of B?geshwar, India	15.0 km	Jun 4, 1945
6.3	5 km NNE of Hail?k?ndi, India	15.0 km	Dec 24, 1944
6.1	68 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	35.0 km	Jul 27, 1944
7.2	13 km W of Dergaon, India	15.0 km	Oct 23, 1943
6.0	114 km NNE of Bamboo Flat, India	35.0 km	Jun 27, 1941
8.0	43 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	20.0 km	Jun 26, 1941
6.0	23 km WSW of Udalguri, India	15.0 km	Jan 27, 1941
6.3	32 km WNW of R?par, India	15.0 km	Oct 31, 1940
6.2	11 km SE of Kakching, India	65.7 km	May 27, 1939
6.3	167 km NNE of Shi Yomi, India	15.0 km	Nov 21, 1938
6.1	258 km SSE of Port Blair, India	35.0 km	Oct 7, 1938
6.1	33 km SSE of Khargone, India	15.0 km	Mar 14, 1938
6.3	86 km NE of Leh, India	30.0 km	Nov 15, 1937
6.5	28 km SSW of Sarupathar, India	15.0 km	Aug 31, 1937
6.5	171 km S of Port Blair, India	35.0 km	Apr 19, 1936
6.0	14 km W of Dh?rchula, India	15.0 km	Mar 5, 1935
7.6	37 km S of Sarupathar, India	15.0 km	Jan 27, 1931
6.2	13 km NW of Imph?l, India	35.0 km	Sep 22, 1930
7.0	28 km SSW of Lakhipur, India	15.0 km	Jul 2, 1930
6.1	211 km S of Port Blair, India	35.0 km	Aug 1, 1929
6.1	28 km NNW of Kotma, India	15.0 km	Jun 2, 1927
6.2	169 km NE of Leh, India	10.0 km	Aug 6, 1926
6.0	119 km SW of Port Blair, India	25.0 km	May 13, 1925
6.2	112 km NE of Bamboo Flat, India	35.0 km	Jul 4, 1917
6.2	21 km SE of Wāngjing, India	35.0 km	Apr 12, 1917

Showing the first 100 of 110 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to India.

Timor Leste

3,408 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Afghanistan

3,472 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Iran

3,544 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Taiwan

2,529 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Turkey

2,247 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Argentina

4,371 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

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 India? ▼

The USGS catalog records 3,244 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in India since 2005, an average of about 154 per year. Separately, 110 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 22nd of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1950, with 12.

How deep are earthquakes in India? ▼

Across the 110 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 32 km. 91% 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.

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