Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Iran

Iran ranks 19th 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

3,544
M4+ events (since 2005): 102
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~169
M4+ per year

The verdict

Iran has logged 3,544 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 102 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

#19
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 3,544
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.7
strongest earthquake on record: 102
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

2005

2
2006

2
2008

1
2010

1
2011

1
2012

2
2013

3
2014

2
2017

4
2018

2
2021

2
2022

2

What this shows Iran's most active year for major earthquakes was 1979 (4 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 102 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Iran.

M7.0-7.9

10.8%

M6.0-6.9

89.2%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 102 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 19 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

101

99.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

1.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Iran

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.7	79 km ESE of Kh?sh, Iran	80.0 km	Apr 16, 2013
7.4	23 km N of P?deg?n-e Manj?l, Iran	18.5 km	Jun 20, 1990
7.4	52 km ESE of Tabas, Iran	33.0 km	Sep 16, 1978
7.3	58 km E of Q?’en, Iran	10.0 km	May 10, 1997
7.3	43 km NW of Delījān, Iran	15.0 km	Jan 23, 1909
7.1	75 km ESE of Kerman, Iran	33.0 km	Jul 28, 1981
7.1	56 km ENE of Q?’en, Iran	10.0 km	Nov 27, 1979
7.1	35 km SE of Gonābād, Iran	11.9 km	Aug 31, 1968
7.1	10 km SSW of Salm?s, Iran	15.0 km	May 6, 1930
7.0	95 km ESE of Kh?sh, Iran	64.0 km	Apr 18, 1983

Significant earthquake record (102 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.0	57 km NE of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran	9.0 km	Jul 1, 2022
6.0	52 km NE of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran	16.0 km	Jul 1, 2022
6.4	63 km NNW of Bandar Abbas, Iran	10.0 km	Nov 14, 2021
6.0	62 km NNW of Bandar Abbas, Iran	9.0 km	Nov 14, 2021
6.3	15 km SW of Sarpol-e Z?ah?b, Iran	18.0 km	Nov 25, 2018
6.0	32 km SW of Jav?nr?d, Iran	10.0 km	Aug 25, 2018
6.0	63 km NNE of Kerman, Iran	8.0 km	Dec 12, 2017
6.0	53 km NNE of Kerman, Iran	12.0 km	Dec 12, 2017
6.1	55 km NNE of Kerman, Iran	9.0 km	Dec 1, 2017
6.1	61 km NNW of Torbat-e J?m, Iran	13.0 km	Apr 5, 2017
6.0	42 km ESE of Dehlor?n, Iran	5.0 km	Aug 18, 2014
6.2	40 km E of Dehlor?n, Iran	10.2 km	Aug 18, 2014
6.1	92 km SE of M?n?b, Iran	15.0 km	May 11, 2013
7.7	79 km ESE of Kh?sh, Iran	80.0 km	Apr 16, 2013
6.4	95 km SE of Bushehr, Iran	12.0 km	Apr 9, 2013
6.2	30 km WSW of Ahar, Iran	12.0 km	Aug 11, 2012
6.4	26 km SW of Ahar, Iran	11.0 km	Aug 11, 2012
6.2	119 km SSE of Bam, Iran	10.0 km	Jan 27, 2011
6.7	111 km SE of Bam, Iran	12.0 km	Dec 20, 2010
6.1	49 km WSW of Qeshm, Iran	12.0 km	Sep 10, 2008
6.1	18 km SW of Azn?, Iran	7.0 km	Mar 31, 2006
6.0	111 km NNW of M?n?b, Iran	18.0 km	Feb 28, 2006
6.0	119 km E of Iranshahr, Iran	54.0 km	Mar 13, 2005
6.4	24 km ESE of Zarand, Iran	14.0 km	Feb 22, 2005
6.3	41 km SSE of Nowshahr, Iran	17.0 km	May 28, 2004
6.6	13 km SSW of Bam, Iran	10.0 km	Dec 26, 2003
6.5	59 km SSW of Abhar, Iran	10.0 km	Jun 22, 2002
6.2	25 km ESE of K?zer?n, Iran	33.0 km	May 6, 1999
6.6	110 km SSE of K?h Sef?d, Iran	33.0 km	Mar 4, 1999
6.6	52 km ESE of Kerman, Iran	9.0 km	Mar 14, 1998
7.3	58 km E of Q?’en, Iran	10.0 km	May 10, 1997
6.1	24 km SSW of Om?dcheh, Iran	10.0 km	Feb 28, 1997
6.1	22 km SW of Akbar?b?d, Iran	12.9 km	Mar 1, 1994
6.1	91 km W of Z?bol, Iran	9.4 km	Feb 26, 1994
6.3	99 km WSW of Z?bol, Iran	9.6 km	Feb 24, 1994
6.1	88 km WSW of Z?bol, Iran	6.0 km	Feb 23, 1994
6.6	105 km ESE of D?r?b, Iran	10.6 km	Nov 6, 1990
7.4	23 km N of P?deg?n-e Manj?l, Iran	18.5 km	Jun 20, 1990
6.0	36 km E of Soleh Bon, Iran	24.5 km	Jan 20, 1990
6.0	98 km SW of Fann?j, Iran	15.6 km	Dec 7, 1989
6.0	24 km SSE of Dogonbadan, Iran	30.5 km	May 27, 1989
6.1	21 km SE of N?r?b?d, Iran	33.0 km	Aug 11, 1988
6.3	21 km SE of Qarn?b?d, Iran	52.9 km	Oct 29, 1985
7.0	95 km ESE of Kh?sh, Iran	64.0 km	Apr 18, 1983
7.1	75 km ESE of Kerman, Iran	33.0 km	Jul 28, 1981
6.7	73 km SE of Kerman, Iran	33.0 km	Jun 11, 1981
6.2	29 km NNE of Hashtpar, Iran	46.0 km	May 4, 1980
6.0	67 km ENE of Q?’en, Iran	31.0 km	Dec 7, 1979
7.1	56 km ENE of Q?’en, Iran	10.0 km	Nov 27, 1979
6.6	55 km ENE of Q?’en, Iran	33.0 km	Nov 14, 1979
6.7	32 km NE of Q?’en, Iran	33.0 km	Jan 16, 1979
6.2	39 km NE of Masjed Soleym?n, Iran	33.0 km	Dec 14, 1978
6.1	13 km S of Hashtpar, Iran	34.0 km	Nov 4, 1978
7.4	52 km ESE of Tabas, Iran	33.0 km	Sep 16, 1978
6.2	40 km N of Bandar Abbas, Iran	29.0 km	Apr 1, 1977
6.9	48 km NNE of Bandar Abbas, Iran	29.0 km	Mar 21, 1977
6.2	8 km NNW of Q?’en, Iran	13.0 km	Nov 7, 1976
6.0	45 km WSW of F?r?z?b?d, Iran	24.0 km	Apr 22, 1976
6.1	34 km N of Bandar Abbas, Iran	27.0 km	Mar 7, 1975
6.6	50 km SSE of Fīrūzābād, Iran	10.4 km	Apr 10, 1972
6.0	60 km NW of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran	17.2 km	Nov 8, 1971
6.0	21 km W of Ḩājjīābād, Iran	10.0 km	Apr 12, 1971
6.4	52 km NE of Kalāleh, Iran	12.4 km	Jul 30, 1970
6.4	93 km NW of Iranshahr, Iran	65.0 km	Nov 7, 1969
6.1	76 km SE of Fīrūzābād, Iran	23.1 km	Sep 14, 1968
6.2	60 km SW of Gonābād, Iran	10.0 km	Sep 1, 1968
7.1	35 km SE of Gonābād, Iran	11.9 km	Aug 31, 1968
7.0	47 km SSE of T?kest?n, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 1, 1962
6.4	44 km ENE of Ger?sh, Iran	15.0 km	Jun 11, 1961
6.7	25 km SSW of Kang?var, Iran	15.0 km	Aug 16, 1958
6.5	19 km NE of Hars?n, Iran	15.0 km	Dec 13, 1957
6.6	31 km SSE of B?bol, Iran	15.0 km	Jul 2, 1957
6.4	43 km SE of Ger?sh, Iran	15.0 km	Oct 31, 1956
6.6	104 km SSE of D?mgh?n, Iran	15.0 km	Feb 12, 1953
6.3	21 km NNE of Bandar Abbas, Iran	15.0 km	Apr 24, 1949
6.1	80 km NW of Bam, Iran	15.0 km	Jul 5, 1948
6.0	55 km WSW of Q?’en, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 26, 1947
6.9	52 km WSW of Q?’en, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 23, 1947
6.1	72 km E of Bandar-e Lengeh, Iran	15.0 km	Jan 11, 1945
6.3	43 km WSW of Q?’en, Iran	15.0 km	Feb 16, 1941
6.5	57 km SW of Neysh?b?r, Iran	15.0 km	May 4, 1940
6.0	59 km ENE of Shahrak-e K?l?r?, Iran	15.0 km	Nov 4, 1939
6.1	113 km E of Q?’en, Iran	15.0 km	Jun 30, 1936
6.4	14 km SE of Behshahr, Iran	15.0 km	Apr 11, 1935
6.5	142 km E of Kh?sh, Iran	10.0 km	Jun 13, 1934
6.3	9 km WNW of Yasuj, Iran	15.0 km	Feb 4, 1934
6.0	81 km ESE of Kerman, Iran	15.0 km	Jan 2, 1934
6.2	63 km ENE of B?fq, Iran	10.0 km	Nov 28, 1933
6.1	58 km SSW of Bardaskan, Iran	15.0 km	Oct 5, 1933
6.2	92 km E of Ger?sh, Iran	15.0 km	Aug 23, 1930
6.2	13 km SE of Khowy, Iran	15.0 km	May 8, 1930
7.1	10 km SSW of Salm?s, Iran	15.0 km	May 6, 1930
6.0	123 km ENE of Qa?r-e Qand, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 3, 1929
6.2	48 km NE of Masjed Soleym?n, Iran	15.0 km	Jul 15, 1929
6.4	132 km SSE of Semnan, Iran	10.0 km	Jul 22, 1927
6.7	7 km SSE of K?h Sef?d, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 22, 1923
6.4	32 km WSW of Esfar?yen, Iran	15.0 km	Sep 17, 1923
6.0	34 km NW of Shahrak-e P?bed?n?, Iran	15.0 km	May 25, 1923
6.2	13 km S of Bardaskan, Iran	15.0 km	Mar 24, 1918
6.0	57 km NNW of Kīsh, Iran	15.0 km	Mar 24, 1913

Showing the first 100 of 102 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Iran.

Afghanistan

3,472 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Timor Leste

3,408 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

India

3,244 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Argentina

4,371 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

Fiji

4,493 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Taiwan

2,529 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

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 Iran? ▼

The USGS catalog records 3,544 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Iran since 2005, an average of about 169 per year. Separately, 102 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Iran? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Iran measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Iran? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Iran ranks 19th of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1979, with 4.

How deep are earthquakes in Iran? ▼

Across the 102 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 19 km. 99% 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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