Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Iran
Iran has catalogued 3,577 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 19th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.
Iran ranks 19th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 170 M4+ events a year alongside 102 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1909 to 2022, peaking in 1979.
- 3,577
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 102
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~170
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Iran is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 3,577 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 102 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- 1979
- busiest year (4 major events)
- 19 km
- average recorded event depth
- 99%
- 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 India sits immediately above at 4,099 events and Afghanistan sits immediately below at 3,497.
Catalog event strip
Event tape IRAN · Iran M4+ · 19th/187
Iran · 3,577 M4+ · max M7.7 · 102 M6+
- BOOK 3,577
- RANK 19th/187
- MAX M7.7
- M6 102
- DEPTH near India
- PHOTO 99% shallow
Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →
Observed impact record
What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Iran
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 87 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 7.4. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 87
- Average observed MMI
- 7.4
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 15 / 0
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where Iran sits in the catalog
Rank 19th of 187 tracked countries (90th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder India sits immediately above at 4,099 events and Afghanistan sits immediately below at 3,497.
- India - next more active (4,099 M4+)
- Afghanistan - next less active (3,497 M4+)
Iran's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
3,577 Top 10% higher than 90% of 187 countries
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
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Iran by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2005
2005: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2006
2006: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2008 1
2008: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2010 1
2010: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2011 1
2011: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2012
2012: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2013
2013: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2014
2014: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2017
2017: 4 major (M6+) events
4
- 2018
2018: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2021
2021: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2022
2022: 2 major (M6+) events
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.
24 of 3,577 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 102 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Iran.
M7.0-7.9
11
10.8%
M6.0-6.9
91
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
1.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
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.
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Iran-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
161 M4+ events · strongest M6.8
Federated States of Micronesia
59 M4+ events · strongest M6.3
Afghanistan
3,497 M4+ events · strongest M7.5
Mozambique
59 M4+ events · strongest M5.6
Ghana
1 M4+ events · strongest M4.0
Mauritius
135 M4+ events · strongest M6.0
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Iran-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.