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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Italy

Italy ranks 44th 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.

608
M4+ events (since 2005)
26
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.2
Strongest
~29
M4+ per year

The verdict

Italy has logged 608 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 26 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.2.

#44
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
608
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M7.2
strongest earthquake on record
26
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.

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Italy by year

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

Value

What this shows Italy's most active year for major earthquakes was 1976 (3 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 26 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Italy.

M7.0-7.9

1

3.8%

M6.0-6.9

25

96.2%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 26 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 56 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

22

84.6% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

2

7.7% of events

Deep (>300 km)

2

7.7% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Italy

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

Mag Location Depth
7.2 5 km W of San Nicolò, Italy 15.0 km
6.9 2 km N of Cairano, Italy 10.0 km
6.7 4 km WNW of San Benedetto dei Marsi, Italy 15.0 km
6.6 3 km SSW of Bisaccia Nuova, Italy 15.0 km
6.6 5 km ESE of Preci, Italy 8.0 km
6.5 3 km SW of Prato, Italy 9.0 km
6.5 72 km WSW of Cittadella del Capo, Italy 260.0 km
6.3 2 km SW of Molazzana, Italy 15.0 km
6.3 3 km SE of Sassa, Italy 8.8 km
6.3 58 km SSE of San Lorenzo al Mare, Italy 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (26 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 23 km WSW of San Lucido, Italy 243.0 km
6.0 16 km SSE of Sant'Angelo, Italy 375.0 km
6.6 5 km ESE of Preci, Italy 8.0 km
6.1 2 km NNW of Visso, Italy 10.0 km
6.2 5 km WNW of Accumoli, Italy 4.4 km
6.0 4 km NNE of Massa Finalese, Italy 6.3 km
6.3 3 km SE of Sassa, Italy 8.8 km
6.0 34 km NNE of Santa Flavia, Italy 5.0 km
6.0 3 km SSE of Nocera Umbra, Italy 10.0 km
6.9 2 km N of Cairano, Italy 10.0 km
6.0 5 km NNE of Isola, Italy 10.0 km
6.1 1 km WNW of Lestans, Italy 24.0 km
6.5 3 km SW of Prato, Italy 9.0 km
6.1 3 km NE of Montevago, Italy 10.0 km
6.1 62 km SSE of San Lorenzo al Mare, Italy 15.0 km
6.3 58 km SSE of San Lorenzo al Mare, Italy 15.0 km
6.2 3 km SW of Montecalvo Irpino, Italy 20.0 km
6.6 3 km SSW of Bisaccia Nuova, Italy 15.0 km
6.3 2 km SW of Molazzana, Italy 15.0 km
6.2 1 km NNW of Vicchio, Italy 15.0 km
6.0 15 km NNE of Pesaro, Italy 10.0 km
6.0 19 km NNE of Gabicce Mare, Italy 15.0 km
6.0 25 km W of San Marco, Italy 320.0 km
6.7 4 km WNW of San Benedetto dei Marsi, Italy 15.0 km
6.5 72 km WSW of Cittadella del Capo, Italy 260.0 km
7.2 5 km W of San Nicolò, Italy 15.0 km

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Italy.

Kyrgyzstan

624 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Ethiopia

572 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Micronesia

671 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Venezuela

526 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Nepal

694 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Panama

704 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 Italy? ▼
The USGS catalog records 608 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Italy since 2005, an average of about 29 per year. Separately, 26 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Italy? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Italy measured magnitude 7.2. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Italy? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Italy ranks 44th of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1976, with 3.
How deep are earthquakes in Italy? ▼
Across the 26 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 56 km. 85% 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.