Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan ranks 43rd 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.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

624
M4+ events (since 2005): 28
Major M6+ (since 1900): M8.0
Strongest: ~30
M4+ per year

The verdict

Kyrgyzstan has logged 624 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 28 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.

#43
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 624
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M8.0
strongest earthquake on record: 28
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.

1946

1
1963

1
1970

1
1974

2
1976

1
1977

1
1978

2
1990

1
1992

5
2008

1
2011

1
2016

1

What this shows Kyrgyzstan's most active year for major earthquakes was 1992 (5 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 28 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Kyrgyzstan.

M8+

3.6%

M7.0-7.9

17.9%

M6.0-6.9

78.6%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 28 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 23 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Kyrgyzstan

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.0	The 1911 Kemin Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jan 3, 1911
7.5	34 km N of Kerben, Kyrgyzstan	25.0 km	Nov 2, 1946
7.3	60 km ENE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	27.4 km	Aug 19, 1992
7.3	134 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	9.0 km	Aug 11, 1974
7.1	23 km ENE of Tyup, Kyrgyzstan	33.0 km	Mar 24, 1978
7.0	22 km ESE of Kemin, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Jun 20, 1938
6.8	38 km SE of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	40.0 km	Nov 1, 1978
6.7	131 km SE of Nookat, Kyrgyzstan	27.4 km	Oct 5, 2008
6.7	19 km SE of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan	25.0 km	Jul 12, 1924
6.6	35 km NE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	18.5 km	Aug 19, 1992

Significant earthquake record (28 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.4	92 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	13.0 km	Jun 26, 2016
6.1	16 km NNE of Aydarken, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jul 19, 2011
6.7	131 km SE of Nookat, Kyrgyzstan	27.4 km	Oct 5, 2008
6.6	35 km NE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	18.5 km	Aug 19, 1992
6.3	37 km NE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	21.1 km	Aug 19, 1992
6.1	55 km ENE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	33.0 km	Aug 19, 1992
7.3	60 km ENE of Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan	27.4 km	Aug 19, 1992
6.2	4 km WSW of Kochkor-Ata, Kyrgyzstan	49.5 km	May 15, 1992
6.4	35 km NW of Tyup, Kyrgyzstan	19.1 km	Nov 12, 1990
6.8	38 km SE of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	40.0 km	Nov 1, 1978
7.1	23 km ENE of Tyup, Kyrgyzstan	33.0 km	Mar 24, 1978
6.1	3 km SE of Batken, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jan 31, 1977
6.1	53 km SE of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	50.0 km	Jul 28, 1976
6.1	117 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	9.0 km	Aug 11, 1974
7.3	134 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	9.0 km	Aug 11, 1974
6.3	13 km E of Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan	19.8 km	Jun 5, 1970
6.5	144 km SSE of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Aug 29, 1963
7.5	34 km N of Kerben, Kyrgyzstan	25.0 km	Nov 2, 1946
6.0	55 km ESE of Nookat, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Mar 15, 1944
6.1	18 km SW of Daroot-Korgon, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jun 2, 1943
6.5	72 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	30.0 km	Apr 5, 1943
7.0	22 km ESE of Kemin, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Jun 20, 1938
6.1	18 km SE of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Oct 29, 1932
6.7	19 km SE of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan	25.0 km	Jul 12, 1924
6.5	53 km S of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan	25.0 km	Jul 6, 1924
6.5	102 km SSE of Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Dec 17, 1915
8.0	The 1911 Kemin Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jan 3, 1911
6.0	95 km SE of Kadzhi-Say, Kyrgyzstan	15.0 km	Sep 15, 1907

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Kyrgyzstan.

Italy

608 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Micronesia

671 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Ethiopia

572 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Nepal

694 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Panama

704 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Costa Rica

715 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

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 Kyrgyzstan? ▼

The USGS catalog records 624 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Kyrgyzstan since 2005, an average of about 30 per year. Separately, 28 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Kyrgyzstan? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Kyrgyzstan measured magnitude 8.0. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Kyrgyzstan? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Kyrgyzstan ranks 43rd of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1992, with 5.

How deep are earthquakes in Kyrgyzstan? ▼

Across the 28 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 23 km. 100% 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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