Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Myanmar
Myanmar has catalogued 1,146 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 31st of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.
Myanmar ranks 31st of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 55 M4+ events a year alongside 62 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2025, peaking in 1930.
- 1,146
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 62
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.9
- Strongest
- ~55
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Myanmar is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,146 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 62 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.
- 1930
- busiest year (5 major events)
- 31 km
- average recorded event depth
- 89%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Pakistan sits immediately above at 1,270 events and Ecuador sits immediately below at 1,135.
USGS ComCat event tape
Event tape MYANMAR · Myanmar M4+ · 31st/187
Myanmar · 1,146 M4+ · max M7.9 · 62 M6+
- RANK 1,146
- MAX 31st/187
- M6 M7.9
- DEPTH 62
- PHOTO near Pakistan
- BUSY 89% 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 Myanmar
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 45 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 6.7. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 45
- Average observed MMI
- 6.7
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 5 / 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 Myanmar sits in the catalog
Rank 31st of 187 tracked countries (83th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Pakistan sits immediately above at 1,270 events and Ecuador sits immediately below at 1,135.
Myanmar's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
1,146 Top 17% higher than 83% 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 Myanmar by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1992
1992: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 1994
1994: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 1995 1
1995: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1996 1
1996: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2003 1
2003: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2008 1
2008: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2011 1
2011: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2012 1
2012: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2016
2016: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2018 1
2018: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2021 1
2021: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025 1
2025: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Myanmar's most active year for major earthquakes was 1930 (5 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
8 of 1,146 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 62 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Myanmar.
M7.0-7.9
10
16.1%
M6.0-6.9
52
83.9%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 62 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 31 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
55
88.7% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
7
11.3% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Myanmar
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 | 32 km NW of Taunggyi, Myanmar | 15.0 km | May 23, 1912 |
| 7.7 | 2025 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake | 10.0 km | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 7.5 | 36 km SSW of Pyu, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Dec 3, 1930 |
| 7.4 | 41 km SW of Nyaunglebin, Myanmar | 35.0 km | May 5, 1930 |
| 7.3 | 99 km E of Lashio, Myanmar | 25.0 km | Jun 22, 1923 |
| 7.3 | 62 km S of Bhamo, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Feb 17, 1905 |
| 7.1 | 129 km ENE of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Sep 12, 1946 |
| 7.0 | 31 km SE of Falam, Myanmar | 75.0 km | Aug 16, 1938 |
| 7.0 | 99 km NW of Mogok, Myanmar | 19.7 km | Jan 5, 1991 |
| 7.0 | 152 km ENE of Bhamo, Myanmar | 10.0 km | May 29, 1976 |
Significant earthquake record (62 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Myanmar since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | 2025 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake | 10.0 km | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 6.2 | 20 km WSW of Falam, Myanmar | 43.0 km | Nov 25, 2021 |
| 6.0 | 40 km WSW of Pyu, Myanmar | 9.0 km | Jan 11, 2018 |
| 6.8 | 26 km W of Chauk, Myanmar | 82.0 km | Aug 24, 2016 |
| 6.9 | 76 km SE of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 136.0 km | Apr 13, 2016 |
| 6.8 | 51 km NNE of Shwebo, Myanmar | 13.7 km | Nov 11, 2012 |
| 6.9 | 27 km NNW of Tachilek, Myanmar | 8.0 km | Mar 24, 2011 |
| 6.0 | 48 km SE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Aug 21, 2008 |
| 6.6 | 16 km SE of Taungdwingyi, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Sep 21, 2003 |
| 6.0 | 17 km W of Thayetmyo, Myanmar | 80.0 km | Nov 11, 1996 |
| 6.1 | 28 km WSW of Nyaunglebin, Myanmar | 11.4 km | May 16, 1995 |
| 6.5 | 74 km W of Yenangyaung, Myanmar | 35.6 km | May 29, 1994 |
| 6.1 | 25 km SW of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 9.9 km | Jan 11, 1994 |
| 6.3 | 134 km W of Bhamo, Myanmar | 17.3 km | Jun 15, 1992 |
| 6.2 | 126 km ESE of Lashio, Myanmar | 9.6 km | Apr 23, 1992 |
| 6.1 | 130 km ESE of Lashio, Myanmar | 12.0 km | Apr 23, 1992 |
| 6.0 | 60 km S of Pyapon, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Apr 1, 1991 |
| 7.0 | 99 km NW of Mogok, Myanmar | 19.7 km | Jan 5, 1991 |
| 6.4 | 175 km E of Lashio, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Nov 6, 1988 |
| 6.3 | 147 km ESE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 9.0 km | Jul 21, 1976 |
| 7.0 | 152 km ENE of Bhamo, Myanmar | 10.0 km | May 29, 1976 |
| 6.5 | 43 km WNW of Pakokku, Myanmar | 157.0 km | Jul 8, 1975 |
| 6.2 | 101 km W of Myitkyina, Burma (Myanmar) | 10.0 km | May 30, 1971 |
| 6.3 | 70 km SSE of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 135.0 km | Oct 17, 1969 |
| 6.7 | 188 km WSW of Dawei, Burma (Myanmar) | 26.6 km | Feb 14, 1967 |
| 6.4 | 230 km W of Dawei, Burma (Myanmar) | 13.1 km | Jul 28, 1964 |
| 6.0 | 79 km WNW of Pakokku, Myanmar | 100.6 km | Feb 27, 1964 |
| 6.0 | 59 km WSW of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 50.0 km | Mar 22, 1958 |
| 6.3 | 229 km S of Pyapon, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Jun 18, 1957 |
| 6.1 | 227 km S of Pyapon, Myanmar | 45.0 km | Jun 18, 1957 |
| 6.8 | 38 km NW of Mandalay, Myanmar | 34.3 km | Jul 16, 1956 |
| 6.2 | 39 km SSW of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 52.7 km | Feb 29, 1956 |
| 6.7 | 104 km N of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Jun 19, 1952 |
| 6.7 | 26 km NNE of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Feb 3, 1950 |
| 6.9 | 23 km NNE of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Feb 2, 1950 |
| 6.5 | 55 km E of Hakha, Myanmar | 65.0 km | Sep 28, 1948 |
| 6.0 | 81 km NW of Bhamo, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Sep 9, 1947 |
| 6.0 | 33 km NNE of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 57.3 km | May 8, 1947 |
| 6.1 | 86 km W of Bhamo, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Dec 21, 1946 |
| 7.1 | 129 km ENE of Mawlaik, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Sep 12, 1946 |
| 6.1 | 93 km ENE of Bhamo, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Jan 26, 1946 |
| 6.9 | 80 km N of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Dec 26, 1941 |
| 6.0 | 94 km E of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Oct 31, 1941 |
| 6.7 | 172 km ENE of Lashio, Myanmar | 25.0 km | May 16, 1941 |
| 7.0 | 31 km SE of Falam, Myanmar | 75.0 km | Aug 16, 1938 |
| 6.2 | 139 km N of K?ng Tung, Myanmar | 15.0 km | May 14, 1938 |
| 6.1 | 76 km NNW of Mogok, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Feb 21, 1936 |
| 6.1 | 290 km WSW of Dawei, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Apr 11, 1935 |
| 6.3 | 106 km ENE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Aug 11, 1933 |
| 6.1 | 64 km WSW of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Feb 10, 1931 |
| 7.5 | 36 km SSW of Pyu, Myanmar | 10.0 km | Dec 3, 1930 |
| 6.3 | 113 km ENE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Dec 2, 1930 |
| 6.7 | 129 km ENE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Sep 21, 1930 |
| 7.4 | 41 km SW of Nyaunglebin, Myanmar | 35.0 km | May 5, 1930 |
| 6.5 | 110 km E of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Apr 28, 1930 |
| 6.2 | 88 km NE of Myitkyina, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Oct 16, 1929 |
| 6.5 | 56 km SSW of Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Aug 8, 1929 |
| 7.3 | 99 km E of Lashio, Myanmar | 25.0 km | Jun 22, 1923 |
| 6.1 | 292 km SW of Sittwe, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Dec 16, 1918 |
| 7.9 | 32 km NW of Taunggyi, Myanmar | 15.0 km | May 23, 1912 |
| 6.7 | 36 km NE of Magway, Myanmar | 35.0 km | Jun 24, 1906 |
| 7.3 | 62 km S of Bhamo, Myanmar | 15.0 km | Feb 17, 1905 |
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Myanmar-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Myanmar-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.