Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in North Macedonia

North Macedonia ranks 111th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. 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

42
M4+ events (since 2005): 4
Major M6+ (since 1900): M6.7
Strongest: ~2
M4+ per year

The verdict

North Macedonia has logged 42 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 4 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 6.7.

#111
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 42
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M6.7
strongest earthquake on record: 4
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.3 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

1931

2
1963

1
1967

1

What this shows North Macedonia's most active year for major earthquakes was 1931 (2 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 4 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for North Macedonia.

M6.0-6.9

100.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 4 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 15 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 North Macedonia

The 4 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.7	6 km NW of Lukovo, North Macedonia	20.0 km	Nov 30, 1967
6.7	3 km SW of Kuklis, North Macedonia	10.0 km	Mar 8, 1931
6.2	5 km NNE of Valandovo, North Macedonia	15.0 km	Mar 7, 1931
6.0	0 km NE of Krušopek, North Macedonia	15.0 km	Jul 26, 1963

Significant earthquake record (4 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.7	6 km NW of Lukovo, North Macedonia	20.0 km	Nov 30, 1967
6.0	0 km NE of Krušopek, North Macedonia	15.0 km	Jul 26, 1963
6.7	3 km SW of Kuklis, North Macedonia	10.0 km	Mar 8, 1931
6.2	5 km NNE of Valandovo, North Macedonia	15.0 km	Mar 7, 1931

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to North Macedonia.

Montenegro

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Rwanda

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Oman

43 M4+ events · strongest M5.4

M5.4

Egypt

45 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Jamaica

39 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Syria

39 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

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 North Macedonia? ▼

The USGS catalog records 42 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in North Macedonia since 2005, an average of about 2 per year. Separately, 4 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in North Macedonia? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in North Macedonia measured magnitude 6.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.3 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is North Macedonia? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, North Macedonia ranks 111th of 215 countries worldwide - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1931, with 2.

How deep are earthquakes in North Macedonia? ▼

Across the 4 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 15 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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