Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Pakistan

Pakistan ranks 31st of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly 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

1,261
M4+ events (since 2005): 49
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~60
M4+ per year

The verdict

Pakistan has logged 1,261 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 49 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

#31
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 1,261
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.7
strongest earthquake on record: 49
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.

1975

2
1981

1
1990

2
1992

2
1997

2
2000

1
2002

1
2005

2
2008

2
2011

1
2013

2
2017

1

What this shows Pakistan's most active year for major earthquakes was 1935 (3 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 49 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Pakistan.

M7.0-7.9

14.3%

M6.0-6.9

85.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 49 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 24 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

98.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

2.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Pakistan

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.7	113 km NW of Bela, Pakistan	15.0 km	Sep 24, 2013
7.6	17 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan	25.0 km	May 30, 1935
7.6	21 km NNE of Muzaffar?b?d, Pakistan	26.0 km	Oct 8, 2005
7.2	46 km WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan	68.0 km	Jan 18, 2011
7.2	14 km SSE of Mach, Pakistan	10.0 km	Aug 27, 1931
7.2	58 km SW of Bhag, Pakistan	15.0 km	Oct 20, 1909
7.1	29 km ESE of Harnai, Pakistan	33.0 km	Feb 27, 1997
6.8	129 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan	12.0 km	Sep 28, 2013
6.8	16 km SW of Pasni, Pakistan	15.0 km	Aug 5, 1947
6.8	85 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan	35.0 km	Oct 15, 1928

Significant earthquake record (49 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.3	22 km WSW of Pasni, Pakistan	29.1 km	Feb 7, 2017
6.8	129 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan	12.0 km	Sep 28, 2013
7.7	113 km NW of Bela, Pakistan	15.0 km	Sep 24, 2013
7.2	46 km WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan	68.0 km	Jan 18, 2011
6.4	13 km NNW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan	14.0 km	Oct 29, 2008
6.4	23 km NW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan	15.0 km	Oct 28, 2008
6.4	9 km NE of Battagram, Pakistan	8.0 km	Oct 8, 2005
7.6	21 km NNE of Muzaffar?b?d, Pakistan	26.0 km	Oct 8, 2005
6.3	58 km SSE of Gilgit, Pakistan	33.0 km	Nov 20, 2002
6.0	15 km NNW of Kharan, Pakistan	33.0 km	Jun 4, 2000
6.0	13 km SSE of Harnai, Pakistan	33.0 km	Feb 27, 1997
7.1	29 km ESE of Harnai, Pakistan	33.0 km	Feb 27, 1997
6.3	2 km WSW of Lachi, Pakistan	16.3 km	May 20, 1992
6.2	61 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan	25.0 km	Apr 24, 1992
6.1	99 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan	14.5 km	Jun 17, 1990
6.1	27 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan	10.1 km	Mar 4, 1990
6.2	69 km WSW of Gilgit, Pakistan	33.0 km	Sep 12, 1981
6.4	56 km S of Chaman, Pakistan	33.0 km	Oct 3, 1975
6.7	64 km W of Kot Malik Barkhurdar, Pakistan	11.0 km	Oct 3, 1975
6.2	42 km NNW of Shingli Bala, Pakistan	22.0 km	Dec 28, 1974
6.2	42 km SW of Gahkuch, Pakistan	31.6 km	Sep 3, 1972
6.2	22 km S of Duki, Pakistan	33.5 km	Aug 1, 1966
6.1	52 km NE of Barkhan, Pakistan	17.2 km	Feb 7, 1966
6.3	18 km ENE of Barkhan, Pakistan	18.6 km	Feb 7, 1966
6.0	135 km NE of Skardu, Pakistan	95.0 km	Jun 26, 1963
6.1	42 km WNW of Dajal, Pakistan	35.0 km	May 13, 1956
6.2	42 km WNW of Rajanpur, Pakistan	10.0 km	Dec 25, 1952
6.4	40 km NNE of Barkhan, Pakistan	35.0 km	Oct 10, 1952
6.1	37 km E of Duki, Pakistan	35.0 km	Feb 24, 1949
6.1	45 km ENE of Pasni, Pakistan	15.0 km	Jan 2, 1949
6.5	23 km S of Pasni, Pakistan	15.0 km	Jan 30, 1948
6.8	16 km SW of Pasni, Pakistan	15.0 km	Aug 5, 1947
6.0	113 km S of Kharan, Pakistan	35.0 km	Aug 15, 1946
6.0	61 km WSW of Bhag, Pakistan	15.0 km	Oct 1, 1945
6.3	35 km NW of Gahkuch, Pakistan	15.0 km	Sep 24, 1943
6.2	56 km SSW of Pasni, Pakistan	15.0 km	Feb 6, 1943
6.3	37 km NNE of Uthal, Pakistan	15.0 km	Jul 3, 1942
6.1	7 km SSE of Quetta, Pakistan	15.0 km	Jun 2, 1935
7.6	17 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan	25.0 km	May 30, 1935
6.0	60 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan	15.0 km	May 15, 1935
7.2	14 km SSE of Mach, Pakistan	10.0 km	Aug 27, 1931
6.8	85 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan	35.0 km	Oct 15, 1928
6.5	17 km NW of Zahir Pir, Pakistan	35.0 km	Sep 1, 1928
6.3	30 km WSW of Rajanpur, Pakistan	15.0 km	Oct 1, 1923
6.1	25 km SSE of Nushki, Pakistan	15.0 km	Feb 27, 1920
6.5	61 km NW of Taunsa, Pakistan	15.0 km	May 23, 1919
6.0	16 km SSW of Wana, Pakistan	15.0 km	Nov 4, 1914
6.0	49 km NW of Khadan Khak, Pakistan	15.0 km	May 21, 1914
7.2	58 km SW of Bhag, Pakistan	15.0 km	Oct 20, 1909

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Pakistan.

Nicaragua

1,413 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Ecuador

1,069 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

El Salvador

1,498 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Canada

1,014 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Myanmar

983 M4+ events · strongest M6.9

M6.9

Iceland

982 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

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 Pakistan? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,261 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Pakistan since 2005, an average of about 60 per year. Separately, 49 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Pakistan? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Pakistan measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Pakistan? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Pakistan ranks 31st of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1935, with 3.

How deep are earthquakes in Pakistan? ▼

Across the 49 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 24 km. 98% 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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