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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Pakistan

Pakistan has catalogued 1,262 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 30th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.

Pakistan ranks 30th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 60 M4+ events a year alongside 49 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1909 to 2017, peaking in 1935.

1,262
M4+ events (since 2005)
49
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.7
Strongest
~60
M4+ per year

The verdict

Pakistan is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,262 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 49 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

1935
busiest year (3 major events)
24 km
average recorded event depth
98%
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 Nicaragua sits immediately above at 1,416 events and Myanmar sits immediately below at 1,136.

Where Pakistan sits in the catalog

Rank 30th of 187 tracked countries (84th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Nicaragua sits immediately above at 1,416 events and Myanmar sits immediately below at 1,136.

  • Nicaragua - next more active (1,416 M4+)
  • Myanmar - next less active (1,136 M4+)

Pakistan's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

1,262 Top 16% higher than 84% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). This entry sits in this band. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Pakistan 0 5,000+ every tracked country, bucketed by value

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

How Pakistan compares to its nearest peers

Pakistan ranks in the 84th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Pakistan vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 21 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes 01,0002,0003,0004,000 M6M6.5M7M7.5M8 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Pakistan vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Afghanistan 3,478 M7.5
Timor Leste 3,416 M7.3
Taiwan 2,531 M7.4
Turkey 2,249 M7.8
Guatemala 1,951 M7.4
New Caledonia 1,917 M7.5
Colombia 1,721 M7.3
Tajikistan 1,583 M7.2
El Salvador 1,501 M7.3
Nicaragua 1,416 M6.6
Pakistan (this page) 1,262 M7.7
Myanmar 1,136 M7.7
Ecuador 1,130 M7.8
Canada 1,026 M7.8
Iceland 982 M6.3
Bolivia 832 M6.8
Wallis and Futuna 807 M6.7
Costa Rica 717 M7.6
Panama 704 M6.7
Nepal 694 M7.8
Micronesia 672 M6.6

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Pakistan by year

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

Value

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.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%0.6%
Share of Pakistan's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

8 of 1,262 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 49 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Pakistan.

How the 49 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 85.7%

M7.0-7.9

7

14.3%

M6.0-6.9

42

85.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

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

Pakistan98%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Pakistan's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

48

98.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

1

2.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Pakistan

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

Mag Location Depth
7.7 113 km NW of Bela, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.6 17 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan 25.0 km
7.6 21 km NNE of Muzaffar?b?d, Pakistan 26.0 km
7.2 46 km WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan 68.0 km
7.2 14 km SSE of Mach, Pakistan 10.0 km
7.2 58 km SW of Bhag, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.1 29 km ESE of Harnai, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.8 129 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan 12.0 km
6.8 16 km SW of Pasni, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.8 85 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan 35.0 km

Significant earthquake record (49 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.3 22 km WSW of Pasni, Pakistan 29.1 km
6.8 129 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan 12.0 km
7.7 113 km NW of Bela, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.2 46 km WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan 68.0 km
6.4 13 km NNW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan 14.0 km
6.4 23 km NW of Alik Ghund, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.4 9 km NE of Battagram, Pakistan 8.0 km
7.6 21 km NNE of Muzaffar?b?d, Pakistan 26.0 km
6.3 58 km SSE of Gilgit, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.0 15 km NNW of Kharan, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.0 13 km SSE of Harnai, Pakistan 33.0 km
7.1 29 km ESE of Harnai, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.3 2 km WSW of Lachi, Pakistan 16.3 km
6.2 61 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan 25.0 km
6.1 99 km WSW of Khuzdar, Pakistan 14.5 km
6.1 27 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan 10.1 km
6.2 69 km WSW of Gilgit, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.4 56 km S of Chaman, Pakistan 33.0 km
6.7 64 km W of Kot Malik Barkhurdar, Pakistan 11.0 km
6.2 42 km NNW of Shingli Bala, Pakistan 22.0 km
6.2 42 km SW of Gahkuch, Pakistan 31.6 km
6.2 22 km S of Duki, Pakistan 33.5 km
6.1 52 km NE of Barkhan, Pakistan 17.2 km
6.3 18 km ENE of Barkhan, Pakistan 18.6 km
6.0 135 km NE of Skardu, Pakistan 95.0 km
6.1 42 km WNW of Dajal, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.2 42 km WNW of Rajanpur, Pakistan 10.0 km
6.4 40 km NNE of Barkhan, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.1 37 km E of Duki, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.1 45 km ENE of Pasni, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.5 23 km S of Pasni, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.8 16 km SW of Pasni, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.0 113 km S of Kharan, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.0 61 km WSW of Bhag, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.3 35 km NW of Gahkuch, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.2 56 km SSW of Pasni, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.3 37 km NNE of Uthal, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.1 7 km SSE of Quetta, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.6 17 km WSW of Kalat, Pakistan 25.0 km
6.0 60 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.2 14 km SSE of Mach, Pakistan 10.0 km
6.8 85 km NW of Chowki Jamali, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.5 17 km NW of Zahir Pir, Pakistan 35.0 km
6.3 30 km WSW of Rajanpur, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.1 25 km SSE of Nushki, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.5 61 km NW of Taunsa, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.0 16 km SSW of Wana, Pakistan 15.0 km
6.0 49 km NW of Khadan Khak, Pakistan 15.0 km
7.2 58 km SW of Bhag, Pakistan 15.0 km

Other countries in this catalog sample

A Pakistan-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.

Austria

10 M4+ events · strongest M4.2

M4.2

Saint Eustatius and Saba

19 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

MX

202 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Nicaragua

1,416 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Poland

130 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

Grenada

19 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Pakistan-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Papua New Guinea

15,655 M4+ events

M7.9

India

4,086 M4+ events

M7.5

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

Venezuela

531 M4+ events

M7.5

Turkey

2,249 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

Nicaragua

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Myanmar

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Pakistan? ▼
The USGS catalog records 1,262 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 30th of 187 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 Pakistan's figures

1,262 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.5 · 49 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 8, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What Pakistan's numbers mean

Pakistan ranks 30th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 60 M4+ earthquakes strike Pakistan per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1935 was the busiest year on record with 3 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 98% of Pakistan's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
  • The strongest catalogued event reached M7.7. Compare against neighboring or similarly-ranked countries before drawing conclusions from magnitude alone. Compare strongest earthquakes

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 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 2026-07-19.