Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Taiwan

Taiwan ranks 23rd 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

2,529
M4+ events (since 2005): 225
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~120
M4+ per year

The verdict

Taiwan has logged 2,529 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 225 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

#23
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 2,529
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.7
strongest earthquake on record: 225
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.

2009

3
2010

1
2013

2
2014

1
2016

1
2018

2
2019

1
2020

1
2021

1
2022

4
2024

5
2025

2

What this shows Taiwan's most active year for major earthquakes was 1951 (23 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 225 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Taiwan.

M7.0-7.9

11.1%

M6.0-6.9

200

88.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 225 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 25 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

222

98.7% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

1.3% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Taiwan

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.7	21 km S of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
7.7	50 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan	20.0 km	Sep 1, 1922
7.5	58 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	25.0 km	Oct 21, 1951
7.4	15 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	40.0 km	Apr 2, 2024
7.4	8 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.8 km	Nov 14, 1986
7.4	85 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	17.0 km	Jul 23, 1978
7.4	122 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	20.0 km	Dec 20, 1919
7.3	81 km E of Yujing, Taiwan	25.0 km	Nov 24, 1951
7.3	167 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	27.1 km	Jan 25, 1972
7.2	27 km WSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	25.0 km	Oct 22, 1951

Significant earthquake record (225 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.6	29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan	63.0 km	Dec 27, 2025
6.0	10 km NE of Yujing, Taiwan	16.0 km	Jan 20, 2025
6.1	30 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	14.0 km	Aug 15, 2024
6.1	13 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	10.0 km	Apr 22, 2024
6.1	29 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	9.0 km	Apr 22, 2024
6.4	15 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan	13.9 km	Apr 3, 2024
7.4	15 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	40.0 km	Apr 2, 2024
6.9	90 km E of Yujing, Taiwan	10.0 km	Sep 18, 2022
6.5	96 km SE of Lugu, Taiwan	10.0 km	Sep 17, 2022
6.7	65 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	24.0 km	Mar 22, 2022
6.2	66 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	19.0 km	Jan 3, 2022
6.2	28 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan	69.0 km	Oct 24, 2021
6.1	27 km E of Yilan, Taiwan	71.0 km	Dec 10, 2020
6.1	8 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan	20.0 km	Apr 18, 2019
6.4	18 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan	17.0 km	Feb 6, 2018
6.1	22 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan	12.0 km	Feb 4, 2018
6.4	25 km SE of Yujing, Taiwan	23.0 km	Feb 5, 2016
6.1	77 km NE of Jiufen, Taiwan	256.0 km	Dec 10, 2014
6.3	46 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	10.0 km	Oct 31, 2013
6.2	26 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	17.0 km	Jun 2, 2013
6.3	41 km SE of Yujing, Taiwan	21.0 km	Mar 4, 2010
6.4	20 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	43.0 km	Dec 19, 2009
6.1	41 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	28.0 km	Oct 3, 2009
6.3	61 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	17.0 km	Jul 13, 2009
6.0	121 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	10.0 km	Apr 23, 2008
6.2	66 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan	53.0 km	Sep 6, 2007
6.0	136 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	36.2 km	Jan 25, 2007
6.9	26 km W of Hengchun, Taiwan	10.0 km	Dec 26, 2006
7.1	30 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan	10.0 km	Dec 26, 2006
6.3	167 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan	14.0 km	Oct 9, 2006
6.1	88 km ESE of Yujing, Taiwan	9.0 km	Apr 1, 2006
6.2	107 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan	20.0 km	May 19, 2004
6.8	92 km E of Yujing, Taiwan	10.0 km	Dec 10, 2003
6.0	50 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	44.5 km	Jun 10, 2003
6.1	67 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.0 km	May 28, 2002
6.2	21 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan	10.0 km	May 15, 2002
7.1	67 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan	32.8 km	Mar 31, 2002
6.4	29 km ESE of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Jun 10, 2000
6.3	66 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.0 km	Nov 1, 1999
6.5	31 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	17.0 km	Sep 25, 1999
6.4	33 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	26.0 km	Sep 22, 1999
6.4	44 km SSE of Lugu, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
6.2	36 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
6.1	33 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
6.3	54 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
6.1	31 km SE of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
7.7	21 km S of Puli, Taiwan	33.0 km	Sep 20, 1999
6.8	78 km E of Hengchun, Taiwan	20.0 km	Sep 5, 1996
6.3	63 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan	29.5 km	Mar 5, 1996
6.0	18 km SSW of Yilan, Taiwan	52.4 km	Jun 25, 1995
6.2	17 km N of Hualien City, Taiwan	40.9 km	Feb 23, 1995
6.8	145 km SW of Magong, Taiwan	13.1 km	Sep 16, 1994
6.4	31 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan	11.4 km	Jun 5, 1994
6.2	12 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	15.5 km	Apr 19, 1992
6.3	113 km ESE of Hengchun, Taiwan	17.7 km	Mar 26, 1991
6.7	28 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	10.0 km	Dec 13, 1990
6.3	7 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	12.1 km	Dec 13, 1990
6.6	109 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	10.7 km	Aug 3, 1989
6.0	100 km E of Hengchun, Taiwan	33.0 km	Oct 16, 1988
6.3	16 km SE of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.0 km	Nov 14, 1986
7.4	8 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.8 km	Nov 14, 1986
6.2	16 km N of Hualien City, Taiwan	19.3 km	May 20, 1986
6.0	26 km E of Yilan, Taiwan	12.6 km	Jan 16, 1986
6.3	56 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan	28.2 km	Sep 21, 1983
7.0	94 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	33.0 km	Dec 23, 1978
6.1	27 km SSE of Jiufen, Taiwan	109.0 km	Sep 2, 1978
7.4	85 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	17.0 km	Jul 23, 1978
6.6	184 km SE of Hualien City, Taiwan	21.0 km	Mar 23, 1975
6.1	10 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan	24.1 km	Nov 9, 1972
6.3	59 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan	17.2 km	Sep 22, 1972
7.0	44 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	23.0 km	Apr 24, 1972
6.0	126 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan	30.6 km	Jan 28, 1972
7.1	110 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	26.9 km	Jan 25, 1972
7.3	167 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan	27.1 km	Jan 25, 1972
6.4	119 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan	13.1 km	Jan 8, 1972
6.9	146 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	34.2 km	Jan 4, 1972
6.0	94 km E of Yujing, Taiwan	41.5 km	Oct 30, 1971
6.0	31 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	30.8 km	Aug 19, 1971
6.2	99 km ESE of Yujing, Taiwan	25.0 km	Nov 14, 1970
6.1	72 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan	31.2 km	Feb 25, 1970
6.2	66 km ESE of Jiufen, Taiwan	17.3 km	Oct 20, 1968
6.0	45 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan	23.0 km	May 10, 1968
6.7	95 km ENE of Donggang, Taiwan	25.4 km	Feb 26, 1968
6.0	81 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	26.6 km	Jan 27, 1968
6.1	61 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	41.1 km	Jan 13, 1968
6.8	56 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan	63.0 km	Oct 25, 1967
6.7	70 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan	64.1 km	May 17, 1965
6.1	103 km S of Hengchun, Taiwan	41.2 km	Apr 26, 1965
6.3	28 km SSE of Jiufen, Taiwan	9.9 km	Nov 26, 1964
6.5	6 km ENE of Yujing, Taiwan	23.1 km	Jan 18, 1964
6.1	41 km E of Yilan, Taiwan	15.0 km	Mar 10, 1963
6.3	33 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan	20.0 km	Mar 4, 1963
7.2	51 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan	30.0 km	Feb 13, 1963
6.5	42 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan	35.0 km	Oct 8, 1962
6.1	68 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	34.1 km	Sep 17, 1961
6.9	54 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan	35.0 km	Apr 9, 1961
7.2	38 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	25.0 km	Aug 15, 1959
6.1	106 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan	15.0 km	Jun 2, 1959
6.2	117 km S of Hengchun, Taiwan	15.0 km	Jun 2, 1959
6.2	140 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan	20.0 km	Mar 15, 1958

Showing the first 100 of 225 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Taiwan.

Turkey

2,247 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Guatemala

1,948 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

New Caledonia

1,913 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

India

3,244 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Colombia

1,718 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Timor Leste

3,408 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

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 Taiwan? ▼

The USGS catalog records 2,529 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Taiwan since 2005, an average of about 120 per year. Separately, 225 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Taiwan? ▼

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

How seismically active is Taiwan? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Taiwan ranks 23rd of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1951, with 23.

How deep are earthquakes in Taiwan? ▼

Across the 225 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 25 km. 99% 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.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.