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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Taiwan

Taiwan has catalogued 2,540 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 22nd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.2.

Taiwan ranks 22nd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 121 M4+ events a year alongside 227 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. One of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

2,540
M4+ events (since 2005)
227
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.2
Strongest
~121
M4+ per year

The verdict

Taiwan is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 2,540 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 227 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.2.

1951
busiest year (23 major events)
24 km
average recorded event depth
99%
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 Timor Leste sits immediately above at 3,429 events and Turkey sits immediately below at 2,252.

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ComCat country tape

Event tape TAIWAN · Taiwan M4+ · 22nd/187

Taiwan · 2,540 M4+ · max M8.2 · 227 M6+

  • MAX 2,540
  • M6 22nd/187
  • DEPTH M8.2
  • PHOTO 227
  • BUSY near Timor Leste
  • SHAL 99% 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 Taiwan

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 158 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 6.0. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations
158
Average observed MMI
6.0
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
21 / 9

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.

1. Colombia1,7382. New Caledonia1,9213. Guatemala1,9714. Turkey2,2525. Taiwan2,5406. Timor Leste3,429
M4+ catalog count for Taiwan and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

Where Taiwan sits in the catalog

Rank 22nd of 187 tracked countries (88th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Timor Leste sits immediately above at 3,429 events and Turkey sits immediately below at 2,252.

Taiwan's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

2,540 Top 12% higher than 88% 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%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). This entry sits in this band. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,000–4,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,500–5,000: 4 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Taiwan 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

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Taiwan by year

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

Value

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.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present

How Taiwan earthquake activity changed recently

Year M4+ events YoY change Global YoY
2025 3 -40.0% +29.3%
2022 4 +300.0% -8.9%

Taiwan's M4+ activity fell more than the global average in 2025: -40.0% locally vs +29.3% globally.

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ = magnitude 4.0 or greater. YoY = year-on-year change. Global column uses the worldwide total from the same catalog.

0%100%1.3%
Share of Taiwan's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

32 of 2,540 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 227 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Taiwan.

How the 227 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 88.5%

M8+

1

0.4%

M7.0-7.9

25

11.0%

M6.0-6.9

201

88.5%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 227 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 24 km.

Taiwan98.7%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Taiwan's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

224

98.7% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

3

1.3% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Taiwan

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

Mag Location Depth
8.2 1920 Hualien, Taiwan Earthquake 20.0 km
7.7 21 km S of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
7.7 50 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan 20.0 km
7.5 58 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 25.0 km
7.4 15 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 40.0 km
7.4 8 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.8 km
7.4 85 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 17.0 km
7.4 122 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 20.0 km
7.3 81 km E of Yujing, Taiwan 25.0 km
7.3 167 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 27.1 km

Significant earthquake record (227 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.6 29 km ESE of Yilan, Taiwan 63.0 km
6.0 2025 Taitung, Taiwan Earthquake 8.0 km
6.0 10 km NE of Yujing, Taiwan 16.0 km
6.1 30 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 14.0 km
6.1 13 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.1 29 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 9.0 km
6.4 15 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 13.9 km
7.4 15 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 40.0 km
6.9 90 km E of Yujing, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.5 96 km SE of Lugu, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.7 65 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 24.0 km
6.2 66 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 19.0 km
6.2 28 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan 69.0 km
6.1 27 km E of Yilan, Taiwan 71.0 km
6.1 8 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan 20.0 km
6.4 18 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.1 22 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 12.0 km
6.4 25 km SE of Yujing, Taiwan 23.0 km
6.1 77 km NE of Jiufen, Taiwan 256.0 km
6.3 46 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.2 26 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.3 41 km SE of Yujing, Taiwan 21.0 km
6.4 20 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 43.0 km
6.1 41 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 28.0 km
6.3 61 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.0 121 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.2 66 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 53.0 km
6.0 136 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 36.2 km
6.9 26 km W of Hengchun, Taiwan 10.0 km
7.1 30 km SW of Hengchun, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.3 167 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan 14.0 km
6.1 88 km ESE of Yujing, Taiwan 9.0 km
6.2 107 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan 20.0 km
6.8 92 km E of Yujing, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.0 50 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 44.5 km
6.1 67 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.2 21 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 10.0 km
7.1 67 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan 32.8 km
6.4 29 km ESE of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.3 66 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.5 31 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.4 33 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 26.0 km
6.4 44 km SSE of Lugu, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.2 36 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.1 33 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.3 54 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.1 31 km SE of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
7.7 21 km S of Puli, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.8 78 km E of Hengchun, Taiwan 20.0 km
6.3 63 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan 29.5 km
6.0 18 km SSW of Yilan, Taiwan 52.4 km
6.2 17 km N of Hualien City, Taiwan 40.9 km
6.8 145 km SW of Magong, Taiwan 13.1 km
6.4 31 km SSE of Yilan, Taiwan 11.4 km
6.2 12 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 15.5 km
6.3 113 km ESE of Hengchun, Taiwan 17.7 km
6.7 28 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.3 7 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 12.1 km
6.6 109 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.7 km
6.0 100 km E of Hengchun, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.3 16 km SE of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.0 km
7.4 8 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.8 km
6.2 16 km N of Hualien City, Taiwan 19.3 km
6.0 26 km E of Yilan, Taiwan 12.6 km
6.3 56 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan 28.2 km
7.0 94 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 33.0 km
6.1 27 km SSE of Jiufen, Taiwan 109.0 km
7.4 85 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.6 184 km SE of Hualien City, Taiwan 21.0 km
6.1 10 km SW of Hualien City, Taiwan 24.1 km
6.3 59 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan 17.2 km
7.0 44 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 23.0 km
6.0 126 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan 30.6 km
7.1 110 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 26.9 km
7.3 167 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 27.1 km
6.4 119 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan 13.1 km
6.9 146 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 34.2 km
6.0 94 km E of Yujing, Taiwan 41.5 km
6.0 31 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 30.8 km
6.2 99 km ESE of Yujing, Taiwan 25.0 km
6.1 72 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan 31.2 km
6.2 66 km ESE of Jiufen, Taiwan 17.3 km
6.0 45 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 23.0 km
6.7 95 km ENE of Donggang, Taiwan 25.4 km
6.0 81 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 26.6 km
6.1 61 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 41.1 km
6.8 56 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 63.0 km
6.7 70 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan 64.1 km
6.1 103 km S of Hengchun, Taiwan 41.2 km
6.3 28 km SSE of Jiufen, Taiwan 9.9 km
6.5 6 km ENE of Yujing, Taiwan 23.1 km
6.1 41 km E of Yilan, Taiwan 15.0 km
6.3 33 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 20.0 km
7.2 51 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 30.0 km
6.5 42 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan 35.0 km
6.1 68 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan 34.1 km
6.9 54 km ENE of Hualien City, Taiwan 35.0 km
7.2 38 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 25.0 km
6.1 106 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan 15.0 km
6.2 117 km S of Hengchun, Taiwan 15.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 227 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Ukraine

17 M4+ events · strongest M4.9

M4.9

Cameroon

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.6

M4.6

MX

202 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Wallis and Futuna

808 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Brazil

101 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

Algeria

245 M4+ events · strongest M6.0

M6.0

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Colombia

1,738 M4+ events

M7.4

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Martinique

83 M4+ events

M7.4

Venezuela

538 M4+ events

M7.5

Haiti

217 M4+ events

M7.2

Pakistan

1,270 M4+ events

M7.7

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.