Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Turkey

Turkey has catalogued 2,249 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 23rd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.8.

Turkey ranks 23rd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 107 M4+ events a year alongside 99 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2025, peaking in 2023.

Compiled by PlainQuake, Earthquake Data Editorial Process · July 19, 2026

2,249
M4+ events (since 2005): 99
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.8
Strongest: ~107
M4+ per year

The verdict

Turkey is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 2,249 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 99 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

2023
busiest year (6 major events): 16 km
average recorded event depth: 100%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Taiwan sits immediately above at 2,531 events and Guatemala sits immediately below at 1,951.

Where Turkey sits in the catalog

Rank 23rd of 187 tracked countries (88th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Taiwan sits immediately above at 2,531 events and Guatemala sits immediately below at 1,951.

Taiwan - next more active (2,531 M4+)
Guatemala - next less active (1,951 M4+)

Turkey's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

2,249 Top 12% higher than 88% of 187 countries

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 Turkey compares to its nearest peers

Turkey ranks in the 88th 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).

Turkey vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat

Read the chart (all 21 values)

Country	M4+ events	Strongest magnitude
China	4,952	M7.9
Greece	4,606	M7.0
Peru	4,598	M8.0
Fiji	4,498	M7.9
Argentina	4,379	M7.0
India	4,086	M7.5
Iran	3,554	M7.7
Afghanistan	3,478	M7.5
Timor Leste	3,416	M7.3
Taiwan	2,531	M7.4
Turkey (this page)	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	1,262	M7.7
Myanmar	1,136	M7.7
Ecuador	1,130	M7.8
Canada	1,026	M7.8

1999

2
2000

2
2002

2
2003

2
2010

1
2011

1
2012

1
2020

2
2022

1
2023

6
2024

1
2025

3

What this shows Turkey's most active year for major earthquakes was 2023 (6 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Share of Turkey's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

16 of 2,249 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 99 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Turkey.

How the 99 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 78.8%

M7.0-7.9 21.2%

M6.0-6.9 78.8%

M7.0-7.9

21.2%

M6.0-6.9

78.8%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 99 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 16 km.

Depth distribution of Turkey's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

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 Turkey

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.8	Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2023
7.8	20 km NNE of Erzincan, Turkey	20.0 km	Dec 26, 1939
7.6	4 km ESE of Derince, Turkey	17.0 km	Aug 17, 1999
7.6	10 km WNW of Orta, Turkey	30.0 km	Feb 1, 1944
7.5	Elbistan earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence	7.4 km	Feb 6, 2023
7.5	6 km SSE of Ilgaz, Turkey	20.0 km	Nov 26, 1943
7.3	47 km S of Do?ubayaz?t, Turkey	36.0 km	Nov 24, 1976
7.3	34 km S of Sarigerme, Turkey	35.0 km	Apr 25, 1957
7.3	7 km N of Gönen, Turkey	10.0 km	Mar 18, 1953
7.3	9 km E of Akyazı, Turkey	13.5 km	Jul 22, 1967

Significant earthquake record (99 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.0	7 km SE of Sındırgı, Turkey	8.0 km	Oct 27, 2025
6.1	10 km WSW of Bigadiç, Turkey	10.0 km	Aug 10, 2025
6.2	24 km SE of Marmara Ereğlisi, Turkey	12.7 km	Apr 23, 2025
6.0	19 km W of Doğanyol, Turkey	10.0 km	Oct 16, 2024
6.3	2 km NNW of Uzunba?, Turkey	16.0 km	Feb 20, 2023
6.0	4 km NNE of Göksun, Turkey	8.5 km	Feb 6, 2023
6.0	12 km W of Çelikhan, Turkey	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2023
7.5	Elbistan earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence	7.4 km	Feb 6, 2023
6.7	14 km E of Nurda??, Turkey	9.8 km	Feb 6, 2023
7.8	Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2023
6.1	15 km W of Düzce, Turkey	10.0 km	Nov 23, 2022
6.0	37 km ESE of Özalp, Turkey	10.0 km	Feb 23, 2020
6.7	13 km N of Do?anyol, Turkey	10.0 km	Jan 24, 2020
6.0	28 km SW of Ölüdeniz, Turkey	35.0 km	Jun 10, 2012
7.1	27 km NNE of Van, Turkey	18.0 km	Oct 23, 2011
6.1	10 km SSW of Karakoçan, Turkey	12.0 km	Mar 8, 2010
6.4	13 km N of Bingöl, Turkey	10.0 km	May 1, 2003
6.1	2 km NW of Pulumer, Turkey	10.0 km	Jan 27, 2003
6.0	11 km WNW of Çay, Turkey	10.0 km	Feb 3, 2002
6.5	5 km NE of Sultanda??, Turkey	5.0 km	Feb 3, 2002
6.0	12 km NNW of Ak?ehir, Turkey	10.0 km	Dec 15, 2000
6.0	12 km NW of Orta, Turkey	10.0 km	Jun 6, 2000
7.2	8 km S of Düzce, Turkey	10.0 km	Nov 12, 1999
7.6	4 km ESE of Derince, Turkey	17.0 km	Aug 17, 1999
6.3	12 km S of Adana, Turkey	33.0 km	Jun 27, 1998
6.4	2 km W of Dinar, Turkey	33.0 km	Oct 1, 1995
6.1	14 km ESE of Seferihisar, Turkey	17.2 km	Nov 6, 1992
6.7	8 km W of Cimin, Turkey	27.2 km	Mar 13, 1992
6.1	11 km SSW of Do?an?ehir, Turkey	9.6 km	May 5, 1986
6.8	27 km E of Narman, Turkey	11.6 km	Oct 30, 1983
6.1	10 km N of Biga, Turkey	10.0 km	Jul 5, 1983
7.3	47 km S of Do?ubayaz?t, Turkey	36.0 km	Nov 24, 1976
6.7	7 km ENE of Lice, Turkey	26.0 km	Sep 6, 1975
6.7	31 km NE of Gökçeada, Turkey	5.0 km	Mar 27, 1975
6.6	14 km ENE of Bing?l, Turkey	10.0 km	May 22, 1971
6.3	9 km NNE of Yeşilova, Turkey	25.8 km	May 12, 1971
6.1	22 km NW of Dumlupınar, Turkey	10.8 km	Apr 19, 1970
7.2	22 km NE of Gediz, Turkey	22.2 km	Mar 28, 1970
6.8	10 km WSW of Kula, Turkey	10.0 km	Mar 28, 1969
6.1	13 km NNW of Demirci, Turkey	13.4 km	Mar 25, 1969
6.4	21 km SW of Kalkan, Turkey	32.4 km	Jan 14, 1969
6.3	14 km NNE of Amasra, Turkey	20.0 km	Sep 3, 1968
6.2	19 km NW of Yedisu, Turkey	26.2 km	Jul 26, 1967
7.3	9 km E of Akyazı, Turkey	13.5 km	Jul 22, 1967
6.3	14 km N of Karlıova, Turkey	27.1 km	Aug 20, 1966
6.8	14 km NE of Varto, Turkey	15.1 km	Aug 19, 1966
6.8	12 km WNW of Karacabey, Turkey	19.3 km	Oct 6, 1964
6.1	4 km N of Koruköy, Turkey	30.0 km	Sep 18, 1963
6.4	10 km WSW of Sarigerme, Turkey	35.0 km	May 23, 1961
6.0	21 km ESE of Akyaz?, Turkey	15.0 km	May 26, 1957
7.1	13 km SSW of Düzce, Turkey	25.0 km	May 26, 1957
7.3	34 km S of Sarigerme, Turkey	35.0 km	Apr 25, 1957
7.1	27 km SSE of Sarigerme, Turkey	35.0 km	Apr 24, 1957
6.2	12 km N of Eski?ehir, Turkey	15.0 km	Feb 20, 1956
6.6	9 km NW of Sar?kemer, Turkey	15.0 km	Jul 16, 1955
6.1	1 km N of Bayramören, Turkey	10.0 km	Sep 7, 1953
7.3	7 km N of Gönen, Turkey	10.0 km	Mar 18, 1953
7.0	14 km S of Eflani, Turkey	25.0 km	Aug 13, 1951
6.8	14 km ENE of Yedisu, Turkey	15.0 km	Aug 17, 1949
7.2	9 km NNW of Karaburun, Turkey	15.0 km	Jul 23, 1949
6.1	7 km S of Daday, Turkey	15.0 km	Oct 26, 1945
6.1	18 km E of ?mamo?lu, Turkey	15.0 km	Mar 20, 1945
6.7	15 km WSW of Alt?noluk, Turkey	15.0 km	Oct 6, 1944
6.1	17 km SW of ?hsaniye, Turkey	10.0 km	Jun 25, 1944
7.6	10 km WNW of Orta, Turkey	30.0 km	Feb 1, 1944
7.5	6 km SSE of Ilgaz, Turkey	20.0 km	Nov 26, 1943
6.4	11 km NNE of Tarakl?, Turkey	15.0 km	Jun 20, 1943
7.0	13 km SE of Ayvac?k, Turkey	10.0 km	Dec 20, 1942
6.0	13 km WNW of Gümü?hac?köy, Turkey	15.0 km	Dec 11, 1942
6.2	31 km NNW of Simav, Turkey	15.0 km	Nov 15, 1942
6.0	4 km NNE of Erzincan, Turkey	15.0 km	Nov 12, 1941
6.0	12 km NNE of Marmaris, Turkey	15.0 km	May 23, 1941
6.2	15 km N of Saraykent, Turkey	15.0 km	Jul 30, 1940
7.8	20 km NNE of Erzincan, Turkey	20.0 km	Dec 26, 1939
6.5	9 km NNW of Bergama, Turkey	35.0 km	Sep 22, 1939
6.6	26 km NE of Kaman, Turkey	10.0 km	Apr 19, 1938
6.0	28 km E of Kars, Turkey	10.0 km	May 1, 1935
6.0	8 km N of Marmara, Turkey	10.0 km	Jan 4, 1935
6.3	9 km WNW of Marmara, Turkey	15.0 km	Jan 4, 1935
6.0	12 km WNW of Alt?nkum, Turkey	15.0 km	Nov 12, 1934
6.0	23 km W of ?brad?, Turkey	15.0 km	Sep 11, 1930
6.3	11 km N of Su?ehri, Turkey	15.0 km	May 18, 1929
6.2	23 km SE of Yenice, Turkey	15.0 km	May 2, 1928
6.4	13 km WNW of Bay?nd?r, Turkey	10.0 km	Mar 31, 1928
6.8	15 km SSW of Ka?, Turkey	15.0 km	Mar 18, 1926
6.1	26 km WNW of Yalvaç, Turkey	15.0 km	Nov 20, 1924
6.9	18 km ESE of Pasinler, Turkey	15.0 km	Sep 13, 1924
6.0	15 km S of Kulu, Turkey	15.0 km	Sep 26, 1921
7.0	3 km ESE of Soma, Turkey	10.0 km	Nov 18, 1919
6.1	25 km ESE of Safranbolu, Turkey	15.0 km	Jun 9, 1919
7.0	18 km W of Doğanşar, Turkey	15.0 km	Jan 24, 1916
7.1	15 km WSW of Burdur, Turkey	15.0 km	Oct 3, 1914
6.7	30 km SW of Kumbağ, Turkey	15.0 km	Sep 13, 1912
6.2	23 km NE of Biga, Turkey	10.0 km	Aug 10, 1912
7.2	25 km SE of Malkara, Turkey	15.0 km	Aug 9, 1912
6.5	15 km ENE of İskilip, Turkey	15.0 km	Jun 25, 1910
6.3	26 km ENE of Koyulhisar, Turkey	15.0 km	Feb 9, 1909
6.0	21 km NNE of Karaburun, Turkey	15.0 km	Jan 19, 1909
6.8	13 km NNE of Sincik, Turkey	10.0 km	Dec 4, 1905

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Niger

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.6

M4.6

Comoros

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Morocco

187 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

Portugal

423 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Serbia

18 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Chile

13,836 M4+ events · strongest M8.8

M8.8

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Tonga

10,847 M4+ events

M7.6

New Zealand

7,523 M4+ events

M8.1

Venezuela

531 M4+ events

M7.5

Costa Rica

717 M4+ events

M7.6

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Nepal

694 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

Taiwan

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Guatemala

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Turkey? ▼

The USGS catalog records 2,249 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Turkey since 2005, an average of about 107 per year. Separately, 99 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Turkey? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Turkey measured magnitude 7.8. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Turkey? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Turkey ranks 23rd of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2023, with 6.

How deep are earthquakes in Turkey? ▼

Across the 99 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 16 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 Turkey's figures

2,249 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.8 · average M4.4 · 99 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 18, 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 Turkey's numbers mean

Turkey ranks 23rd of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

About 107 M4+ earthquakes strike Turkey per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2023 was the busiest year on record with 6 significant events. See the full country ranking
100% of Turkey'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 M7.8. 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.