Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Turkey

Turkey ranks 24th 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

2,247
M4+ events (since 2005): 97
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.8
Strongest: ~107
M4+ per year

The verdict

Turkey has logged 2,247 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 97 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

#24
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 2,247
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.8
strongest earthquake on record: 97
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

1999

2
2000

2
2002

2
2003

2
2010

1
2011

1
2012

1
2020

2
2022

1
2023

4
2024

1
2025

3

What this shows Turkey's most active year for major earthquakes was 1957 (4 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 97 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Turkey.

M7.0-7.9

19.6%

M6.0-6.9

80.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 97 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 16 km.

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	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	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
7.2	22 km NE of Gediz, Turkey	22.2 km	Mar 28, 1970
7.2	25 km SE of Malkara, Turkey	15.0 km	Aug 9, 1912

Significant earthquake record (97 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
6.7	14 km E of Nurda??, Turkey	9.8 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

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Turkey.

Taiwan

2,529 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Guatemala

1,948 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

New Caledonia

1,913 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Colombia

1,718 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Tajikistan

1,578 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

El Salvador

1,498 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 Turkey? ▼

The USGS catalog records 2,247 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Turkey since 2005, an average of about 107 per year. Separately, 97 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 24th of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1957, with 4.

How deep are earthquakes in Turkey? ▼

Across the 97 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 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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