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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in United States

United States has catalogued 17,280 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 3rd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M9.2.

United States ranks 3rd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 823 M4+ events a year alongside 1,055 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 6 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

17,280
M4+ events (since 2005)
1,055
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M9.2
Strongest
~823
M4+ per year

The verdict

United States is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 17,280 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 1,055 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 9.2.

1957
busiest year (59 major events)
39 km
average recorded event depth
92%
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 Japan sits immediately above at 27,851 events and Papua New Guinea sits immediately below at 15,655.

Where United States sits in the catalog

Rank 3rd of 187 tracked countries (98th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Japan sits immediately above at 27,851 events and Papua New Guinea sits immediately below at 15,655.

United States's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

17,280 Top 2% higher than 98% 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%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). This entry sits in this band. United States 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 United States compares to its nearest peers

United States ranks in the 98th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 12 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

United States vs. its 12 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 13 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 010,00020,00030,00040,000 M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
United States vs. its 12 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 13 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Indonesia 37,560 M8.6
Japan 27,851 M9.1
United States (this page) 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 14,262 M7.8
Chile 13,836 M8.8
Russia 12,525 M8.8
Tonga 10,847 M7.6
Mexico 8,356 M8.2
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9

Major (M6+) earthquakes in United States by year

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

Value

What this shows United States's most active year for major earthquakes was 1957 (59 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%1%
Share of United States's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

168 of 17,280 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 1,055 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for United States.

How the 1,055 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 89.9%

M8+

6

0.6%

M7.0-7.9

101

9.6%

M6.0-6.9

948

89.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 1,055 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 39 km.

United States91.8%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of United States's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

968

91.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

71

6.7% of events

Deep (>300 km)

16

1.5% of events

Strongest earthquakes in United States

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

Mag Location Depth
9.2 The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake 25.0 km
8.6 1957 Atka, Alaska Earthquake 25.0 km
8.6 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake 15.0 km
8.2 1938 Semidi Islands, Alaska Earthquake 35.0 km
8.2 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake 35.0 km
8.0 1986 Atka, Alaska Earthquake 33.0 km
7.9 261 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska 14.1 km
7.9 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 109.0 km
7.9 2002 Denali Fault, Alaska Earthquake 4.2 km
7.9 77 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 33.0 km

Significant earthquake record (1,055 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.1 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 16.3 km
6.4 223 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska 10.0 km
6.0 96 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska 14.0 km
6.0 12 km WNW of Susitna, Alaska 69.4 km
6.0 191 km WSW of Merizo Village, Guam 65.0 km
6.2 91 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska 40.0 km
7.3 2025 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake 38.0 km
6.2 88 km SSE of Adak, Alaska 17.0 km
6.1 126 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 10.0 km
6.3 104 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 19.0 km
6.3 108 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 18.0 km
7.0 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.0 267 km W of Bandon, Oregon 10.0 km
6.3 266 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 31.0 km
6.0 168 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska 41.0 km
6.0 169 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska 28.0 km
6.8 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 222.0 km
6.2 137 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 184.0 km
6.1 116 km SE of Adak, Alaska 20.0 km
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 22.2 km
6.4 78 km NNW of Adak, Alaska 174.0 km
7.2 2023 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake 25.0 km
6.4 15km WSW of Ferndale, CA 17.9 km
6.3 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 73.0 km
6.3 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 105.0 km
6.0 168 km SSW of Merizo Village, Guam 15.0 km
6.2 71 km S of Unalaska, Alaska 29.0 km
6.6 53 km SE of Nikolski, Alaska 19.0 km
6.8 100 km SE of Nikolski, Alaska 20.0 km
6.2 7km N of Petrolia, CA 27.0 km
6.9 112 km E of Chignik, Alaska 51.6 km
6.2 27 km SSE of Naalehu, Hawaii 35.1 km
6.1 187 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 18.0 km
6.9 125 km SE of Perryville, Alaska 20.7 km
8.2 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake 35.0 km
6.0 Antelope Valley, CA 7.5 km
6.1 73 km N of Chickaloon, Alaska 44.0 km
6.1 230 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 21.0 km
6.4 46 km ESE of Nikolski, Alaska 23.0 km
7.6 2020 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake 28.4 km
6.1 75 km SW of Sand Point, Alaska 35.1 km
6.1 101 km ESE of Sand Point, Alaska 16.5 km
7.8 2020 Perryville, Alaska Earthquake 28.0 km
6.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 622.0 km
6.5 Monte Cristo Range, NV Earthquake 2.7 km
6.5 Stanley, Idaho 12.1 km
6.1 240 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 17.0 km
6.2 84 km W of Adak, Alaska 10.0 km
6.4 4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico 6.0 km
6.0 127 km SW of Adak, Alaska 28.0 km
6.3 95 km SE of Adak, Alaska 20.0 km
6.0 67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico 10.0 km
6.3 285 km W of Bandon, Oregon 10.0 km
6.4 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 410.0 km
6.0 127 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 30.0 km
6.4 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 8.0 km
6.0 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 144.3 km
6.0 87 km SE of King Cove, Alaska 31.0 km
7.1 1 km SE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska 46.7 km
6.4 211 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 55.0 km
6.3 97 km SW of Adak, Alaska 20.0 km
6.2 272 km W of Bandon, Oregon 10.0 km
6.5 108 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 33.9 km
6.0 73 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska 16.2 km
6.4 89 km SW of Kaktovik, Alaska 15.8 km
6.9 18 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii 5.8 km
6.0 154 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
7.9 261 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska 14.1 km
6.5 247 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska 119.0 km
6.8 200 km NW of Attu Station, Alaska 5.0 km
6.2 135 km W of Adak, Alaska 13.0 km
6.3 48 km NW of Mosquito Lake, Alaska 2.5 km
6.2 47 km NW of Mosquito Lake, Alaska 10.0 km
6.2 63 km W of Attu Station, Alaska 20.0 km
6.6 164 km W of Ferndale, California 8.4 km
7.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 196.0 km
6.2 42 km E of Port Heiden, Alaska 11.4 km
6.0 75 km S of Atka, Alaska 17.0 km
6.3 72 km SSE of Atka, Alaska 19.0 km
7.1 47 km ESE of Pedro Bay, Alaska 125.6 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 586.9 km
6.5 99 km SE of Atka, Alaska 15.0 km
6.0 104 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska 20.0 km
6.4 52 km ENE of Pedro Bay, Alaska 119.3 km
6.9 Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 29.0 km
6.8 117 km SSE of Ugashik, Alaska 72.6 km
6.2 22 km WSW of Skwentna, Alaska 108.9 km
6.7 43 km NW of Piti Village, Guam 130.0 km
6.0 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake 11.1 km
6.0 40 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska 10.0 km
6.0 90 km NNW of Yakutat, Alaska 10.0 km
6.3 248 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska 4.0 km
6.0 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 106.6 km
6.0 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 101.9 km
6.0 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 102.8 km
7.9 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 109.0 km
6.8 77 km WNW of Indianola, California 16.4 km
6.1 210 km WNW of Nikolski, Alaska 265.0 km
6.4 61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico 20.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 1,055 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Malaysia

37 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Mexico

8,356 M4+ events · strongest M8.2

M8.2

Sri Lanka

2 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Denmark

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.4

M4.4

Rwanda

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

France

53 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Ecuador

1,130 M4+ events

M7.8

Russia

12,525 M4+ events

M8.8

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

Indonesia

37,560 M4+ events

M8.6

Nepal

694 M4+ events

M7.8

Papua New Guinea

15,655 M4+ events

M7.9

Understand the data

Japan

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Papua New Guinea

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in United States? ▼
The USGS catalog records 17,280 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in United States since 2005, an average of about 823 per year. Separately, 1,055 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in United States? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in United States measured magnitude 9.2. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is United States? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, United States ranks 3rd of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1957, with 59.
How deep are earthquakes in United States? ▼
Across the 1,055 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 39 km. 92% 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 United States's figures

17,280 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M9.2 · average M4.5 · 1,055 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 United States's numbers mean

United States ranks 3rd of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 823 M4+ earthquakes strike United States per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1957 was the busiest year on record with 59 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 92% of United States'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 M9.2. 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.