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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in United States

United States ranks 3rd of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

17,226
M4+ events (since 2005)
998
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.9
Strongest
~820
M4+ per year

The verdict

United States has logged 17,226 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 998 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

#3
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
17,226
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M7.9
strongest earthquake on record
998
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.

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 (58 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 2025

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 998 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for United States.

M7.0-7.9

86

8.6%

M6.0-6.9

912

91.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 998 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 40 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

911

91.3% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

71

7.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

16

1.6% of events

Strongest earthquakes in United States

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

Mag Location Depth
7.9 261 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska 14.1 km
7.9 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 109.0 km
7.9 77 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 33.0 km
7.9 200 km WSW of Yakutat, Alaska 10.0 km
7.9 93 km NW of Attu Station, Alaska 20.0 km
7.9 Kodiak Island region, Alaska 20.0 km
7.8 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska 33.0 km
7.8 32 km S of Inarajan Village, Guam 59.3 km
7.8 Gulf of Alaska 10.0 km
7.8 81 km E of Nikolski, Alaska 39.0 km

Significant earthquake record (998 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
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
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
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
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
6.1 75 km SW of Sand Point, Alaska 35.1 km
6.1 101 km ESE of Sand Point, Alaska 16.5 km
6.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 622.0 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 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
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 511.0 km
6.1 77 km SSW of Atka, Alaska 24.0 km
6.0 82 km SSW of Atka, Alaska 17.0 km
6.5 81 km SSW of Atka, Alaska 20.0 km
6.0 118 km SSW of Atka, Alaska 18.0 km
7.0 101 km SW of Atka, Alaska 29.0 km
6.8 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 602.2 km
7.5 110 km SW of Edna Bay, Alaska 8.7 km

Showing the first 100 of 998 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to United States.

Papua New Guinea

15,636 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Philippines

14,179 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Chile

13,817 M4+ events · strongest M8.3

M8.3

Japan

21,476 M4+ events · strongest M9.1

M9.1

Russia

12,226 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Tonga

10,827 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

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 United States? ▼
The USGS catalog records 17,226 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in United States since 2005, an average of about 820 per year. Separately, 998 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 7.9. 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 215 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1957, with 58.
How deep are earthquakes in United States? ▼
Across the 998 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 40 km. 91% 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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