Top 10 Countries by Earthquake Count (2005–Present)

Findings

36850 Earthquakes in Indonesia

Indonesia recorded 36850 earthquakes from 2005 to 2025, more than any other country in this dataset, with an average magnitude of 4.52. USGS ComCat, Earthquake Catalog, 2025 Of those, 318 were classified as significant. Indonesia Earthquake Data captures every M4+ event recorded there; population figures aren't included, since seismic catalogs track geophysical parameters rather than local demographics. Japan trails Indonesia in total count, but Indonesia's lead in event volume is substantial.

Indonesia's 318 significant events reflect the same M6+ threshold applied globally. PlainQuake, Aggregated Stats, 2025 Taiwan has recorded over 2,500 earthquakes since 2005. Chile's historical record includes the 1960 Great Earthquake at magnitude 9.5, though its 2005-2025 count is comparatively modest. Alaska logged 8804 earthquakes over the same period, averaging magnitude 4.45. Puerto Rico recorded 293 events averaging magnitude 4.39. Indonesia's 36850 total remains the clear global leader, and every event traces back to its original USGS record for verification.

Japan's 21120 Events Breakdown

Japan recorded 21120 earthquakes from 2005 to 2025, including 222 classified as significant (above M4). Average magnitude measured 4.51, close to Indonesia's 4.52. USGS Global Seismic Data, 2025 A maximum magnitude of 9.1 appears among recent years' events. A subset of roughly 6250 events highlights frequent M5+ activity. Indonesia's 36850 total surpasses Japan's, but Japan's earthquake density relative to its land area stands out.

US totals are broken down by state: Alaska recorded 8804 earthquakes with 110 classified as significant. Puerto Rico recorded 293 earthquakes, including 3 above M6. USGS ComCat, Earthquake Catalog, 2025 Peru has logged over 1000 events in the past decade, including a 6.2-magnitude quake in 2025. Taiwan has recorded over 2,500 earthquakes since 2005, including a 6.6-magnitude event. Chile's historical total exceeds 20000 events, including the 1960 magnitude-9.5 benchmark. Japan's 21120 count uses the same global M4.0+ threshold applied to every country, so cross-country comparisons stay consistent. Yearly patterns show activity peaks tied to plate boundaries.

Global Top 10 Magnitude Trends

The top 10 countries account for over 60% of global M4+ events from 2005 to 2025. Indonesia leads with 36850 earthquakes at an average magnitude of 4.52, with 87% of its events falling in the 4.0-4.9 range. PlainQuake, Aggregated Stats, 2025 Japan follows with 21120 events at a 4.51 average and 222 significant events. Alaska contributes 8804 events at a 4.45 average with 110 significant events. Puerto Rico's 293 earthquakes average magnitude 4.39, including 3 above M6.

Peru has recorded over 4,500 earthquakes historically, including a 6.2-magnitude event in 2025. Taiwan has recorded over 2,500 events since 2005, including a 6.6-magnitude quake. Chile's historical record exceeds 20000 events, anchored by the magnitude-9.5 quake in 1960. USGS Global Seismic Data, 2025 The largest recorded magnitudes include Japan's 9.1 and Alaska's 7.9. Magnitude distributions cluster around 4.5 on average, with Indonesia's 318 significant events outpacing Japan's 222. Most Earthquakes by Country visualizes these rankings.

Coverage and Limitations

PlainQuake draws from the USGS ComCat catalog, the primary source for global earthquake parameters including magnitude, depth, and location. This dataset covers events from 2005 onward, capturing M4.0+ events worldwide. USGS ComCat, Earthquake Catalog USGS releases data on a near-real-time basis, and figures are periodically revised to account for aftershock relocations. Updated events carry revision markers in the USGS feed. Coverage excludes earthquakes below magnitude 4.0 globally to prioritize reliably-detectable events; US states like Alaska benefit from denser monitoring networks, but the same M4.0+ threshold applies uniformly across the dataset, including Alaska's 8804 events.

Pre-2005 data is excluded except for historical benchmark events like Chile's magnitude-9.5 quake in 1960, which limits how far back long-term baselines can be drawn. Territories such as Puerto Rico appear with 293 events, though smaller island nations below reporting thresholds may not appear at all. Per-country depth averages are not published as a standalone aggregate in this dataset; depth is recorded per individual event, not summarized by country. PlainQuake, Aggregated Stats, 2025 Revision history shows 5-10% of event parameters get adjusted annually, most often for ambiguous waveform readings. The methodology follows USGS's published figures without independent estimation for gaps in remote regions. Data Methodology documents how country- and state-level figures are compiled.

The global M4+ filter matches ComCat's own default search parameters, and excludes felt reports or intensity measures not present in the raw catalog. The yearly view breaks down Indonesia's 36850 total by year, showing acceleration after 2010. Yearly Earthquake Stats shows how activity varies year to year, with the current year still partial until it closes. US states data highlights Alaska's 8804 events as the largest state-level total. Duplicate reports of the same event from multiple agencies are removed based on how closely their coordinates and timing match. Coverage excludes induced seismicity unless USGS specifically flags it, focusing on naturally-occurring tectonic events. Rankings are sorted primarily by total count, Japan's 21120, for instance, with average magnitude as a secondary sort, such as Indonesia's 4.52.

This dataset draws entirely from the USGS ComCat catalog, which itself integrates contributing regional and international seismic networks. Each year's figures are frozen once the year closes, distinct from live feeds that still include preliminary locations pending review. Limitations include sparse coverage in offshore regions beyond plate margins, which can undercount mid-ocean ridge activity. USGS ComCat, Earthquake Catalog Puerto Rico's 3 significant M6+ events illustrate how US territories are included alongside states. Indonesia's 87% concentration in the 4.0-4.9 magnitude range comes directly from its event history. The public USGS catalog documents the full provenance of every figure here. US States Analysis contrasts Alaska's 110 significant events against lower totals in the continental US. Revised events carry a timestamp marking when the update occurred.

Sparser monitoring networks in Peru and Taiwan mean depth estimates for some events carry more than 10 km of uncertainty, which is flagged where it applies. The dataset's 2005 start date matches the scope of this analysis, so earlier activity isn't reflected. Countries with zero recorded M4+ events in this window are excluded, which is part of why the top 10 account for over 60% of the global share. USGS's detection network favors M4+ events reliably, with regional seismic-network density affecting how far out smaller events can still be detected. PlainQuake reports the instrumental parameters exactly as USGS publishes them, including Indonesia's 36850 raw total (foreshocks and aftershocks included) and Japan's 222 significant events, USGS is the sole source for both.

Indonesia's 36850 earthquakes at a 4.52 average magnitude stand as the benchmark among the top 10, with Japan's 21120 events at a 4.51 average and 222 significant quakes close behind. The top 10 countries drive over 60% of global M4+ activity, with Alaska's 8804 at a 4.45 average, Puerto Rico's 293 at 4.39, and further contributions from Peru, Taiwan, and Chile. USGS ComCat's coverage supports robust M4+ tracking from 2005-2025, enabling magnitude-trend comparisons across countries despite ongoing revisions and threshold exclusions.