PlainQuake

U.S. state profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands has catalogued 3,328 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 2nd of 39 U.S. states), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.

Northern Mariana Islands ranks 2nd of 39 U.S. states and territories by catalogued seismic activity - one of the most seismically active U.S. jurisdictions, averaging about 158 M4+ events a year alongside 62 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend.

3,328
M4+ events (since 2005)
62
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.7
Strongest
~158
M4+ per year

The verdict

Northern Mariana Islands is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 3,328 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 62 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

1995
busiest year (5 major events)
204 km
average recorded event depth
45%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate tremors felt but rarely damaging. On the M4+ activity ladder Alaska sits immediately above at 8,960 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,456.

Where Northern Mariana Islands sits in the catalog

Rank 2nd of 39 tracked U.S. states and territories (95th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Alaska sits immediately above at 8,960 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,456.

  • Alaska - next more active (8,960 M4+)
  • Guam - next less active (2,456 M4+)

Northern Mariana Islands's M4+ count vs. every tracked state

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

3,328 Top 5% higher than 95% of 39 states

0–100: 30 states (77%). Below this entry. 100–200: 1 states (3%). Below this entry. 200–300: 4 states (10%). Below this entry. 300–400: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 400–500: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 500–600: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 600–700: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 700–800: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 800–900: 1 states (3%). Below this entry. 900–1,000: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,100: 3 states (8%). This entry sits in this band. Northern Mariana Islands 0 1,000+ every tracked state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a 100-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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 Northern Mariana Islands compares to its nearest peers

Northern Mariana Islands ranks in the 95th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 39 tracked U.S. states and territories. Plotted here against its 11 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Northern Mariana Islands vs. its 11 nearest-ranked peer states, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 12 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 02,0004,0006,0008,00010,000 M5M6M7M8M9 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude AlaskaNorthern Mariana IslandsGuamCaliforniaPuerto RicoOregonU.S. Virgin IslandsHawaiiNevadaOklahomaIdahoGeorgia
Northern Mariana Islands vs. its 11 nearest-ranked peer states, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 12 values)
State M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Alaska 8,960 M8.2
Northern Mariana Islands (this page) 3,328 M7.7
Guam 2,456 M6.8
California 883 M7.2
Puerto Rico 296 M6.4
Oregon 263 M6.3
U.S. Virgin Islands 221 M6.1
Hawaii 204 M6.9
Nevada 170 M6.5
Oklahoma 97 M5.8
Idaho 73 M6.5
Georgia 67 M6.0

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands by year

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

Value

What this shows Northern Mariana Islands's most active year for major earthquakes was 1995 (5 M6+ events). Major-quake counts track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 62 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Northern Mariana Islands.

M7.0–7.9

8

12.9%

M6.0–6.9

54

87.1%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 62 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 204 km.

Northern Mariana Islands45.2%29%25.8%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Northern Mariana Islands's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

28

45% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

18

29.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

16

25.8% of events

Seismic hazard context

Catalogued counts on this page are history, not a building-code hazard map. Northern Mariana Islands's latest M4+ catalog entry is dated Jul 4, 2026. For the national PGA design-basis tiers, see the seismic risk maps guide or the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model.

Strongest earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands

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

Mag Location Depth
7.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 196.0 km
7.6 198 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 11.4 km
7.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 207.0 km
7.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 25.0 km
7.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 594.9 km
7.1 233 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
7.0 176 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
7.0 233 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 22.2 km
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 635.0 km

Significant earthquake record (62 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.3 266 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 31.0 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
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 22.2 km
6.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 622.0 km
6.4 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 410.0 km
6.0 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 144.3 km
6.4 211 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 55.0 km
6.0 154 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
7.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 196.0 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 586.9 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 511.0 km
6.8 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 602.2 km
6.1 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 427.0 km
7.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 207.0 km
6.6 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 20.0 km
6.0 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 48.6 km
6.6 89 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 142.7 km
6.0 142 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
6.0 152 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 7.2 km
6.5 114 km SSE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 30.0 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 33.0 km
6.3 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 176.5 km
6.5 248 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 149.0 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 224.8 km
6.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 585.8 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 612.4 km
6.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 587.7 km
7.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 594.9 km
6.3 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 219.2 km
6.5 112 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 13.5 km
6.4 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 151.1 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 192.0 km
6.3 197 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.5 km
7.6 198 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 11.4 km
6.3 242 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 161.5 km
6.4 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 122.5 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 22.9 km
6.3 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 158.5 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 590.2 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 601.0 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 605.0 km
6.5 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 202.6 km
6.1 145 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 18.2 km
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 635.0 km
6.0 Alamagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 35.0 km
6.6 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 419.5 km
6.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 370.1 km
6.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 189.0 km
6.0 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 200.0 km
7.1 233 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
6.3 112 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 35.0 km
7.0 233 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
6.3 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 35.0 km
6.2 42 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
6.5 258 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 25.0 km
6.3 215 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
6.5 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 25.0 km
7.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 25.0 km
6.6 Alamagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km
7.0 176 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 15.0 km

Other states in this catalog sample

A Northern Mariana Islands-keyed shuffle of the full 38-state roster (not the six nearest by count), so adjacent quiet states do not share the same comparison set.

Virginia

5 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Missouri

2 M4+ events · strongest M4.0

M4.0

Ohio

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.0

M4.0

Guam

2,456 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

California

883 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

Illinois

3 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Northern Mariana Islands-keyed shuffle of states with a recorded max magnitude (independent order from the frequency sample above).

Kentucky

1 M4+ events

M4.2

California

883 M4+ events

M7.2

New Jersey

1 M4+ events

M4.8

Louisiana

5 M4+ events

M5.3

Ohio

1 M4+ events

M4.0

Maryland

1 M4+ events

M4.6

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Northern Mariana Islands? ▼
The USGS catalog records 3,328 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands since 2005, about 158 per year, plus 62 major (M6+) events catalogued back to 1900.
What was the largest earthquake in Northern Mariana Islands? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Northern Mariana Islands measured magnitude 7.7. The average magnitude across the M4+ catalog is 4.5.
How does Northern Mariana Islands rank for earthquakes? ▼
Among U.S. states and territories, Northern Mariana Islands ranks 2nd of 39 by catalogued M4+ activity - one of the most seismically active U.S. jurisdictions. On the M4+ activity ladder Alaska sits immediately above at 8,960 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,456.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All figures come from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward; the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900.

Understand the data

Alaska

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Guam

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

State rankings

Every state by M4+ activity.

About Northern Mariana Islands's figures

3,328 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.5 · 62 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 4, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat); state assignment uses USGS place-name geocoding. See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What Northern Mariana Islands's numbers mean

Northern Mariana Islands ranks 2nd of 39 U.S. states and territories - one of the most seismically active U.S. jurisdictions.

  • See Northern Mariana Islands's computed risk level alongside every other state, using the same USGS-derived methodology. Open the risk calculator
  • 45% of Northern Mariana Islands'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
  • Compare Northern Mariana Islands against every other U.S. state by count and maximum magnitude. See the full state ranking

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.