How many earthquakes hit Northern Mariana Islands?

The USGS catalog records 3,345 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands since 2005, about 159 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 8,996 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,465.

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.

U.S. state profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Mariana Islands has catalogued 3,345 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 159 M4+ events a year alongside 62 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend.

Compiled by PlainQuake, Earthquake Data Editorial Process · August 26, 2026

3,345
M4+ events (since 2005): 62
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~159
M4+ per year

The verdict

Northern Mariana Islands is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 3,345 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 8,996 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,465.

ComCat jurisdiction tape

Event tape MP · Northern Mariana Islands M4+ · 2nd/39

Northern Mariana Islands · 3,345 M4+ · max M7.7 · 62 M6+

YOY 3,345
BAND 2nd/39
STRIP M7.7
BOOK 62
RANK near Alaska
MAX 45% shallow

Stamps derive from this jurisdiction's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Most active U.S. regions → · All state catalog rows → · States ranked →

Observed impact record

What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Northern Mariana Islands

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 16 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 3.5. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations: 16
Average observed MMI: 3.5
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags: 14 / 5

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.

M4+ catalog count for Northern Mariana Islands and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

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 8,996 events and Guam sits immediately below at 2,465.

Alaska - next more active (8,996 M4+)
Guam - next less active (2,465 M4+)

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

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

3,345 Top 5% higher than 95% of 39 states

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

2004

2
2005

2
2007

2
2010

1
2013

2
2015

1
2016

1
2018

2
2019

2
2020

1
2023

1
2024

4

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.

Magnitude distribution of major events

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

M7.0–7.9

12.9%

M6.0–6.9

87.1%

Depth of major earthquakes

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

Depth distribution of Northern Mariana Islands's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

45% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

29.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

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 Aug 24, 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	Date
7.7	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	196.0 km	Jul 29, 2016
7.6	198 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	11.4 km	Apr 5, 1990
7.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	207.0 km	Oct 31, 2007
7.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	25.0 km	Oct 24, 1930
7.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	594.9 km	Aug 23, 1995
7.1	233 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Jul 2, 1949
7.0	176 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	May 18, 1913
7.0	233 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Jun 14, 1942
6.9	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	22.2 km	Nov 24, 2023
6.9	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	635.0 km	Mar 7, 1962

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	Date
6.3	266 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	31.0 km	Sep 16, 2024
6.8	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	222.0 km	Apr 5, 2024
6.2	137 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	10.0 km	Apr 2, 2024
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	184.0 km	Jan 20, 2024
6.9	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	22.2 km	Nov 24, 2023
6.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	622.0 km	Jun 13, 2020
6.4	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	410.0 km	Jun 28, 2019
6.0	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	144.3 km	Feb 12, 2019
6.4	211 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	55.0 km	Aug 28, 2018
6.0	154 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	10.0 km	Feb 11, 2018
7.7	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	196.0 km	Jul 29, 2016
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	586.9 km	Nov 24, 2015
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	511.0 km	Nov 19, 2013
6.8	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	602.2 km	May 14, 2013
6.1	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	427.0 km	Mar 8, 2010
7.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	207.0 km	Oct 31, 2007
6.6	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	20.0 km	Jan 30, 2007
6.0	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	48.6 km	Aug 13, 2005
6.6	89 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	142.7 km	Feb 5, 2005
6.0	142 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	10.0 km	Nov 3, 2004
6.0	152 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	7.2 km	Oct 4, 2004
6.5	114 km SSE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	30.0 km	Aug 14, 2002
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	33.0 km	Jun 15, 2001
6.3	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	176.5 km	Jul 15, 1996
6.5	248 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	149.0 km	Jun 9, 1996
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	224.8 km	Oct 20, 1995
6.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	585.8 km	Aug 24, 1995
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	612.4 km	Aug 24, 1995
6.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	587.7 km	Aug 24, 1995
7.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	594.9 km	Aug 23, 1995
6.3	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	219.2 km	Dec 30, 1994
6.5	112 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	13.5 km	Jun 6, 1993
6.4	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	151.1 km	Jan 18, 1993
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	192.0 km	Oct 26, 1991
6.3	197 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.5 km	Apr 6, 1990
7.6	198 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	11.4 km	Apr 5, 1990
6.3	242 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	161.5 km	Dec 23, 1989
6.4	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	122.5 km	May 4, 1988
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	22.9 km	Apr 14, 1987
6.3	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	158.5 km	Sep 14, 1983
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	590.2 km	Jan 4, 1982
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	601.0 km	Oct 17, 1979
6.1	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	605.0 km	May 10, 1970
6.5	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	202.6 km	Jun 17, 1969
6.1	145 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	18.2 km	May 20, 1966
6.9	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	635.0 km	Mar 7, 1962
6.0	Alamagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	35.0 km	Aug 27, 1961
6.6	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	419.5 km	Sep 29, 1960
6.7	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	370.1 km	Feb 1, 1956
6.7	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	189.0 km	Nov 15, 1954
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	200.0 km	Jul 30, 1953
7.1	233 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Jul 2, 1949
6.3	112 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	35.0 km	Jan 17, 1948
7.0	233 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Jun 14, 1942
6.3	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	35.0 km	Aug 30, 1941
6.2	42 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Jul 26, 1941
6.5	258 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	25.0 km	Dec 1, 1938
6.3	215 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Mar 19, 1932
6.5	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	25.0 km	Oct 28, 1930
7.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	25.0 km	Oct 24, 1930
6.6	Alamagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	Feb 10, 1921
7.0	176 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands	15.0 km	May 18, 1913

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

2,465 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

California

885 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

885 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

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.