Lists of earthquakes

Lists of earthquakes

Earthquakes (6.0+ Mw) between 1900 and 2017

Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the biggest disasters in human history. Below, there are earthquakes listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities, and number of scientific studies.

Deadliest earthquakes

Lists of earthquakes

The following is a summary list of earthquakes with over approximately 100,000 deaths. The 893 Ardabil earthquake is most likely the same as the 893 Dvin earthquake, due to misreading of the Arabic word for Dvin, "Dabil" as "Ardabil".

<table><thead><tr><th>Event</th><th>Date</th><th>Location</th><th>Fatal­ities</th><th>Magni­tude</th><th>Notes on fatalities</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1976 Tangshan earthquake</td><td>July 27, 1976</td><td>Hebei, China</td><td>300,000+</td><td>7.6</td><td>Internal Tangshan reports found 263,299 local deaths. Official nationwide deaths stated to be 242,769. Scholars estimated >300,000.</td></tr><tr><td>1920 Haiyuan earthquake</td><td>December 16, 1920</td><td>Ningxia–Gansu, China</td><td>273,400</td><td>7.8</td><td>Previously cited death toll was 230,000 and this figure was revised in 2010.</td></tr><tr><td>526 Antioch earthquake</td><td>May 21, 526</td><td>Antioch, Byzantine Empire (modern-day Turkey)</td><td>250,000</td><td>7.0</td><td>Procopius (II.14.6), sources based on John of Ephesus.</td></tr><tr><td>1139 Ganja earthquake</td><td>September 30, 1139</td><td>Ganja, Seljuk Empire (modern-day Azerbaijan)</td><td>230,000–300,000</td><td>7.0 Mw </td><td>Death toll may have been a historical conflation with earthquakes on November 1137 in the Jazira plain and the 1138 Aleppo earthquake.</td></tr><tr><td>2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami</td><td>December 26, 2004</td><td>Sumatra, Indonesia</td><td>227,898</td><td>9.2</td><td>Death toll includes those missing and presumed dead.</td></tr><tr><td>1303 Hongdong earthquake</td><td>July 25, 1303</td><td>Shanxi, Yuan dynasty (modern-day China)</td><td>200,000</td><td>8.0</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>856 Damghan earthquake</td><td>December 22, 856</td><td>Damghan, Abbasid Caliphate (modern-day Iran)</td><td>200,000</td><td>7.9 Ms</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1138 Aleppo earthquake</td><td>October 11, 1138</td><td>Aleppo, Seljuk Empire (modern-day Syria)</td><td>130,000–230,000</td><td>7.1</td><td>The figure of 230,000 dead is based on a historical conflation of this earthquake with earthquakes in November 1137 on the Jazira plain and the 1139 Ganja earthquake in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja. The first mention of a 230,000 death toll was by Ibn Taghribirdi in the fifteenth century.</td></tr><tr><td>533 Aleppo earthquake</td><td>November 29, 533</td><td>Aleppo, Byzantine Empire (modern-day Syria)</td><td>130,000</td><td>Unknown</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1908 Messina earthquake</td><td>December 28, 1908</td><td>Messina, Kingdom of Italy</td><td>120,000</td><td>7.1 Ms </td><td>The epicentre was in the Strait of Messina which separates Sicily from the Italian mainland, affecting also the city of Reggio Calabria.</td></tr><tr><td>1948 Ashgabat earthquake</td><td>October 5, 1948</td><td>Ashgabat, Turkmen SSR (modern-day Turkmen­istan)</td><td>110,000</td><td>7.3 Ms</td><td>Previously cited death toll was 10,000 until a news release on December 9, 1988, advised that the correct death toll was 110,000.</td></tr><tr><td>1923 Great Kantō earthquake</td><td>September 1, 1923</td><td>Kantō region, Japan</td><td>105,385</td><td>7.9</td><td>Casualty estimates range from 100,000 to 142,800, the latter figure including 40,000 missing later presumed dead.</td></tr><tr><td>1556 Shaanxi earthquake</td><td>January 23, 1556</td><td>Shaanxi, modern-day China</td><td>100,000</td><td>8.0</td><td>Direct deaths thought to be just over 100,000 while about 730,000 people died from famines or migrated elsewhere.</td></tr><tr><td>2010 Haiti earthquake</td><td>January 12, 2010</td><td>Haiti</td><td>46,000–316,000</td><td>7.0</td><td>Estimates vary from 316,000 (Haitian government) to 222,570 (UN OCHA estimate) to 158,000 (Medicine, Conflict and Survival) to between 46,000 and 85,000 (report commissioned by USAID).</td></tr><tr><td>1290 Zhili earthquake</td><td>September 27, 1290</td><td>Ningcheng, Yuan dynasty (modern-day China)</td><td>7,000–100,000</td><td>6.8 Ms </td><td>Estimates also suggests lower values of at least 7,000.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Deadliest earthquakes by year since 1920

<table><thead><tr><th>Date</th><th>Magni­tude</th><th>Location</th><th>Depth (km)</th><th>MMI</th><th>Deaths</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>December 16, 1920</td><td>7.9</td><td>China, Ningxia</td><td>15.0</td><td>XII</td><td>273,407</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 11, 1922</td><td>8.3–8.6</td><td>Chile, Atacama</td><td>35.0</td><td>XI</td><td>1,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 1, 1923</td><td>7.9–8.2</td><td>Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture</td><td>23.0</td><td>XI</td><td>142,800</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 14, 1924</td><td>8.3</td><td>Philippines, Davao Region</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 16, 1925</td><td>6.9–7.0</td><td>China, Yunnan</td><td>26.0</td><td>IX</td><td>5,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 22, 1926</td><td>6.0</td><td>Turkey, Kars Province</td><td>7.0</td><td>IX</td><td>360</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 22, 1927</td><td>7.7</td><td>China, Gansu</td><td>15.0</td><td>XI</td><td>40,912</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 1, 1928</td><td>7.6</td><td>Chile, Maule Region</td><td>20.0</td><td>IX</td><td>279</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 1, 1929</td><td>7.2</td><td>Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, Ahal Region</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>3,257–3,800</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 23, 1930</td><td>6.6</td><td>Italy, Irpinia</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>1,404</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 10, 1931</td><td>8.0</td><td>China, Xinjiang Province</td><td>20.0</td><td>XI</td><td>10,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 20, 1932</td><td>5.4</td><td>Persia, Mazandaran province</td><td>12.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>1,070</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 25, 1933</td><td>7.3</td><td>China, Sichuan Province</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>6,865–9,300</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 15, 1934</td><td>8.0</td><td>  Nepal, Koshi</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>10,700–12,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 30, 1935</td><td>7.7</td><td>British Raj, Khanate of Kalat</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>30,000–60,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 1, 1936</td><td>6.8</td><td>China, Guangxi Province</td><td>0.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 31, 1937</td><td>6.9</td><td>China, Shandong Province</td><td>25.0</td><td>IX</td><td>3,252</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 19, 1938</td><td>6.6</td><td>Turkey, Kırşehir Province</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>224</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 26, 1939</td><td>7.8</td><td>Turkey, Erzincan Province</td><td>20.0</td><td>XII</td><td>32,700–32,968</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 10, 1940</td><td>7.7</td><td>Romania, Vrancea County</td><td>133.0</td><td>X</td><td>1,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 11, 1941</td><td>5.8–6.5</td><td>Yemen, Razih District</td><td>35.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>1,200</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 20, 1942</td><td>7.0</td><td>Turkey, Erbaa</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>3,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 26, 1943</td><td>7.5</td><td>Turkey, Çankırı</td><td>20.0</td><td>XI</td><td>2,824–5,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 15, 1944</td><td>7.0</td><td>Argentina, San Juan</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>10,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 27, 1945</td><td>8.1</td><td>British Raj, Makran Coast</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>300–4,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 4, 1946</td><td>7.8</td><td>Dominican Republic, Samaná</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>2,550</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 1, 1947</td><td>7.7</td><td>Peru, Junín Province</td><td>20.0</td><td>IX</td><td>233–2,233</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 5, 1948</td><td>7.3</td><td>Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>10,000–110,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 10, 1949</td><td>7.5</td><td>Soviet Union, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic</td><td>18.0</td><td>IX</td><td>7,200</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 15, 1950</td><td>8.6</td><td>India, Assam</td><td>15.0</td><td>XI</td><td>4,800</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 6, 1951</td><td>5.9–6.2</td><td>El Salvador, Usulután</td><td>85.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>400–1,100</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 4, 1952</td><td>9.0</td><td>Soviet Union, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic</td><td>21.6</td><td>XI</td><td>2,336</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 18, 1953</td><td>7.5</td><td>Turkey, Balıkesir Province</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,070</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 9, 1954</td><td>6.7</td><td>France, Chlef Province, Algeria</td><td>15.0</td><td>XI</td><td>1,243–1,409</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 31, 1955</td><td>7.4</td><td>Philippines, Western Mindanao</td><td>35.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>465</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 31, 1956</td><td>6.4</td><td>Iran, Hormozgan</td><td>15.0</td><td>VII</td><td>347</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 13, 1957</td><td>6.5</td><td>Iran, Hamadan</td><td>15.0</td><td>VII</td><td>1,130</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 16, 1958</td><td>6.7</td><td>Iran, Lorestan</td><td>15.0</td><td>VII</td><td>132</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 18, 1959</td><td>7.3</td><td>United States, Montana</td><td>5.0</td><td>X</td><td>28</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>February 29, 1960</td><td>5.8</td><td>Morocco, Souss-Massa</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>12,000–15,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 11, 1961</td><td>6.4</td><td>Iran, Fars province</td><td>15.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>60</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 1, 1962</td><td>7.1</td><td>Iran, Qazvin province</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>12,225</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 26, 1963</td><td>6.1</td><td>Yugoslavia, Macedonia</td><td>15.0</td><td>X</td><td>1,070</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 28, 1964</td><td>9.2–9.3</td><td>United States, Alaska</td><td>25.0</td><td>XI</td><td>131</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 28, 1965</td><td>7.4–7.6</td><td>Chile, Valparaíso Region</td><td>70.0</td><td>IX</td><td>400–500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 22, 1966</td><td>6.8</td><td>China, Hebei</td><td>20.0</td><td>IX</td><td>8,064</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 30, 1967</td><td>6.6</td><td>Venezuela, Vargas</td><td>25.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>225–300</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 31, 1968</td><td>7.1</td><td>Iran, South Khorasan province</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>15,900</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 25, 1969</td><td>6.4</td><td>China, Guangdong</td><td>20.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>3,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 31, 1970</td><td>7.9</td><td>Peru, Ancash</td><td>45.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>66,794–70,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 22, 1971</td><td>6.6</td><td>Turkey, Bingöl</td><td>10.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>875</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 10, 1972</td><td>6.7</td><td>Iran, Fars</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>5,374</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>February 6, 1973</td><td>7.6</td><td>China, Sichuan</td><td>11.0</td><td>X</td><td>2,175–2,204</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 10, 1974</td><td>7.1</td><td>China, Yunnan</td><td>14.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,641–20,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 6, 1975</td><td>6.7</td><td>Turkey, Diyarbakır</td><td>26.0</td><td>IX</td><td>2,311</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>July 27, 1976</td><td>7.6</td><td>China, Hebei</td><td>12.2</td><td>XI</td><td>242,719–655,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 4, 1977</td><td>7.5</td><td>Romania, Vrancea</td><td>85.3</td><td>IX</td><td>1,700</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 16, 1978</td><td>7.4</td><td>Iran, Yazd</td><td>33.0</td><td>IX</td><td>15,000–25,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 12, 1979</td><td>8.2</td><td>Colombia, Nariño</td><td>33.0</td><td>IX</td><td>300–600</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 10, 1980</td><td>7.1</td><td>Algeria, Chlef</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>2,633–5,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 11, 1981</td><td>6.6</td><td>Iran, Kerman</td><td>33.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>3,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 13, 1982</td><td>6.2</td><td>North Yemen, Dhamar</td><td>10.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>2,800</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 30, 1983</td><td>6.6</td><td>Turkey, Erzurum</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,340</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 13, 1984</td><td>6.3</td><td>Japan, Nagano</td><td>2.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>14</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 19, 1985</td><td>8.0</td><td>Mexico, Michoacán</td><td>20.0</td><td>IX</td><td>5,000–45,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 10, 1986</td><td>5.7</td><td>El Salvador, San Salvador</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,000–1,500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 6, 1987</td><td>7.1</td><td>Ecuador, Sucumbíos</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>1,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 7, 1988</td><td>6.8</td><td>Soviet Union, Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic</td><td>5.0</td><td>X</td><td>25,000–50,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 22, 1989</td><td>5.3</td><td>Soviet Union, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic</td><td>33.0</td><td>VII</td><td>274</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 20, 1990</td><td>7.4</td><td>Iran, Gilan</td><td>18.5</td><td>X</td><td>35,000–40,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 19, 1991</td><td>6.8</td><td>India, Uttarkashi</td><td>11.6</td><td>IX</td><td>768–2,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 12, 1992</td><td>7.8</td><td>Indonesia, Flores Sea offshore</td><td>27.7</td><td>VIII</td><td>2,500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 29, 1993</td><td>6.2</td><td>India, Latur</td><td>10.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>9,748</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 6, 1994</td><td>6.8</td><td>Colombia, Cauca</td><td>12.1</td><td>IX</td><td>1,100</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 16, 1995</td><td>6.9</td><td>Japan, Kobe</td><td>21.9</td><td>XI</td><td>5,502–6,434</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>February 3, 1996</td><td>6.6</td><td>China, Yunnan</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>309–322</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 10, 1997</td><td>7.3</td><td>Iran, Khorasan</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>1,567</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 30, 1998</td><td>6.5</td><td>Afghanistan, Takhar</td><td>33.0</td><td>VII</td><td>4,000–4,500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 17, 1999</td><td>7.6</td><td>Turkey, İzmit</td><td>17.0</td><td>X</td><td>17,127–18,373</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 4, 2000</td><td>7.9</td><td>Indonesia, Enggano Island offshore</td><td>44.0</td><td>VI</td><td>103</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 26, 2001</td><td>7.6</td><td>India, Bhuj</td><td>16.0</td><td>X</td><td>13,805–20,023</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 25, 2002</td><td>6.1</td><td>Afghanistan, Baghlan Province</td><td>8.0</td><td>VII</td><td>1,200</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 26, 2003</td><td>6.6</td><td>Iran, Bam</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>34,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>December 26, 2004</td><td>9.1–9.3</td><td>Indonesia, Sumatra offshore</td><td>30.0</td><td>IX</td><td>227,898</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 8, 2005</td><td>7.6</td><td>Pakistan, Balakot</td><td>15.0</td><td>XI</td><td>86,000–87,351</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 26, 2006</td><td>6.4</td><td>Indonesia, Yogyakarta</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>5,749</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 15, 2007</td><td>8.0</td><td>Peru, Ica offshore</td><td>39.0</td><td>IX</td><td>595</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>May 12, 2008</td><td>7.9</td><td>China, Sichuan</td><td>19.0</td><td>XI</td><td>87,587</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 30, 2009</td><td>7.6</td><td>Indonesia, Padang offshore</td><td>90.0</td><td>VII</td><td>1,115</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>January 12, 2010</td><td>7.0</td><td>Haiti, Léogâne</td><td>13.0</td><td>X</td><td>46,000–160,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 11, 2011</td><td>9.1</td><td>Japan, Sendai offshore</td><td>29.0</td><td>XI</td><td>19,759</td><td>The following tsunami led to about 18,500 deaths.</td></tr><tr><td>August 11, 2012</td><td>6.4</td><td>Iran, East Azerbaijan</td><td>9.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>306</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 24, 2013</td><td>7.7</td><td>Pakistan, Balochistan</td><td>15.0</td><td>IX</td><td>825</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 3, 2014</td><td>6.1</td><td>China, Yunnan</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>617</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 25, 2015</td><td>7.8</td><td>  Nepal, Gorkha District</td><td>8.2</td><td>X</td><td>8,962</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>April 16, 2016</td><td>7.8</td><td>Ecuador, Esmeraldas</td><td>20.6</td><td>VIII</td><td>676</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 12, 2017</td><td>7.3</td><td>Iran–Iraq border Region</td><td>19.0</td><td>IX</td><td>630</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>September 28, 2018</td><td>7.5</td><td>Indonesia, Palu</td><td>20.0</td><td>X</td><td>4,340</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>November 26, 2019</td><td>6.4</td><td>Albania, Durrës</td><td>10.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>51</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>October 30, 2020</td><td>7.0</td><td>Greece Turkey Aegean Sea</td><td>21.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>119</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>August 14, 2021</td><td>7.2</td><td>Haiti, Nippes</td><td>10.0</td><td>IX</td><td>2,248</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>June 21, 2022</td><td>6.0</td><td>Afghanistan, Khost</td><td>10.0</td><td>VIII</td><td>1,052–1,163</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>February 6, 2023</td><td>7.8 & 7.7</td><td>Turkey, Southeastern Anatolia Syria, Aleppo and Idlib</td><td>10.0 & 7.4</td><td>XII</td><td>59,488–62,013</td><td>These were two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.7.</td></tr><tr><td>January 1, 2024</td><td>7.5</td><td>Japan, Ishikawa</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>645</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>March 28, 2025</td><td>7.7</td><td>Myanmar, Sagaing Region Thailand</td><td>10.0</td><td>X</td><td>5,456</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Strongest earthquakes by magnitude

Lists of earthquakes

A pie chart comparing the seismic moment release of the three strongest earthquakes for the hundred-year period from 1906 to 2005 with that for all earthquakes of magnitudes <6, 6 to 7, 7 to 8, and >8 for the same period. The 2011 Japan quake would be roughly similar to Sumatra.

Earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 and greater from 1900 to 2018. The apparent 3D volumes of the bubbles are linearly proportional to their respective fatalities. The colour indicates the continent, and the legend counts the number of quakes for each. Notice the absence of Africa.

For those which occurred before the development and deployment of seismographs – starting around 1900 – magnitudes are estimated from historical reports of the extent and severity of damage.

Rank	Date	Location	Event	Magnitude
1	May 22, 1960	Valdivia, Chile	1960 Valdivia earthquake	9.4–9.6
2	March 27, 1964	Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States	1964 Alaska earthquake	9.2–9.3
December 26, 2004	Sumatra, Indonesia	2004 Indian Ocean earthquake	9.2–9.3
4	March 11, 2011	Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan	2011 Tōhoku earthquake	9.0–9.1
5	November 4, 1952	Kamchatka, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union	1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake	8.8–9.0
6	February 27, 2010	Maule, Chile	2010 Chile earthquake	8.8
July 30, 2025	Kamchatka, Russia	2025 Kamchatka earthquake	8.8
January 31, 1906	Esmeraldas, Ecuador – Colombia	1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake	8.5–8.8
9	February 3, 1965	Rat Islands, Alaska, United States	1965 Rat Islands earthquake	8.7
August 15, 1950	Assam, India – Tibet, China	1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake	8.7
11	April 1, 1946	Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States	1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake	8.6
March 9, 1957	Andreanof Islands, Alaska, United States	1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake	8.6
March 28, 2005	Sumatra, Indonesia	2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake	8.6
April 11, 2012	Sumatra, Indonesia	2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes	8.6
15	November 11, 1922	Atacama, Chile	1922 Vallenar earthquake	8.3–8.6
February 1, 1938	Banda Sea, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)	1938 Banda Sea earthquake	8.5–8.6
17	March 2, 1933	Iwate Prefecture, Japan	1933 Sanriku earthquake	8.4–8.5
October 13, 1963	Kuril Islands, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union	1963 Kuril Islands earthquake	8.5
September 12, 2007	Bengkulu Province, Indonesia	2007 Bengkulu earthquakes	8.4–8.5

Pre-instrumental earthquakes

Date	Location	Event	Magnitude (est.)
July 8, 1730	Valparaíso, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1730 Valparaíso earthquake	9.1–9.3
October 17, 1737	Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Empire	1737 Kamchatka earthquake	9.0–9.3
December 16, 1575	Valdivia, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1575 Valdivia earthquake	9.0
November 24, 1604	Arica, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1604 Arica earthquake	9.0
May 17, 1841	Kamchatka, Russian Empire	1841 Kamchatka earthquake	9.0
November 17, 1837	Valdivia, Chile	1837 Valdivia earthquake	8.8–9.5
August 31, 1420	Pacific Ocean, Atacama region (now Atacama, Chile)	1420 Caldera earthquake	8.8–9.4
November 25, 1833	Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)	1833 Sumatra earthquake	8.8–9.2
August 13, 1868	Arica, Peru (now part of present-day Chile)	1868 Arica earthquake	8.8–9.1
November 26, 1852	Banda Islands, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)	1852 Banda Sea earthquake	8.8
October 28, 1707	Pacific Ocean, Shikoku region, Japan	1707 Hōei earthquake	8.7–9.3
January 26, 1700	Pacific Ocean, US, and Canada (then claimed by the Spanish Empire and the British Empire)	1700 Cascadia earthquake	8.7–9.2
May 9, 1877	Iquique, Chile (then Peru)	1877 Iquique earthquake	8.7–8.9
October 20, 1687	Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1687 Peru earthquake	8.7
July 13, 869	Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Japan	869 Jōgan earthquake	8.6–9.0
October 28, 1746	Lima, Peru (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1746 Lima–Callao earthquake	8.6–8.8
September 20, 1498	Pacific Ocean, Chūbu region, Japan	1498 Meiō earthquake	8.6
March 28, 1787	Oaxaca, Mexico (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1787 New Spain earthquake	8.6
February 2, 1816	Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal	1816 North Atlantic earthquake	8.6
November 1, 1755	Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal	1755 Lisbon earthquake	8.5–9.0
April 2, 1762	Chittagong, Bangladesh (then Kingdom of Mrauk U)	1762 Arakan earthquake	8.5–8.8
July 21, 365	Mediterranean Sea, Crete, Greece	365 Crete earthquake	8.5
August 24, 1356	Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal	1356 Lisbon earthquake	8.5
July 25, 1668	Shandong, China	1668 Shandong earthquake	8.5
May 24, 1751	Concepción, Chile (then part of the Spanish Empire)	1751 Concepción earthquake	8.5
March 31, 1761	Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Portugal	1761 Lisbon earthquake	8.5
April 4, 1819	Copiapó, Chile	1819 Copiapó earthquake	8.5
November 19, 1822	Valparaíso, Chile	1822 Valparaíso earthquake	8.5
February 20, 1835	Concepción, Chile	1835 Concepción earthquake	8.5
February 8, 1843	Guadeloupe region, Lesser Antilles	1843 Guadeloupe earthquake	8.5
February 16, 1861	Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of the Dutch East Indies)	1861 Sumatra earthquake	8.5
June 15, 1896	Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region, Empire of Japan	1896 Sanriku earthquake	8.5
June 6, 1505	Himalayas, northern Nepal	1505 Lo Mustang earthquake	8.2–8.8

Strongest earthquakes by magnitude each year since 1907

Year	Date	Mag­ni­tu­de	Location	Depth (km)	MMI	Deaths	Inju­ries
1907	January 4, 1907	8.2	Dutch East Indies, Sumatra	25.0	IV-V	2,188	-
1908	March 26, 1908	7.5	Mexico, Guerrero	25.0	–	-	-
1909	July 7, 1909	7.7	Afghanistan, Badakhshan	200.0	–	-	-
1910	April 12, 1910	8.1	Sakishima Islands-Taiwan region	235.0	–	60	-
1911	June 15, 1911	7.9	Japan, Ryukyu Islands	150.0	IX	-	-
1912	May 23, 1912	7.9	Myanmar, Shan	15.0	IX	-	-
1913	March 14, 1913	7.9	Philippines, Mindanao	15.0	IX	138	-
1914	May 26, 1914	8.2	Dutch East Indies, Papua	15.0	-	100+	-
1915	May 1, 1915	7.8	Russian Empire, Kuril Islands	30.0	-	–	-
1916	January 1, 1916	8.0	Territory of New Guinea, East New Britain	35.0	-	–	-
1917	May 1, 1917	8.2	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	15.0	-	–	-
1918	August 15, 1918	8.3	Philippines, Mindanao	20.0	-	52	-
1919	April 30, 1919	8.1	Tonga	25.0	-	–	-
1920	June 5, 1920	8.2	Taiwan, Hualien	20.0	VII	–	-
1921	November 15, 1921	7.8	Afghanistan, Badakhshan	240.0	V	–	-
1922	November 11, 1922	8.3–8.6	Chile, Atacama	70.0	-	500	-
1923	February 3, 1923	8.4	Soviet Union, Kamchatka Krai	15.0	-	3	-
1924	April 10, 1924	8.1	Philippines, Mindanao	15.0	-	500	-
1925	November 10, 1925	7.3	Dutch East Indies, Papua	15.0	-	-	-
1926	October 26, 1926	7.6	Dutch East Indies, Papua	35.0	-	-	-
1927	May 22, 1927	7.7	Republic of China, Gansu	15.0	-	40,900	-
1928	June 17, 1928	8.0	Mexico, Oaxaca	15.0	-	4	-
1929	June 26, 1929	8.1	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands region	15.0	-	-	-
1930	December 3, 1930	7.5	British Burma, Bago	10.0	IX	30	-
1931	June 3, 1931	7.9	China, Xinjiang	10.0	X	10,000	-
1932	June 3, 1932	8.1	Mexico, Jalisco	35.0	X	400	-
1933	March 2, 1933	8.4–8.5	Japan, Sanriku coast	15.0	V	3,000	-
1934	January 15, 1934	8.0	Nepal, Sagarmatha Zone	15.0	X	10,700	-
1935	September 20, 1935	7.8	New Guinea, Sandaun Province	35.0	VII	0	0
1936	April 1, 1936	7.8	Dutch East Indies, Talaud Islands	35.0	IX	0	0
1937	January 7, 1937	7.8	China, Qinghai	15.0	VIII	0	0
1938	February 1, 1938	8.5–8.6	Dutch East Indies, Maluku offshore	60.0	VII	0	0
1939	December 21, 1939	8.1	Dutch East Indies, Central Sulawesi offshore	150.0	VII	0	0
1940	May 24, 1940	8.2	Peru, Lima	45.0	VIII	179–300	3,500
1941	November 18, 1941	8.0	Japan, Miyazaki offshore	35.0	VII	2	0
1942	August 24, 1942	8.2	Peru, Ica	35.0	IX	30	25
1943	April 6, 1943	8.1	Chile, Coquimbo	35.0	VIII	11	0
1944	December 7, 1944	8.1	Japan, Wakayama offshore	30.0	VIII	1,223	2,135
1945	November 27, 1945	8.1	India, Balochistan offshore	15.0	X	4,000	0
1946	April 1, 1946	8.6	United States, Alaska offshore	15.0	VI	173	0
1947	May 27, 1947	7.6	Dutch East Indies, Papua offshore	15.0	VI	0	0
November 1, 1947	Peru, Junin	20.0	IX	233	0
1948	January 24, 1948	7.8	Philippines, Panay	15.0	X	50	0
1949	August 22, 1949	8.0	Canada, Haida Gwaii	10.0	VIII	0	0
1950	August 15, 1950	8.6	India–China, Assam–Tibet border region	15.0	XI	4,800	0
1951	November 24, 1951	7.8	Taiwan, East Rift Valley	30.0	VII	85	1,200
1952	November 4, 1952	9.0	Soviet Union, Kamchatka	21.6	XI	2,336	0
1953	November 25, 1953	7.9	Japan, Yokohama	25.0	V	1	0
1954	March 29, 1954	7.8	Spain, Andalusia	626.2	IV	0	0
1955	February 27, 1955	7.5	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	15.0	I	0	0
1956	July 9, 1956	7.7	Greece, Dodecanese Islands	20.0	IX	56	0
1957	March 9, 1957	8.6	United States, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	25.0	VIII	2	0
1958	November 6, 1958	8.3	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands	35.0	X	0	51
1959	May 4, 1959	7.9	Soviet Union, Kamchatka	55.0	VIII	1	13
1960	May 22, 1960	9.5	Chile, Valdivia	25.0	XII	2,000	4,000
1961	August 19, 1961	7.6	Peru, Madre de Dios Region	612.2	IV	0	0
1962	May 21, 1962	7.5	Fiji offshore	390.0	I	0	0
1963	October 13, 1963	8.5	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands	35.0	IX	0	0
1964	March 27, 1964	9.2–9.3	United States, Alaska, Prince William Sound	25.0	XI	131	0
1965	February 3, 1965	8.7	United States, Alaska, Aleutian Islands	30.3	VI	0	0
1966	October 17, 1966	8.1	Peru, Arequipa	38.0	IX	125	3,000
1967	July 22, 1967	7.3	Turkey, Sakarya Province	30.0	X	86	0
1968	May 16, 1968	8.3	Japan, Hokkaidō	26.0	VIII	52	330
1969	August 11, 1969	8.2	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands	30.0	VIII	0	0
1970	July 31, 1970	8.0	Colombia, Amazonas Department	644.8	IV	1	4
1971	July 26, 1971	8.0	Papua New Guinea, Kokopo	37.0	IX	3	5
1972	1972	8.0	Philippines, Mindanao	60.0	VII	0	0
1973	June 17, 1973	7.8	Japan, Hokkaidō	43.3	VIII	0	27
1974	October 3, 1974	8.1	Peru, Lima	13.0	IX	78	2,400
1975	May 26, 1975	7.8	north Atlantic Ocean	33.0	VI	0	0
1976	August 17, 1976	8.0	Philippines, Moro Gulf	33.0	VIII	8,000	10,000
1977	August 19, 1977	8.3	Indonesia, Bima	25.0	VI	189	1,100
1978	June 12, 1978	7.6	Japan, Miyagi	44.0	VIII	28	1,325
1979	December 12, 1979	8.1	Colombia, Nariño offshore Ecuador, Esmeraldas offshore	24.0	IX	600	0
1980	July 17, 1980	7.7	Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands	33.0	VI	0	0
1981	September 1, 1981	7.5	New Zealand, offshore	25.0	IV	0	0
1982	June 19, 1982	7.3	El Salvador, offshore	73.0	VII	43	0
1983	March 18, 1983	7.7	Papua New Guinea, New Ireland	70.0	VII	0	0
May 26, 1983	Japan, off the coast of Honshu	15.1	VIII	104	324
1984	February 7, 1984	7.5	Solomon Islands, Honiara	18.1	VIII	0	0
1985	September 19, 1985	8.0	Mexico, Mexico City	27.9	IX	5,000-45,000	40,000
1986	May 7, 1986	8.0	United States, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	19.0	VII	0	0
1987	November 30, 1987	7.8	United States, Gulf of Alaska	10.0	VI	0	0
1988	March 6, 1988	7.7	United States, Gulf of Alaska	15.0	V	0	0
1989	May 23, 1989	8.0	Australia, Macquarie Island	10.0	V	0	0
1990	July 16, 1990	7.7	Philippines, Luzon	24.4	IX	1,621	3,000
1991	April 22, 1991	7.7	Costa Rica, Limón	10.0	IX	127	759
1992	December 12, 1992	7.8	Indonesia, Sunda Islands	23.5	VIII	2,500	0
1993	August 8, 1993	7.8	Guam, Offshore	59.3	IX	0	71
1994	October 5, 1994	8.3	Russia, Kuril Islands	3.0	IX	12	1,742
1995	October 9, 1995	8.1	Mexico, Colima	33.0	VIII	49	100
July 30, 1995	Chile, Antofagasta	40.0	VII	3	58
1996	February 17, 1996	8.2	Indonesia, Biak	11.5	VIII	166	423
1997	December 5, 1997	7.8	Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula	23.5	VIII	0	0
1998	March 25, 1998	8.1	Antarctica, Balleny Islands	10.0		0	0
1999	September 21, 1999	7.6	Taiwan, Nantou County	15.5	IX	2,444	11,305
2000	November 16, 2000	8.0	Papua New Guinea, New Ireland	13.0	VII	2	0
2001	June 23, 2001	8.4	Peru, Arequipa	33.0	VIII	145	2,713
2002	November 3, 2002	7.9	United States, Alaska	4.2	IX	0	1
2003	September 26, 2003	8.3	Japan, Hokkaidō	23.5	IX	0	849
2004	December 26, 2004	9.3	Indonesia, Sumatra	10.0	IX	227,898	125,000
2005	March 28, 2005	8.6	Indonesia, Simeulue	21.0	IX	1313	300
2006	November 15, 2006	8.3	Russia, Kuril Islands	10.0	VI	0	1
2007	September 12, 2007	8.4–8.5	Indonesia, Sumatra	34.0	VIII	23	0
2008	May 12, 2008	7.9	China, Sichuan	19.0	XI	87,587	374,177
2009	September 29, 2009	8.1	Samoa, Offshore	18.0	VII	189	7
2010	February 27, 2010	8.8	Chile, Concepción	22.9	IX	550	12,000
2011	March 11, 2011	9.0–9.1	Japan, Honshu	29.0	IX	19,747	6,000
2012	April 11, 2012	8.6	Indonesia, Indian Ocean	20.0	VII	10	12
2013	May 24, 2013	8.3	Russia, Sea of Okhotsk	598.1	VI	0	0
2014	April 1, 2014	8.2	Chile, Iquique	25.0	VIII	6	9
2015	September 16, 2015	8.3	Chile, Coquimbo	22.4	IX	21	34
2016	December 17, 2016	7.9	Papua New Guinea, New Ireland	94.5	VII	0	0
2017	September 7, 2017	8.2	Mexico, Chiapas	47.4	IX	98	250
2018	August 19, 2018	8.2	Fiji, offshore	600.0	V	0	0
2019	May 26, 2019	8.0	Peru, Loreto	122.6	VIII	2	0
2020	July 22, 2020	7.8	United States, Alaska Peninsula offshore	28.0	VII	0	0
2021	July 28, 2021	8.2	United States, Alaska Peninsula offshore	32.2	VII	0	0
2022	September 11, 2022	7.6	Papua New Guinea, Morobe	61.4	VIII	21	42
September 19, 2022	Mexico, Michoacán	25.5	VIII	2	35
2023	February 6, 2023	7.8	Turkey, Southeastern Anatolia	17.9	XII	59,488–62,013	121,704
2024	January 1, 2024	7.5	Japan, Ishikawa	10.0	X	645	1,393
2025	July 30, 2025	8.8	Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula	35.0	IX	1	25

Strongest earthquakes by magnitude by country/territory

• This list is a work in progress. Information is likely to be changed. • The list refers to current country boundaries rather than those at the date of the earthquake. • Please note, multiple countries could have the same earthquake listed, such as the 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake being listed for both Ecuador and Colombia. • Unless otherwise noted, magnitudes are reported on the Moment magnitude scale (Mw).

<table><thead><tr><th>Country/Territory</th><th>Magnitude</th><th>Date</th><th>More information</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Afghanistan</td><td>7.8</td><td>November 15, 1921</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Albania</td><td>6.7</td><td>November 30, 1967</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Algeria</td><td>7.1</td><td>October 10, 1980</td><td>1980 El Asnam earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>American Samoa</td><td>6.4</td><td>October 11, 1944</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Andorra</td><td>6.7 Me</td><td>February 2, 1428</td><td>1428 Catalonia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Angola</td><td>6.0</td><td>May 24, 1914</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Anguilla</td><td>6.3</td><td>February 16, 1906</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Antarctica</td><td>8.1</td><td>March 25, 1998</td><td>1998 Balleny Islands earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Antigua and Barbuda</td><td>8.0 Ms</td><td>April 16, 1690</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Argentina</td><td>7.5</td><td>November 23, 1977</td><td>1977 San Juan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Armenia</td><td>6.8 Ms</td><td>December 7, 1988</td><td>1988 Armenian earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Aruba</td><td>4.7</td><td>August 27, 2011</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Australia</td><td>8.0</td><td>May 23, 1989</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Austria</td><td>5.6–6.5</td><td>September 15, 1590</td><td>1590 Neulengbach earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Azerbaijan</td><td>7.0–7.3</td><td>September 30, 1139</td><td>1139 Ganja earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Bahamas</td><td>3.2</td><td>February 22, 1992</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bangladesh</td><td>8.5–8.8</td><td>April 2, 1762</td><td>1762 Arakan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Barbados</td><td>6.5</td><td>February 18, 2014 & July 16, 2015</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Belgium</td><td>6.0–6.5 Ms</td><td>September 18, 1692</td><td>1692 Northwestern Europe earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Belize</td><td>4.7 mb</td><td>June 28, 1985</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Benin</td><td>4.4 mb</td><td>September 11, 2009</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bermuda</td><td>5.3</td><td>August 27, 1988</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bhutan</td><td>7.6–8.6</td><td>May 4, 1714</td><td>1714 Bhutan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Bolivia</td><td>8.2</td><td>June 9, 1994</td><td>1994 Bolivia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Bosnia and Herzegovina</td><td>6.1</td><td>October 26, 1969</td><td>1969 Banja Luka earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Botswana</td><td>6.7 ML</td><td>October 11, 1952</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brazil</td><td>7.6</td><td>November 9, 1963</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>British Indian Ocean Territory</td><td>7.3</td><td>November 30, 1983</td><td>1983 Chagos Archipelago earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>British Virgin Islands</td><td>5.9</td><td>June 26, 1985</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brunei</td><td>5.2 mb</td><td>February 22, 1992</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bulgaria</td><td>7.2</td><td>March 31, 1901 & April 4, 1904</td><td>1901 Black Sea earthquake & 1904 Kresna earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>Burundi</td><td>5.4</td><td>October 30, 1966</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cameroon</td><td>5.9</td><td>September 12, 1945</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Canada</td><td>8.7–9.2</td><td>January 26, 1700</td><td>1700 Cascadia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Cape Verde</td><td>6.5</td><td>August 15, 1941</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean Netherlands</td><td>5.2</td><td>March 10, 2017</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cayman Islands</td><td>7.7</td><td>January 28, 2020</td><td>2020 Caribbean earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Central African Republic</td><td>4.9 mb</td><td>February 6, 1994</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chile</td><td>9.4–9.6</td><td>May 22, 1960</td><td>1960 Valdivia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>China</td><td>8.6</td><td>August 15, 1950</td><td>1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Christmas Island</td><td>6.9</td><td>July 24, 1979</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cocos (Keeling) Islands</td><td>7.9</td><td>June 18, 2000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Colombia</td><td>8.5–8.8</td><td>January 31, 1906</td><td>1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Comoros</td><td>6.2</td><td>August 23, 1918</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Congo</td><td>5.2</td><td>April 26, 1998</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Costa Rica</td><td>7.7</td><td>April 22, 1991</td><td>1991 Limon earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Croatia</td><td>6.7</td><td>July 2, 1898</td><td>1898 Trilj earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Cuba</td><td>7.1</td><td>February 20, 1917</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Curaçao</td><td>4.4</td><td>October 31, 2024</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cyprus</td><td>7.0–7.5</td><td>May 11, 1222</td><td>1222 Cyprus earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Czech Republic</td><td>4.8 ML </td><td>December 23, 1985</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Democratic Republic of the Congo</td><td>6.9</td><td>December 13, 1910</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Denmark</td><td>4.4 mb</td><td>February 19, 2010</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Djibouti</td><td>6.5</td><td>August 20, 1989</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dominica</td><td>6.4</td><td>January 8, 1959</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dominican Republic</td><td>7.8</td><td>August 4, 1946</td><td>1946 Dominican Republic earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>East Timor</td><td>7.2</td><td>September 29, 1905</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ecuador</td><td>8.5–8.8</td><td>January 31, 1906</td><td>1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Egypt</td><td>7.3</td><td>November 22, 1995</td><td>1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>El Salvador</td><td>8.0 MI</td><td>December 19, 1862</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Equatorial Guinea</td><td>4.9 mb</td><td>March 28, 1999</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eritrea</td><td>6.6</td><td>December 28, 1977</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Estonia</td><td>4.5–4.7 mb</td><td>October 25, 1976</td><td>Osmussaar earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Eswatini</td><td>4.4 mb</td><td>August 4, 1987</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ethiopia</td><td>6.5</td><td>August 25, 1906</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Falkland Islands</td><td>7.4</td><td>August 17, 1908</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Faroe Islands</td><td>3.2</td><td>February 21, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fiji</td><td>8.2</td><td>August 19, 2018</td><td>2018 Fiji earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>Finland</td><td>4.7 Muk </td><td>November 4, 1898</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>6.4–6.5 Muk </td><td>January 25, 1799</td><td>1799 Vendée earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>French Guiana</td><td>6.9</td><td>August 4, 1885</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>French Polynesia</td><td>5.6</td><td>March 6, 1965</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gabon</td><td>6.0</td><td>September 23, 1974</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Georgia</td><td>7.0</td><td>April 29, 1991</td><td>1991 Racha earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Germany</td><td>6.4 ML </td><td>February 18, 1756</td><td>1756 Düren earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Ghana</td><td>6.8</td><td>July 10, 1862</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Greece</td><td>8.5+</td><td>July 21, 365</td><td>365 Crete earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Greenland</td><td>7.4</td><td>November 20, 1933</td><td>1933 Baffin Bay earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Grenada</td><td>7.0 Ms</td><td>December 3, 1831</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Guadeloupe</td><td>8.5 Muk </td><td>February 8, 1843</td><td>1843 Guadeloupe earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Guam</td><td>7.8</td><td>August 8, 1993</td><td>1993 Guam earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Guatemala</td><td>7.7</td><td>August 6, 1942</td><td>1942 Guatemala earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea</td><td>6.3</td><td>December 22, 1983</td><td>1983 Guinea earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Guyana</td><td>5.5</td><td>January 31, 2021</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Haiti</td><td>8.1 Ms</td><td>May 7, 1842</td><td>1842 Cap-Haïtien earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Honduras</td><td>7.6</td><td>February 8, 2025</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hong Kong</td><td>3.8 ML</td><td>January 5, 2020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hungary</td><td>6.2–6.5</td><td>June 28, 1763</td><td>1763 Komárom earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Iceland</td><td>7.0</td><td>January 22, 1910</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>8.6</td><td>August 15, 1950</td><td>1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Indonesia</td><td>9.1–9.3</td><td>December 26, 2004</td><td>2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami</td></tr><tr><td>Iran</td><td>7.9 Ms</td><td>December 22, 856</td><td>856 Damghan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Iraq</td><td>7.0</td><td>September 22, 1666</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ireland</td><td>4.0 ML </td><td>June 6, 2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Israel</td><td>7.3</td><td>December 5, 1033</td><td>1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Italy</td><td>7.4</td><td>January 11, 1693</td><td>1693 Sicily earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Jamaica</td><td>7.7</td><td>January 28, 2020</td><td>2020 Caribbean earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>9.0–9.1</td><td>March 11, 2011</td><td>2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami</td></tr><tr><td>Jersey</td><td>5.4</td><td>July 30, 1926</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jordan</td><td>7.3</td><td>December 5, 1033</td><td>1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Kazakhstan</td><td>8.0</td><td>July 11, 1889 & January 3, 1911</td><td>1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td>6.7</td><td>January 6, 1928</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kiribati</td><td>5.9 mb</td><td>May 23, 1982</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kosovo</td><td>6.1 ML</td><td>February 26, 1755 & August 10, 1921</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kuwait</td><td>4.7 mb</td><td>June 2, 1993 & November 11, 2020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Kyrgyzstan</td><td>8.0</td><td>July 11, 1889 & January 3, 1911</td><td>1889 Chilik earthquake & 1911 Kebin earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Laos</td><td>6.7</td><td>December 22, 1925</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lebanon</td><td>7.5</td><td>July 9, 551</td><td>551 Beirut earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Liberia</td><td>4.5 mb</td><td>November 25, 1995</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Libya</td><td>6.8</td><td>April 19, 1935</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Liechtenstein</td><td>3.6</td><td>December 12, 2013</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Luxembourg</td><td>2.9 ML</td><td>September 3, 1986</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Madagascar</td><td>6.2</td><td>July 4, 1919</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Malawi</td><td>6.3</td><td>March 10, 1989</td><td>1989 Malawi earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Malaysia</td><td>7.1</td><td>February 22, 2026</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Maldives</td><td>7.4</td><td>February 29, 1944</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mali</td><td>4.2 mb</td><td>January 11, 1999</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Malta</td><td>5.5</td><td>April 21, 2023</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Marshall Islands</td><td>5.7</td><td>March 22, 1982</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Martinique</td><td>7.5–8.0</td><td>January 11, 1839</td><td>1839 Martinique earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritania</td><td>4.6 mb</td><td>September 3, 1993 & March 1, 2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mauritius</td><td>6.4</td><td>June 19, 1976</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mayotte</td><td>5.9</td><td>May 15, 2018</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mexico</td><td>8.6</td><td>March 28, 1787</td><td>1787 New Spain earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Federated States of Micronesia</td><td>7.8</td><td>August 16, 1911</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Moldova</td><td>3.9 mb</td><td>April 2, 1988</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Monaco</td><td>6.3</td><td>July 19, 1963</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mongolia</td><td>8.3</td><td>July 23, 1905</td><td>1905 Bolnai earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Montenegro</td><td>6.9</td><td>April 15, 1979</td><td>1979 Montenegro earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Morocco</td><td>6.8</td><td>November 27, 1755 & September 8, 2023</td><td>1755 Meknes earthquake & 2023 Al Haouz earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Mozambique</td><td>7.0</td><td>February 22, 2006</td><td>2006 Mozambique earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Myanmar</td><td>8.5–8.8</td><td>April 2, 1762</td><td>1762 Arakan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Namibia</td><td>5.4</td><td>April 4, 2021</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>  Nepal</td><td>8.2–8.8</td><td>June 6, 1505</td><td>1505 Lo Mustang earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Netherlands</td><td>5.3</td><td>April 13, 1992</td><td>1992 Roermond earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>New Caledonia</td><td>7.9</td><td>August 9, 1901</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>New Zealand</td><td>8.2</td><td>January 23, 1855 & May 1, 1917</td><td>1855 Wairarapa earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Nicaragua</td><td>7.7</td><td>September 2, 1992</td><td>1992 Nicaragua earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Niger</td><td>4.6 mb</td><td>January 18, 2017</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nigeria</td><td>4.5 mb</td><td>March 7, 2000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Korea</td><td>7.7</td><td>September 29, 1973</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Macedonia</td><td>6.7</td><td>March 8, 1931</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Northern Mariana Islands</td><td>7.7</td><td>December 28, 1940 & July 29, 2016</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Norway</td><td>6.8</td><td>August 30, 2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oman</td><td>5.7</td><td>March 30, 1966</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>British Raj</td><td>8.1</td><td>November 27, 1945</td><td>1945 Balochistan earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Palau</td><td>6.5</td><td>May 31, 1982</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Palestine</td><td>7.3</td><td>December 5, 1033</td><td>1033 Jordan Rift Valley earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Panama</td><td>7.9–8.3 Ms</td><td>September 7, 1882</td><td>1882 Panama earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Papua New Guinea</td><td>8.2</td><td>May 6, 1919</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paraguay</td><td>6.5</td><td>February 28, 1989</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Peru (now part of present-day Chile)</td><td>8.5–9.3</td><td>August 13, 1868</td><td>1868 Arica earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Philippines</td><td>8.3</td><td>August 15, 1918</td><td>1918 Celebes Sea earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Poland</td><td>5.6</td><td>December 3, 1786</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Portugal</td><td>8.5–9.0</td><td>November 1, 1755</td><td>1755 Lisbon earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Puerto Rico</td><td>8.0</td><td>May 2, 1787</td><td>1787 Boricua earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Réunion</td><td>5.3 mb</td><td>April 5, 2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Romania</td><td>7.9</td><td>October 26, 1802</td><td>1802 Vrancea earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Russia</td><td>9.0–9.3</td><td>October 16, 1737</td><td>1737 Kamchatka earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Rwanda</td><td>5.9</td><td>February 3, 2008</td><td>2008 Lake Kivu earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Barthélemy</td><td>5.4</td><td>November 18, 1990</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saint Kitts and Nevis</td><td>6.5</td><td>March 16, 1985</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saint Lucia</td><td>7.3</td><td>March 19, 1953</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saint Martin</td><td>5.0</td><td>July 4, 2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saint Pierre and Miquelon</td><td>7.2</td><td>November 18, 1929</td><td>1929 Grand Banks earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</td><td>6.1</td><td>July 6, 1940</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Samoa</td><td>8.3–8.5</td><td>June 26, 1917</td><td>1917 Samoa earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>São Tomé and Príncipe</td><td>5.5</td><td>December 19, 2019</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saudi Arabia</td><td>7.3</td><td>November 22, 1995</td><td>1995 Gulf of Aqaba earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Senegal</td><td>5.5</td><td>May 21, 1986</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Serbia</td><td>6.0</td><td>May 15, 1927</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seychelles</td><td>5.2 mb</td><td>April 28, 1995</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Slovakia</td><td>6.2–6.5</td><td>June 28, 1763</td><td>1763 Komárom earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Slovenia</td><td>6.1 ML</td><td>April 14, 1895</td><td>1895 Ljubljana earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Solomon Islands</td><td>8.1</td><td>April 1, 2007</td><td>2007 Solomon Islands earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Somalia</td><td>6.0</td><td>January 22, 1929</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>6.8</td><td>December 31, 1932</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands</td><td>8.1–8.3</td><td>August 12, 2021</td><td>2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>South Korea</td><td>7.5</td><td>June 26, 1681</td><td>1681 Yangyang earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>South Sudan</td><td>7.2</td><td>May 20, 1990</td><td>1990 South Sudan earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>Spain</td><td>7.8</td><td>March 29, 1954</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>5.7</td><td>August 30, 1973</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sudan</td><td>6.0</td><td>May 12, 1938</td><td></td></tr><tr><td> Switzerland</td><td>6.0–7.1</td><td>October 18, 1356</td><td>1356 Basel earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Syria</td><td>7.6 Ms</td><td>May 20, 1202</td><td>1202 Syria earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Taiwan</td><td>8.2</td><td>June 5, 1920</td><td>1920 Hualien earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Tajikistan</td><td>7.5</td><td>July 10, 1949</td><td>1949 Khait earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Tanzania</td><td>7.0</td><td>July 8, 1919</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Thailand</td><td>6.1</td><td>May 5, 2014</td><td>2014 Mae Lao earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Tonga</td><td>8.3–8.5</td><td>June 26, 1917</td><td>1917 Samoa earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Trinidad and Tobago</td><td>7.5 Mfa </td><td>January 10, 1888</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td>7.2 or less</td><td>October 9, 859</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Turkey</td><td>7.8–8.0 Ms</td><td>August 17, 1668</td><td>1668 North Anatolia earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Turkmenistan</td><td>8.2 Ms</td><td>July 7, 1895</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tuvalu</td><td>5.4</td><td>February 5, 1983</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Uganda</td><td>6.5</td><td>June 30, 1952</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ukraine</td><td>6.7</td><td>September 11, 1927</td><td>1927 Crimean earthquakes</td></tr><tr><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>5.0</td><td>March 11, 2002</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>United Kingdom</td><td>6.1 ML</td><td>June 7, 1931</td><td>1931 Dogger Bank earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>United States</td><td>9.2–9.3</td><td>March 28, 1964</td><td>1964 Alaska earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>U.S. Virgin Islands</td><td>7.2</td><td>November 18, 1867</td><td>1867 Virgin Islands earthquake and tsunami</td></tr><tr><td>Uruguay</td><td>5.5 Ms</td><td>June 5, 1888</td><td>1888 Río de la Plata earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Uzbekistan</td><td>7.4 Ms</td><td>October 21, 1907</td><td>1907 Qaratog earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Vanuatu</td><td>8.1</td><td>September 20, 1920</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Venezuela</td><td>7.6–7.7</td><td>April 29, 1894 & October 29, 1900</td><td>1894 Venezuelan earthquake & 1900 San Narciso earthquake</td></tr><tr><td>Vietnam</td><td>6.8</td><td>November 1, 1935</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wallis and Futuna</td><td>7.6</td><td>May 23, 1956</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Yemen</td><td>6.7</td><td>December 18, 1908</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Zambia</td><td>6.5</td><td>May 1, 1919</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Zimbabwe</td><td>5.5</td><td>September 25, 1963</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Earthquakes with the most property damage

Lists of earthquakes

This is the top ten major earthquakes by the US dollar value of property (public and private) losses directly attributable to the earthquake.

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Event</th><th>Location</th><th>Magnitude</th><th>Property damage</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami</td><td>Japan</td><td>9.1</td><td>$360 billion</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>1995 Great Hanshin earthquake</td><td>Japan</td><td>6.9</td><td>$200 billion</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes</td><td>Turkey Syria</td><td>7.8</td><td>$164 billion</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>2008 Sichuan earthquake</td><td>China</td><td>7.9</td><td>$150 billion</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>2011 Christchurch earthquake</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>6.3</td><td>$40 billion</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>2004 Chūetsu earthquake</td><td>Japan</td><td>6.6</td><td>$28 billion</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>2011 Sikkim earthquake</td><td>India</td><td>6.9</td><td>$22 billion</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>1999 İzmit earthquake</td><td>Turkey</td><td>7.6</td><td>$20 billion</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>2009 L'Aquila earthquake</td><td>Italy</td><td>6.3</td><td>$16 billion</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>2012 Northern Italy earthquakes</td><td>Italy</td><td>6.1</td><td>$16 billion</td></tr></tbody></table>

Most studied earthquakes

Lists of earthquakes

The 50 most studied earthquakes according to the International Seismological Centre (ISC), based on a count of scientific papers (mostly in English) that discuss that earthquake. The "Event #" is linked to the ISC Event Bibliography for that event.

Modified from figure 2, "The most studied events", at the ISC's Overview of the ISC Event Bibliography.

International Seismological Centre. Event Bibliography. Thatcham, United Kingdom. 2018.

Lists by time period

By century

• Before 1900 • 1901–2000 • 2001–present

By decade

• 2001–2010 • 2011–2020 • 2021–present

Lists by location

By region

• British Isles • Caribbean • Levant • South Asia