Earthquakes can strike any location at any time, but history shows they occur in the same general patterns year after year, principally in three large zones of the earth:
- The world's greatest earthquake belt, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 percent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. It has earned the nickname "Ring of Fire". Why do so many earthquakes originate in this region? The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking (or subducting) beneath another plate. Earthquakes in these subduction zones are caused by slip between plates and rupture within plates. Earthquakes in the circum-Pacific seismic belt include the M9.5 Chilean Earthquake [Valdivia Earthquake] (1960) and the M9.2 Alaska Earthquake (1964).
- The Alpide earthquake belt extends from Java to Sumatra through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic. This belt accounts for about 17 percent of the world's largest earthquakes, including some of the most destructive, such as the 2005 M7.6 shock in Pakistan that killed over 80,000 and the 2004 M9.1 Indonesia earthquake, which generated a tsunami that killed over 230,000 people.
- The third prominent belt follows the submerged mid-Atlantic Ridge. The ridge marks where two tectonic plates are spreading apart (a divergent plate boundary). Most of the mid-Atlantic Ridge is deep underwater and far from human development, but Iceland, which sits directly over the mid-Atlantic Ridge, has experienced earthquakes as large as at least M6.9.
The remaining shocks are scattered in various areas of the world. Earthquakes in the prominent seismic zones described above are taken for granted, but damaging shocks can occur outside these zones. Examples in the United States include New Madrid, Missouri (1811-1812) and Charleston, South Carolina (1886). However, many years usually elapse between such shocks.
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Where can I find a list of yearly estimated deaths from earthquakes around the world?
Our Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has annual totals for worldwide earthquakes and U.S. earthquakes from 1990 to the near-present. Estimated deaths from those earthquakes are listed at the bottom of the charts. The website also has M3+ earthquake counts by state from 2010 to 2015.
Which states have the smallest number of earthquakes? Is there any place in the world that doesn't have earthquakes?
Florida and North Dakota are the states with the fewest earthquakes. Antarctica has the least earthquakes of any continent, but small earthquakes can occur anywhere in the World. Our Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has M3+ earthquake counts for each state from 2010 to 2015. Learn more: Earthquake Information by Region
Where can I find a list of the largest earthquakes in the United States? In the world?
The USGS Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has statistics about earthquakes in the United States and the world, including a list of the world's 20 largest recorded earthquakes.
Where can I find a list of the largest earthquakes near my town?
Use our online earthquake catalog to search for past earthquakes in your region. Define your search area by drawing a rectangle on a map or by inputting data for a rectangle or circle. Go to our Earthquake Information by Region website for information about earthquakes in each state.
Which country has the most earthquakes?
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem. In order to most accurately answer it, we will rephrase the question four different ways:For which country do we locate the most earthquakes? Japan. The whole country is in a very active seismic area, and they have the densest seismic network in the world, so they are able to record many earthquakes.Which country actually has...
Which state has the most earthquakes that cause damage? Which state has the most earthquakes (not human-induced)?
California has more earthquakes that cause damage than any other state. Alaska and California have the most earthquakes (not human-induced). Learn more: Earthquake Information by Region
Where can I search an earthquake catalog for past events?
You might be able to find what you’re looking for using our collection of Earthquake Lists, so check that first. If that doesn’t work, use one of these Earthquake Catalog Search webpages: World-wide Earthquakes Catalog (M4.5+ worldwide, M2.5+ U.S.) Historic ANSS (Advanced National Seismic System) Composite Catalog (M4.5+ world-wide, all magnitudes U.S.)
What is the "Ring of Fire"?
Most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions do not strike randomly but occur in specific areas, such as along plate boundaries. One such area is the circum-Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate meets many surrounding tectonic plates. The Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active zone in the world. Learn more: USGS Volcano Hazards Program
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Where can I find a list of yearly estimated deaths from earthquakes around the world?
Our Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has annual totals for worldwide earthquakes and U.S. earthquakes from 1990 to the near-present. Estimated deaths from those earthquakes are listed at the bottom of the charts. The website also has M3+ earthquake counts by state from 2010 to 2015.
Which states have the smallest number of earthquakes? Is there any place in the world that doesn't have earthquakes?
Florida and North Dakota are the states with the fewest earthquakes. Antarctica has the least earthquakes of any continent, but small earthquakes can occur anywhere in the World. Our Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has M3+ earthquake counts for each state from 2010 to 2015. Learn more: Earthquake Information by Region
Where can I find a list of the largest earthquakes in the United States? In the world?
The USGS Earthquake Lists, Maps, and Statistics website has statistics about earthquakes in the United States and the world, including a list of the world's 20 largest recorded earthquakes.
Where can I find a list of the largest earthquakes near my town?
Use our online earthquake catalog to search for past earthquakes in your region. Define your search area by drawing a rectangle on a map or by inputting data for a rectangle or circle. Go to our Earthquake Information by Region website for information about earthquakes in each state.
Which country has the most earthquakes?
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem. In order to most accurately answer it, we will rephrase the question four different ways:For which country do we locate the most earthquakes? Japan. The whole country is in a very active seismic area, and they have the densest seismic network in the world, so they are able to record many earthquakes.Which country actually has...
Which state has the most earthquakes that cause damage? Which state has the most earthquakes (not human-induced)?
California has more earthquakes that cause damage than any other state. Alaska and California have the most earthquakes (not human-induced). Learn more: Earthquake Information by Region
Where can I search an earthquake catalog for past events?
You might be able to find what you’re looking for using our collection of Earthquake Lists, so check that first. If that doesn’t work, use one of these Earthquake Catalog Search webpages: World-wide Earthquakes Catalog (M4.5+ worldwide, M2.5+ U.S.) Historic ANSS (Advanced National Seismic System) Composite Catalog (M4.5+ world-wide, all magnitudes U.S.)
What is the "Ring of Fire"?
Most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions do not strike randomly but occur in specific areas, such as along plate boundaries. One such area is the circum-Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate meets many surrounding tectonic plates. The Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active zone in the world. Learn more: USGS Volcano Hazards Program
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