What the record shows for Azerbaijan
The strongest earthquake on record near Azerbaijan is a magnitude 6.8 in 2000, centred 15 km SSE of Baku, Azerbaijan - 26 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 297 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Azerbaijan - roughly 15 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 4 tsunamis within 300 km of Azerbaijan between 1668 and 1960. The most significant was in 1668 near Caspian Sea, which killed around 7,000 people.
7 volcanoes are catalogued near Azerbaijan, including Tskhouk-Karckar, Porak, Vaiyots-Sar, Sabalan, Ghegham Volcanic Ridge, Unnamed and 1 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Popular
Azerbaijan sits in the actively deforming Caucasus region between the Arabian and Eurasian plates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Azerbaijan.
Earthquake risk in Azerbaijan - FAQ
Is Azerbaijan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 15 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.8 in 2000.
What was the biggest earthquake in Azerbaijan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Azerbaijan is M6.8, in 2000 (15 km SSE of Baku, Azerbaijan), from USGS.
Does Azerbaijan get tsunamis?
Yes - 4 tsunamis since 1668 (most recently 1960) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 7,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Azerbaijan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.