What the record shows for Georgia
The strongest earthquake on record near Georgia is a magnitude 7.0 in 1991, centred 22 km WNW of Java, Georgia - 35 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 240 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Georgia - roughly 12 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 2 tsunamis within 300 km of Georgia between -50 and 1905. The most significant was in 1905 near Caucasus, triggered by an M7.5 earthquake.
13 volcanoes are catalogued near Georgia, including Samsari Volcanic Center, Kabargin Oth Group, Unnamed, Kazbek, Kars Plateau, Aragats and 7 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.
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Georgia sits in the seismically active Caucasus, driven by the Arabia–Eurasia collision.
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 Georgia.
Earthquake risk in Georgia - FAQ
Is Georgia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 12 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 M7.0 in 1991.
What was the biggest earthquake in Georgia?
The strongest earthquake on record near Georgia is M7.0, in 1991 (22 km WNW of Java, Georgia), from USGS.
Does Georgia get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 50 BC (most recently 1905) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Georgia?
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.