What the record shows for Iceland
The strongest earthquake on record near Iceland is a magnitude 7.0 in 1910, centred 79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland - 116 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 791 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Iceland - roughly 40 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 7 tsunamis within 300 km of Iceland between 1693 and 2014. The most significant was in 1693 near Mount Hekla.
34 volcanoes are catalogued near Iceland, including Hofsjokull, Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull, Tungnafellsjokull, Trollagigar, Bardarbunga, Prestahnukur and 28 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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Iceland straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart.
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 Iceland.
Earthquake risk in Iceland - FAQ
Is Iceland at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 40 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 1910.
What was the biggest earthquake in Iceland?
The strongest earthquake on record near Iceland is M7.0, in 1910 (79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland), from USGS.
Does Iceland get tsunamis?
Yes - 7 tsunamis since 1693 (most recently 2014) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Iceland?
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.