What the record shows for Indonesia
The strongest earthquake on record near Indonesia is a magnitude 8.2 in 1965, centred 1965 Ceram Sea Earthquake - 61 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 7,004 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 944 km of Indonesia - roughly 350 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 67 tsunamis within 944 km of Indonesia between 1815 and 2026. The most significant was in 1815 near Tambora, which killed around 60,000 people.
60 volcanoes are catalogued near Indonesia, including Colo, Tambora, Sangeang Api, Rinjani, Batur, Agung and 54 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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Indonesia is one of the most seismically active countries on Earth, straddling the meeting point of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian and Pacific 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 Indonesia.
Earthquake risk in Indonesia - FAQ
Is Indonesia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 350 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 944 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.2 in 1965.
What was the biggest earthquake in Indonesia?
The strongest earthquake on record near Indonesia is M8.2, in 1965 (1965 Ceram Sea Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Indonesia get tsunamis?
Yes - 67 tsunamis since 1815 (most recently 2026) within 944 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 60,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Indonesia?
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.