What the record shows for North Macedonia
The strongest earthquake on record near North Macedonia is a magnitude 7.2 in 1905, centred Aegean Sea - 121 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 758 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of North Macedonia - roughly 38 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 34 tsunamis within 300 km of North Macedonia between -479 and 2003. The most significant was in 1851 near Albanian Coasts, triggered by an M6.6 earthquake, which killed around 2,000 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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North Macedonia lies in the seismically active Balkans, part of the Africa–Eurasia collision zone.
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 North Macedonia.
Earthquake risk in North Macedonia - FAQ
Is North Macedonia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 38 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 M7.2 in 1905.
What was the biggest earthquake in North Macedonia?
The strongest earthquake on record near North Macedonia is M7.2, in 1905 (Aegean Sea), from USGS.
Does North Macedonia get tsunamis?
Yes - 34 tsunamis since 479 BC (most recently 2003) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 2,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in North Macedonia?
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.