What the record shows for Norway
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 21 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 611 km of Norway - roughly 1 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 28 tsunamis within 611 km of Norway between 1731 and 2014. The most significant was in 1936 near Loen, which killed around 73 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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Norway is the most seismically active country in northern Europe, including activity around Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
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 Norway.
Earthquake risk in Norway - FAQ
Is Norway at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 611 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Norway?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Norway in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Norway get tsunamis?
Yes - 28 tsunamis since 1731 (most recently 2014) within 611 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 73 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Norway?
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.