Earthquakes in Iceland
Iceland appears infrequently in the record, with just 2 events in the past 30 days, and 9 of the events on record reached magnitude 5 or above — the level at which damage becomes a genuine concern for vulnerable construction. Activity here is almost entirely crustal, which means shaking at the surface is strong relative to the magnitudes involved.
33 earthquakes have been recorded in Iceland in our catalogue, 2 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 4.7 and the average focal depth 10 km. 33 events reached magnitude 4 or above and 9 reached magnitude 5 or above.
The strongest earthquake recorded in Iceland in this period was a magnitude 5.4 event near Akureyri, Iceland on 28 July 2026, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake radiates roughly 1,898 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Grindavík (7), Höfn (5), Akureyri (5), Sandgerði (3), Norðurþing (2).
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 24 in the magnitude 4 range, 9 in the magnitude 5 range.
The busiest single day was 01 April 2025, with 3 recorded events.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in Iceland
33 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
Strongest recorded earthquakes in Iceland
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in Iceland?
33 earthquakes are recorded in Iceland in our catalogue, including 2 in the past 30 days and 33 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Iceland?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 5.4 event near Akureyri, Iceland on 28 July 2026.
Is Iceland at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for Iceland shows 33 events of magnitude 4 or above, which is the band at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Consult your national seismic hazard agency for building-code and preparedness guidance.
Earthquakes in Iceland by month
Event counts for Iceland reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.