Earthquakes in Yemen
Yemen appears infrequently in the record, with just 1 events in the past 30 days, and 5 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.
19 earthquakes have been recorded in Yemen in our catalogue, 1 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 4.7 and the average focal depth 10 km. 19 events reached magnitude 4 or above and 5 reached magnitude 5 or above.
The strongest earthquake recorded in Yemen in this period was a magnitude 5.3 event near Qalansīyah, Yemen on 23 July 2025, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Qalansīyah (6), Hadibu (4), Kilmia (3), Aden (2), Al Ghayz̧ah (1).
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 14 in the magnitude 4 range, 5 in the magnitude 5 range.
The busiest single day was 21 January 2026, with 3 recorded events.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in Yemen
19 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 5.3 | Hadibu, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Hadibu, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 5.0 | Kilmia, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kilmia, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kilmia, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 5.3 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 5.0 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Hadibu, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 5.3 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.7 | Hadibu, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Mukalla, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Aden, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Aden, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Qalansīyah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.9 | Zinjibār, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Al Ghayz̧ah, Yemen | 10.0 | Yemen | View details View |
Strongest recorded earthquakes in Yemen
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in Yemen?
19 earthquakes are recorded in Yemen in our catalogue, including 1 in the past 30 days and 19 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Yemen?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 5.3 event near Qalansīyah, Yemen on 23 July 2025.
Is Yemen at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for Yemen shows 19 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 Yemen by month
Event counts for Yemen reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.