US States Most Likely to Get an Earthquake

That’s basically a lower risk of getting hit by an earthquake compared with California, which has a much smaller land area and a much larger population.

In other words, the Golden State gets second place when it comes to where most quakes occur in the US. According to the World Atlas, the most earthquake-prone states are Hawaii, which places third; Nevada, fourth; and Washington, fifth.

Despite their natural beauty, marked by their soaring, wonderful mountains, all five of these US states aren’t without their faults—as in, plenty of earthquake faults! Therefore, our purpose here is to help you better understand earthquakes, your local risks, seismic hazards, and the precautions you can take to protect your family and your property.