Eastern Africa
What tectonic plate is Ethiopia on?
Ethiopia spans 3 tectonic plates: the Somali Plate (49%), the African Plate (48%) and the Arabian Plate (2.9%).
- Plates
- 3
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 1
- Holocene volcanoes
- 49
- Land area
- 1.13 million km²
Plates under Ethiopia
Share of Ethiopia's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
3 plate boundaries run through or along Ethiopia: the Arabian-African boundary (divergent, about 1.4 cm/yr), the Somali-Arabian boundary (divergent, about 2.4 cm/yr) and the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in Ethiopia
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Ethiopia. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 km E of Goba, Ethiopia | M6.5 | 1906 | 15 km | Somali |
Volcanoes in Ethiopia
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 49 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Ethiopia, the 6th most of any country.
- Erta Ale Shield · 585 m Last eruption 2025
- Hayli Gubbi Shield · 493 m Last eruption 2025
- Dallol Explosion crater(s) · -48 m Last eruption 2011
- Manda Hararo Shield(s) · 600 m Last eruption 2009
- Alu-Dalafilla Fissure vent(s) · 578 m Last eruption 2008
- Dabbahu Stratovolcano · 1,401 m Last eruption 2005
- Manda-Inakir Fissure vent(s) · 600 m Last eruption 1928
- Alayta Shield · 1,496 m Last eruption 1915
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Ethiopia on?
Ethiopia spans 3 tectonic plates: the Somali Plate (49%), the African Plate (48%) and the Arabian Plate (2.9%).
Is Ethiopia on a plate boundary?
3 plate boundaries run through or along Ethiopia: the Arabian-African boundary (divergent, about 1.4 cm/yr), the Somali-Arabian boundary (divergent, about 2.4 cm/yr) and the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Does Ethiopia get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Ethiopia. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M6.5 8 km E of Goba, Ethiopia in 1906.
Are there volcanoes in Ethiopia?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 49 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Ethiopia, the 6th most of any country.