Earth · earthquakes
A year of strong earthquakes
Each spike is a magnitude 5.5+ earthquake of the last twelve months (USGS ComCat); its height follows the magnitude, its colour the depth. Rings mark the strongest. Earthquakes outline the plate boundaries.
- < 70 km (shallow)
- 70–300 km (intermediate)
- > 300 km (deep)
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.7
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,620
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,027
1900 → 2026-10-23
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,620
including 100 M ≥ 8
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 5.7
2026-10-23 08:19 UTC · 61 km WNW of Leni, Italy
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
1960-05-22 · 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 in the last 30 days of the catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 7 and M ≥ 6 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Show the data as a table
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
Show the data as a table
Ten strongest earthquakes in the USGS catalogue (since 1900)
| # | M | Date | Place | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.5 mw | 1960-05-22 | 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) | 25 km |
| 2 | 9.2 mw | 1964-03-28 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake | 25 km |
| 3 | 9.1 mw | 2004-12-25 | 2004 Sumatra - Andaman Islands Earthquake | 30 km |
| 4 | 9.1 mww | 2011-03-11 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | 29 km |
| 5 | 9.0 mw | 1952-11-04 | 89 km ESE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | 22 km |
| 6 | 8.8 mw | 1906-01-31 | 1906 Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake | 20 km |
| 7 | 8.8 mww | 2010-02-27 | 2010 Maule, Chile Earthquake | 23 km |
| 8 | 8.8 mww | 2025-07-29 | 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Earthquake | 35 km |
| 9 | 8.7 mw | 1965-02-04 | 1965 Western Aleutian Islands (Hawadax/Rat Islands) Earthquake | 30 km |
| 10 | 8.6 mw | 1946-04-01 | The 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake | 15 km |
Deadliest earthquakes (NCEI significant earthquake database)
NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · 10/23/26
| # | Year | Place | M | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1556 | CHINA: SHAANXI PROVINCE | 8.0 | 830,000 |
| 2 | 2010 | HAITI: PORT-AU-PRINCE tsunami | 7.0 | 316,000 |
| 3 | 115 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH) tsunami | 7.5 | 260,000 |
| 4 | 525 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH), SAMANDAG | 7.0 | 250,000 |
| 5 | 1976 | CHINA: NE: TANGSHAN | 7.5 | 242,769 |
| 6 | 1920 | CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE tsunami | 8.3 | 235,502 |
| 7 | 1139 | AZERBAIJAN: GYZNDZHA | — | 230,000 |
| 8 | 2004 | INDONESIA: SUMATRA: ACEH: OFF WEST COAST tsunami | 9.1 | 227,899 |
| 9 | 856 | IRAN: DAMGHAN, QUMIS | 7.9 | 200,000 |
| 10 | 893 | ARMENIA: DVIN; IRAN: ARDABIL | — | 150,000 |
Filterable USGS catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/23/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-06 06:16 | 6.1 mww | Kermadec Islands region | 10 km | -28.63, -177.00 |
| 2021-03-05 23:16 | 6.3 mww | 183 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand | 13 km | -37.58, 179.59 |
| 2021-03-05 13:24 | 6.2 mww | Kermadec Islands region | 14 km | -28.90, -176.61 |
| 2021-03-05 07:13 | 6.0 mww | Kermadec Islands region | 15 km | -29.50, -176.13 |
| 2021-03-05 01:30 | 6.3 mww | Kermadec Islands region | 17 km | -28.75, -176.56 |
| 2021-03-04 22:12 | 6.5 mwb | Kermadec Islands region | 24 km | -28.52, -176.68 |
| 2021-03-04 19:25 | 6.1 mb | Kermadec Islands region | 10 km | -28.39, -176.69 |
| 2021-03-04 18:28 | 8.1 mww | 2021 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand Earthquake | 29 km | -29.72, -177.28 |
| 2021-03-04 16:41 | 7.4 mww | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 43 km | -29.68, -177.84 |
| 2021-03-04 15:53 | 6.1 mww | 66 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu | 173 km | -14.43, 167.33 |
| 2021-03-04 12:27 | 7.3 mww | 182 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand | 10 km | -37.48, 179.46 |
| 2021-03-03 09:16 | 6.3 mww | 9 km W of Týrnavos, Greece | 8 km | 39.75, 22.18 |
| 2021-02-18 14:30 | 6.1 mww | 157 km ESE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna | 4 km | -14.84, -176.76 |
| 2021-02-18 05:37 | 6.2 mww | 136 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 14 km | -18.95, 168.07 |
| 2021-02-17 21:49 | 6.1 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 12 km | -23.18, 171.78 |
| 2021-02-15 23:49 | 6.2 mww | 82 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | 13 km | -17.83, 167.54 |
| 2021-02-13 13:07 | 7.1 mww | 73 km ENE of Namie, Japan | 44 km | 37.73, 141.78 |
| 2021-02-11 05:52 | 6.0 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 11 km | -23.34, 171.81 |
| 2021-02-10 20:24 | 6.3 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 12 km | -23.19, 171.58 |
| 2021-02-10 17:36 | 6.1 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 14 km | -22.72, 171.21 |
| 2021-02-10 15:35 | 6.1 mwb | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 12 km | -22.81, 171.17 |
| 2021-02-10 12:19 | 7.7 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 10 km | -23.05, 171.66 |
| 2021-02-10 12:01 | 6.1 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 10 km | -22.74, 171.64 |
| 2021-02-10 11:52 | 6.3 mww | 219 km SSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia | 10 km | -5.69, 101.65 |
| 2021-02-10 11:24 | 6.1 mww | southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 11 km | -22.83, 171.66 |
| 2021-02-07 04:45 | 6.3 mww | 189 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | -3.32, 146.14 |
| 2021-02-07 03:22 | 6.0 mww | 9 km W of Magsaysay, Philippines | 16 km | 6.77, 125.10 |
| 2021-02-03 04:23 | 6.7 mww | West Chile Rise | 10 km | -36.28, -97.80 |
| 2021-01-23 22:36 | 6.9 mww | South Shetland Islands | 15 km | -61.81, -55.50 |
| 2021-01-21 11:23 | 7.0 mww | 211 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines | 80 km | 4.99, 127.51 |
| 2021-01-19 01:46 | 6.4 mww | 26 km SW of Pocito, Argentina | 21 km | -31.83, -68.80 |
| 2021-01-14 17:28 | 6.2 mww | 32 km S of Mamuju, Indonesia | 18 km | -2.97, 118.89 |
| 2021-01-11 20:32 | 6.7 mww | 29 km SSW of Turt, Mongolia | 10 km | 51.28, 100.44 |
| 2021-01-10 05:48 | 6.1 mww | 50 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu | 160 km | -16.03, 167.88 |
| 2021-01-10 02:54 | 6.1 mww | 32 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 217 km | -24.04, -66.57 |
| 2021-01-08 04:01 | 6.1 mww | 146 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu | 113 km | -20.74, 169.88 |
| 2021-01-07 23:28 | 6.3 mww | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 224 km | -29.43, -178.74 |
| 2021-01-06 19:59 | 6.1 mww | 53 km SSW of Gorontalo, Indonesia | 148 km | 0.07, 122.95 |
| 2021-01-06 05:20 | 6.2 mww | Kermadec Islands region | 38 km | -28.64, -177.27 |
| 2021-01-03 11:38 | 6.1 mww | 230 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 21 km | 51.22, -179.79 |
| 2020-12-29 10:19 | 6.4 mww | 2 km WSW of Petrinja, Croatia | 10 km | 45.42, 16.26 |
| 2020-12-27 20:39 | 6.7 mww | 146 km WNW of Corral, Chile | 10 km | -39.34, -74.98 |
| 2020-12-24 22:43 | 6.3 mww | 2 km ESE of Calatagan, Philippines | 109 km | 13.82, 120.65 |
| 2020-12-23 17:11 | 6.1 mww | 90 km SW of Angaur State, Palau | 11 km | 6.25, 133.64 |
| 2020-12-20 16:23 | 6.3 mww | 100 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan | 35 km | 40.87, 142.58 |
| 2020-12-15 22:21 | 6.1 mww | 25 km S of Sarangani, Philippines | 14 km | 5.18, 125.42 |
| 2020-12-14 14:20 | 6.0 mww | 75 km NNE of Calama, Chile | 114 km | -21.81, -68.71 |
| 2020-12-10 12:19 | 6.1 mww | 27 km E of Yilan, Taiwan | 71 km | 24.78, 122.02 |
| 2020-12-06 15:47 | 6.1 mww | 115 km E of Iquique, Chile | 105 km | -20.39, -69.06 |
| 2020-12-01 19:52 | 6.0 mww | Balleny Islands region | 10 km | -61.95, 154.73 |
Method and sources
The USGS ComCat (ANSS) catalogue is read through the FDSN web service, one request per calendar year since 1900 for magnitudes ≥ 4.5; the last two years are re-read on each update because solutions are revised. Magnitudes are those published (mb, Ms, Mw, ml…) and are not converted; depth is the hypocentre depth in km.
Yearly counts are computed on the server from imported events of type “earthquake” (explosions and other types are kept but excluded from counts). Historical earthquakes and their tolls come from the NCEI/WDS significant earthquake database, dated to the year when the day is unknown.
Reading these data
The global catalogue is homogeneous neither in time nor in magnitude: completeness at M 4.5 is only reached after 1973 and still improves afterwards. Magnitudes of different types are not comparable; the great historical earthquakes (e.g. Valdivia 1960, M 9.5) are re-evaluations. No link with solar activity or tides is established; see the Correspondences pages.
SOURCES OF THIS PAGE
- USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service)
-
U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program (2017). Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Comprehensive Catalog of Earthquake Events and Products. Accessed through the FDSN event web service.
· doi:10.5066/F7MS3QZH · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · retrieved on Oct 23, 2026 · SHA-256 c1e3c08c2c8f… - NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database
-
National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
· doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · retrieved on Oct 23, 2026 · SHA-256 f99e14bcd8f1…