Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Fiji

Fiji has catalogued 4,498 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 16th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.

Fiji ranks 16th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 214 M4+ events a year alongside 118 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1909 to 2023, peaking in 2000.

Compiled by PlainQuake, Earthquake Data Editorial Process · July 19, 2026

4,498
M4+ events (since 2005): 118
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.9
Strongest: ~214
M4+ per year

The verdict

Fiji is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,498 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 118 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

2000
busiest year (6 major events): 293 km
average recorded event depth: 51%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Peru sits immediately above at 4,598 events and Argentina sits immediately below at 4,379.

Where Fiji sits in the catalog

Rank 16th of 187 tracked countries (91th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Peru sits immediately above at 4,598 events and Argentina sits immediately below at 4,379.

Peru - next more active (4,598 M4+)
Argentina - next less active (4,379 M4+)

Fiji's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

4,498 Top 9% higher than 91% of 187 countries

Each bar is a 500-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present

How Fiji compares to its nearest peers

Fiji ranks in the 91th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Fiji vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat

Read the chart (all 21 values)

Country	M4+ events	Strongest magnitude
Chile	13,836	M8.8
Russia	12,525	M8.8
Tonga	10,847	M7.6
Mexico	8,356	M8.2
Vanuatu	7,572	M7.8
New Zealand	7,523	M8.1
Solomon Islands	6,129	M7.8
China	4,952	M7.9
Greece	4,606	M7.0
Peru	4,598	M8.0
Fiji (this page)	4,498	M7.9
Argentina	4,379	M7.0
India	4,086	M7.5
Iran	3,554	M7.7
Afghanistan	3,478	M7.5
Timor Leste	3,416	M7.3
Taiwan	2,531	M7.4
Turkey	2,249	M7.8
Guatemala	1,951	M7.4
New Caledonia	1,917	M7.5
Colombia	1,721	M7.3

2006

4
2007

2
2008

1
2009

2
2010

2
2011

3
2015

1
2017

4
2018

5
2019

1
2021

2
2023

2

What this shows Fiji's most active year for major earthquakes was 2000 (6 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Share of Fiji's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

30 of 4,498 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 118 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Fiji.

How the 118 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 91.5%

M6.0-6.9 91.5%

M7.0-7.9

8.5%

M6.0-6.9

108

91.5%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 118 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 293 km.

Depth distribution of Fiji's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

50.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

49.2% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Fiji

The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.9	45 km S of Levuka, Fiji	670.8 km	Sep 6, 2018
7.6	240 km E of Levuka, Fiji	562.5 km	Mar 9, 1994
7.6	178 km E of Levuka, Fiji	550.0 km	Feb 22, 1909
7.4	227 km E of Levuka, Fiji	550.0 km	Aug 21, 1910
7.3	77 km ENE of Ba, Fiji	595.0 km	Nov 9, 2009
7.2	178 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	537.2 km	Mar 29, 1998
7.1	208 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	565.5 km	Jul 15, 2004
7.1	230 km S of Suva, Fiji	538.3 km	May 26, 1986
7.1	217 km E of Levuka, Fiji	600.0 km	Jul 8, 1916
7.0	217 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	570.0 km	Aug 25, 1963

Significant earthquake record (118 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Fiji since 1900, most recent first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.5	185 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	560.0 km	Oct 31, 2023
6.0	665 km S of Suva, Fiji	523.0 km	Jul 24, 2023
6.1	141 km E of Levuka, Fiji	639.2 km	Dec 26, 2021
6.2	85 km W of Labasa, Fiji	10.0 km	Dec 19, 2021
6.2	221 km E of Levuka, Fiji	578.2 km	Mar 10, 2019
6.8	187 km E of Levuka, Fiji	540.0 km	Nov 18, 2018
6.7	279 km E of Levuka, Fiji	550.0 km	Sep 30, 2018
7.9	45 km S of Levuka, Fiji	670.8 km	Sep 6, 2018
6.4	284 km ESE of Labasa, Fiji	415.6 km	Aug 19, 2018
6.0	215 km E of Levuka, Fiji	556.9 km	Feb 9, 2018
6.4	195 km E of Levuka, Fiji	544.0 km	Aug 19, 2017
6.0	245 km E of Levuka, Fiji	628.0 km	Apr 18, 2017
6.0	195 km SW of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2017
6.9	225 km SW of Nadi, Fiji	12.0 km	Jan 3, 2017
6.1	253 km WNW of Lautoka, Fiji	10.0 km	Dec 9, 2015
6.0	122 km E of Levuka, Fiji	602.9 km	Oct 27, 2011
6.4	227 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	551.7 km	Apr 3, 2011
6.0	146 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	6.0 km	Mar 26, 2011
6.1	189 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	15.2 km	Dec 1, 2010
6.3	154 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	9.0 km	Sep 7, 2010
6.4	241 km E of Levuka, Fiji	522.6 km	Nov 22, 2009
7.3	77 km ENE of Ba, Fiji	595.0 km	Nov 9, 2009
6.3	193 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	553.8 km	Apr 18, 2008
6.1	206 km SE of Levuka, Fiji	688.0 km	May 6, 2007
6.5	203 km SE of Levuka, Fiji	676.4 km	May 6, 2007
6.1	213 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	564.4 km	Jun 9, 2006
6.5	130 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji	14.0 km	Apr 7, 2006
6.1	116 km E of Levuka, Fiji	622.4 km	Feb 24, 2006
6.7	245 km E of Levuka, Fiji	597.5 km	Feb 2, 2006
6.0	166 km WSW of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Mar 31, 2005
7.1	208 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	565.5 km	Jul 15, 2004
6.0	280 km SE of Levuka, Fiji	673.1 km	Jan 11, 2004
6.0	211 km E of Levuka, Fiji	582.6 km	Oct 15, 2003
6.0	213 km E of Levuka, Fiji	563.8 km	May 19, 2003
6.2	36 km ENE of Suva, Fiji	665.8 km	Jan 2, 2002
6.2	141 km W of Labasa, Fiji	10.0 km	Nov 22, 2001
6.3	145 km W of Labasa, Fiji	10.0 km	Nov 22, 2001
6.3	174 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	564.1 km	Nov 5, 2001
6.2	204 km SSW of Suva, Fiji	10.0 km	Feb 14, 2001
6.1	187 km S of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Feb 14, 2001
6.2	89 km NNE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Sep 14, 2000
6.0	275 km SE of Levuka, Fiji	687.6 km	Sep 2, 2000
6.0	128 km W of Nadi, Fiji	33.0 km	Jun 14, 2000
6.5	229 km E of Levuka, Fiji	515.8 km	May 4, 2000
6.0	187 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	538.0 km	Feb 28, 2000
6.2	211 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	535.0 km	Jan 13, 2000
6.0	264 km E of Levuka, Fiji	590.4 km	Jun 26, 1999
6.1	139 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Mar 7, 1999
7.2	178 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	537.2 km	Mar 29, 1998
6.6	159 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Jan 14, 1998
6.7	149 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	23.4 km	Jan 12, 1998
6.0	197 km SW of Nadi, Fiji	33.0 km	May 21, 1997
6.0	139 km WNW of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Jun 18, 1996
6.0	257 km E of Levuka, Fiji	590.9 km	Mar 9, 1994
7.6	240 km E of Levuka, Fiji	562.5 km	Mar 9, 1994
6.1	238 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	533.3 km	Jan 19, 1994
6.0	208 km E of Levuka, Fiji	554.5 km	Oct 11, 1993
6.3	60 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	599.3 km	Apr 24, 1993
6.9	195 km E of Levuka, Fiji	565.1 km	Apr 16, 1993
6.3	228 km E of Levuka, Fiji	588.9 km	Mar 21, 1993
6.7	126 km NE of Labasa, Fiji	9.7 km	Nov 8, 1992
6.4	209 km E of Levuka, Fiji	565.0 km	Aug 30, 1992
6.5	219 km ESE of Levuka, Fiji	499.2 km	Jun 8, 1990
6.0	84 km SW of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Feb 2, 1990
6.2	182 km E of Levuka, Fiji	537.6 km	Nov 16, 1989
6.3	156 km SSW of Nadi, Fiji	33.0 km	Aug 14, 1989
6.0	135 km SSW of Nadi, Fiji	31.4 km	Jul 24, 1989
6.0	214 km E of Levuka, Fiji	570.3 km	Apr 30, 1989
7.1	230 km S of Suva, Fiji	538.3 km	May 26, 1986
6.0	227 km E of Levuka, Fiji	540.0 km	Apr 1, 1986
6.2	166 km W of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Nov 2, 1985
6.5	280 km E of Levuka, Fiji	645.8 km	Nov 22, 1984
6.4	200 km NNW of Ba, Fiji	10.0 km	Oct 13, 1984
6.3	110 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji	13.0 km	Oct 12, 1984
6.3	152 km NE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Mar 29, 1982
6.0	157 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Oct 4, 1980
6.0	219 km E of Levuka, Fiji	591.0 km	Jul 20, 1980
6.9	78 km ESE of Labasa, Fiji	33.0 km	Nov 16, 1979
6.0	220 km E of Levuka, Fiji	602.0 km	Oct 21, 1974
6.5	299 km SE of Levuka, Fiji	655.1 km	Jan 26, 1972
6.8	281 km WNW of Lautoka, Fiji	10.0 km	Jan 1, 1972
6.1	273 km E of Levuka, Fiji	556.4 km	Aug 7, 1970
6.0	198 km NW of Lautoka, Fiji	20.0 km	Nov 16, 1968
6.3	115 km W of Labasa, Fiji	18.7 km	Jan 20, 1968
6.4	228 km E of Levuka, Fiji	594.4 km	Jul 21, 1966
6.2	277 km E of Levuka, Fiji	645.0 km	Dec 9, 1965
6.5	217 km E of Levuka, Fiji	543.7 km	Apr 10, 1965
7.0	217 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	570.0 km	Aug 25, 1963
6.2	172 km S of Suva, Fiji	20.0 km	Apr 17, 1963
6.1	156 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	25.0 km	Jan 25, 1960
6.3	168 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	25.0 km	Jan 24, 1960
6.0	148 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	25.0 km	Jan 21, 1960
6.4	134 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji	32.5 km	Jun 19, 1957
6.1	112 km WNW of Labasa, Fiji	15.0 km	Sep 11, 1956
6.3	228 km SSW of Nadi, Fiji	15.0 km	Sep 5, 1954
6.2	161 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	15.0 km	Mar 14, 1954
6.2	95 km WSW of Nadi, Fiji	15.0 km	Nov 27, 1953
6.4	29 km SSW of Suva, Fiji	10.0 km	Sep 14, 1953
6.3	112 km SSW of Suva, Fiji	20.0 km	Feb 12, 1950
6.9	130 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	15.0 km	Dec 26, 1949

Showing the first 100 of 118 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

A Fiji-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.

Spain

88 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Mayotte

232 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Nicaragua

1,416 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Grenada

19 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

United Arab Emirates

6 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Indonesia

37,560 M4+ events · strongest M8.6

M8.6

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Fiji-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Vanuatu

7,572 M4+ events

M7.8

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Honduras

269 M4+ events

M7.5

Turkey

2,249 M4+ events

M7.8

Pakistan

1,262 M4+ events

M7.7

Understand the data

Peru

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Argentina

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Fiji? ▼

The USGS catalog records 4,498 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Fiji since 2005, an average of about 214 per year. Separately, 118 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Fiji? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Fiji measured magnitude 7.9. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Fiji? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Fiji ranks 16th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2000, with 6.

How deep are earthquakes in Fiji? ▼

Across the 118 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 293 km. 51% were shallow (under 70 km), where surface shaking is strongest at a given magnitude.

Where does this data come from? ▼

Every figure is derived from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward (the period of consistent global completeness); the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900. Nothing is modelled or estimated.

About Fiji's figures

4,498 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.9 · average M4.4 · 118 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 12, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What Fiji's numbers mean

Fiji ranks 16th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

About 214 M4+ earthquakes strike Fiji per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2000 was the busiest year on record with 6 significant events. See the full country ranking
51% of Fiji's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
The strongest catalogued event reached M7.9. Compare against neighboring or similarly-ranked countries before drawing conclusions from magnitude alone. Compare strongest earthquakes

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-19.