Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Fiji

Fiji ranks 17th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

4,493
M4+ events (since 2005): 118
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.9
Strongest: ~214
M4+ per year

The verdict

Fiji has logged 4,493 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 118 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

#17
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 4,493
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.9
strongest earthquake on record: 118
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

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.

Magnitude distribution of major events

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

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.

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.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Fiji.

Peru

4,591 M4+ events · strongest M8.0

M8.0

Greece

4,600 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

Argentina

4,371 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

China

4,920 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Iran

3,544 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Afghanistan

3,472 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

Earthquake preparedness

Before, during and after a quake.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Fiji? ▼

The USGS catalog records 4,493 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 17th of 215 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 this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

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