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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Japan

Japan has catalogued 27,851 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 2nd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M9.1.

Japan ranks 2nd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 1,326 M4+ events a year alongside 1,294 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 3 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

27,851
M4+ events (since 2005)
1,294
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M9.1
Strongest
~1,326
M4+ per year

The verdict

Japan is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 27,851 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 1,294 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 9.1.

2011
busiest year (84 major events)
59 km
average recorded event depth
88%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Indonesia sits immediately above at 37,560 events and United States sits immediately below at 17,280.

Where Japan sits in the catalog

Rank 2nd of 187 tracked countries (99th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Indonesia sits immediately above at 37,560 events and United States sits immediately below at 17,280.

Japan's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

27,851 Top 1% higher than 99% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). This entry sits in this band. Japan 0 5,000+ every tracked country, bucketed by value

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 Japan compares to its nearest peers

Japan ranks in the 99th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 11 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Japan vs. its 11 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 12 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes 010,00020,00030,00040,000 M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude IndonesiaJapanUnited StatesPapua New GuineaPhilippinesChileRussiaTongaMexicoVanuatuNew ZealandSolomon Islands
Japan vs. its 11 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 12 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Indonesia 37,560 M8.6
Japan (this page) 27,851 M9.1
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 14,262 M7.8
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

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Japan by year

Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year

Value

What this shows Japan's most active year for major earthquakes was 2011 (84 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%1%
Share of Japan's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

273 of 27,851 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 1,294 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Japan.

How the 1,294 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 88.4%

M8+

3

0.2%

M7.0-7.9

147

11.4%

M6.0-6.9

1,144

88.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 1,294 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 59 km.

Japan87.9%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Japan's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

1,138

87.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

81

6.3% of events

Deep (>300 km)

75

5.8% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Japan

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

Mag Location Depth
9.1 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan 29.0 km
8.4 1933 Sanriku (Sanriku-oki) Earthquake, Japan 15.0 km
8.3 68 km S of Shing?, Japan 15.0 km
8.0 5 km SSE of ?iso, Japan 15.0 km
8.0 113 km ENE of Miyako, Japan 15.0 km
7.9 58 km ESE of Takanabe, Japan 35.0 km
7.9 78 km E of Hachinohe, Japan 35.0 km
7.9 47 km E of ?arai, Japan 42.6 km
7.9 70 km S of Honchō, Japan 31.1 km
7.9 174 km SE of Katsuura, Japan 25.0 km

Significant earthquake record (1,294 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.1 136 km NNE of Hirara, Japan 10.0 km
6.0 49 km E of Noda, Japan 43.6 km
6.9 33 km ENE of Noda, Japan 34.0 km
6.7 41 km ESE of Ōfunato, Japan 42.0 km
6.0 100 km E of Miyako, Japan 35.0 km
7.4 102 km ENE of Miyako, Japan 25.0 km
6.5 123 km E of Yamada, Japan 16.0 km
6.0 Volcano Islands, Japan region 20.0 km
6.1 Volcano Islands, Japan region 8.0 km
6.0 96 km E of Noda, Japan 27.0 km
6.7 117 km NE of Kuji, Japan 19.0 km
6.6 129 km S of Honchō, Japan 19.0 km
6.0 127 km S of Honchō, Japan 22.8 km
7.6 2025 Aomori Prefecture, Japan Earthquake 40.7 km
6.0 129 km E of Yamada, Japan 11.0 km
6.4 117 km E of Yamada, Japan 10.0 km
6.8 122 km E of Yamada, Japan 18.0 km
6.0 82 km SE of Nemuro, Japan 18.0 km
6.0 78 km S of Kushiro, Japan 21.0 km
6.1 56 km ENE of Nishinoomote, Japan 29.0 km
6.8 15 km SE of Miyazaki, Japan 39.0 km
6.1 38 km WNW of Hakui, Japan 8.0 km
6.1 156 km SSE of Koshima, Japan 8.0 km
7.1 2024 Hyuganada Sea, Japan Earthquake 24.0 km
6.2 Bonin Islands, Japan region 546.0 km
6.5 Bonin Islands, Japan region 496.0 km
6.3 18 km W of Uwajima, Japan 32.0 km
6.1 77 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan 29.0 km
6.1 Volcano Islands, Japan region 236.0 km
6.2 8 km SW of Anamizu, Japan 10.0 km
7.5 2024 Noto Peninsula, Japan Earthquake 10.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.0 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.3 191 km N of Hirara, Japan 176.0 km
6.2 20 km WSW of Biratori, Japan 121.0 km
6.1 12 km SE of Narutō, Japan 42.0 km
6.2 49 km NE of Anamizu, Japan 10.0 km
6.0 Hokkaido, Japan region 37.0 km
6.0 Hokkaido, Japan region 55.0 km
6.3 Bonin Islands, Japan region 405.0 km
6.1 85 km SSE of Toba, Japan 346.0 km
6.0 235 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan 12.0 km
6.2 70 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan 21.0 km
7.3 57 km ENE of Namie, Japan 41.0 km
6.0 62 km ENE of Namie, Japan 57.2 km
6.3 27 km SSE of Saiki, Japan 39.0 km
6.0 116 km N of Naze, Japan 7.0 km
6.3 Izu Islands, Japan region 11.0 km
6.6 177 km SE of Hirara, Japan 12.0 km
6.1 243 km NNW of Nanao, Japan 364.0 km
6.0 76 km ENE of Namie, Japan 32.0 km
6.9 30 km SSE of Onagawa Ch?, Japan 43.0 km
7.0 30 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan 43.0 km
7.1 73 km ENE of Namie, Japan 44.0 km
6.3 100 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan 35.0 km
6.1 58 km SE of ?funato, Japan 34.0 km
6.6 130 km WNW of Naze, Japan 165.0 km
6.3 31 km SE of ?funato, Japan 38.0 km
6.6 Bonin Islands, Japan region 453.0 km
6.3 61 km ENE of Namie, Japan 38.0 km
6.3 138 km ESE of Shing?, Japan 367.0 km
6.1 169 km NW of Naze, Japan 251.0 km
6.4 31 km WSW of Tsuruoka, Japan 12.0 km
6.4 Izu Islands, Japan region 422.0 km
6.2 43 km ESE of Miyazaki, Japan 22.0 km
6.0 143 km NE of Miyako, Japan 18.0 km
6.3 16 km SSE of Nishinoomote, Japan 35.0 km
6.6 27 km ESE of Chitose, Japan 35.0 km
6.3 Volcano Islands, Japan region 20.0 km
6.3 99 km ENE of Misawa, Japan 31.0 km
6.0 Izu Islands, Japan region 12.0 km
6.2 259 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan 9.0 km
6.1 282 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan 11.0 km
6.1 Bonin Islands, Japan region 451.0 km
6.0 176 km SSE of Naze, Japan 12.0 km
6.0 110 km ESE of Hirara, Japan 10.0 km
6.9 35 km ESE of Namie, Japan 9.0 km
6.1 24 km ENE of Ishinomaki, Japan 42.4 km
6.2 6 km S of Kurayoshi, Japan 5.6 km
6.2 142 km ESE of Katsuura, Japan 10.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 9.0 km
6.0 170 km ENE of Miyako, Japan 10.0 km
6.3 Volcano Islands, Japan region 510.0 km
7.0 6 km ESE of Kumamoto, Japan 10.0 km
6.0 5 km ENE of Uto, Japan 8.0 km
6.2 2 km SSE of Kumamoto, Japan 9.0 km
6.7 52 km SE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan 46.0 km
6.2 74 km NW of Rumoi, Japan 238.8 km
6.7 140 km WSW of Makurazaki, Japan 12.0 km
6.0 Izu Islands, Japan region 8.0 km
6.5 Bonin Islands, Japan region 460.0 km
6.1 74 km ENE of Mutsu, Japan 42.0 km
6.2 Izu Islands, Japan region 6.0 km
7.8 Bonin Islands, Japan region 664.0 km
6.8 32 km SE of ?funato, Japan 35.0 km
6.0 Izu Islands, Japan region 6.0 km
6.1 72 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan 29.0 km
6.0 69 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan 29.0 km
6.4 75 km WSW of Yonakuni, Japan 29.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 1,294 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

French Southern Territories

14 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

Antarctica

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Montenegro

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Pakistan

1,262 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Argentina

4,379 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

United States

17,280 M4+ events · strongest M8.2

M8.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Ecuador

1,130 M4+ events

M7.8

Nepal

694 M4+ events

M7.8

Peru

4,598 M4+ events

M8.0

Costa Rica

717 M4+ events

M7.6

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events

M7.8

Pakistan

1,262 M4+ events

M7.7

Understand the data

Indonesia

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

United States

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Japan? ▼
The USGS catalog records 27,851 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Japan since 2005, an average of about 1,326 per year. Separately, 1,294 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Japan? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Japan measured magnitude 9.1. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Japan? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Japan ranks 2nd of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2011, with 84.
How deep are earthquakes in Japan? ▼
Across the 1,294 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 59 km. 88% 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 Japan's figures

27,851 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M9.1 · average M4.5 · 1,294 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 19, 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 Japan's numbers mean

Japan ranks 2nd of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 1,326 M4+ earthquakes strike Japan per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2011 was the busiest year on record with 84 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 88% of Japan'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 M9.1. 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.