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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Japan

Japan has catalogued 27,995 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 1,333 M4+ events a year alongside 1,296 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 3 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

27,995
M4+ events (since 2005)
1,296
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M9.1
Strongest
~1,333
M4+ per year

The verdict

Japan is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 27,995 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 1,296 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 37,915 events and United States sits immediately below at 17,353.

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ComCat country tape

Event tape JAPAN · Japan M4+ · 2nd/187

Japan · 27,995 M4+ · max M9.1 · 1,296 M6+

  • BOOK 27,995
  • RANK 2nd/187
  • MAX M9.1
  • M6 1,296
  • DEPTH near Indonesia
  • PHOTO 88% shallow

Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →

Observed impact record

What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Japan

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 554 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.3. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations
554
Average observed MMI
5.3
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
120 / 29

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.

1. Chile13,8882. Philippines14,4203. Papua New Gu…15,7144. United States17,3535. Japan27,9956. Indonesia37,915
M4+ catalog count for Japan and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

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 37,915 events and United States sits immediately below at 17,353.

Japan's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

27,995 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: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 4 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

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

How Japan earthquake activity changed recently

Year M4+ events YoY change Global YoY
2026 11 -8.3% -43.9%
2025 12 +20.0% +29.3%
2024 10 0.0% -12.6%
2023 10 +66.7% +3.0%
2022 6 -25.0% -8.9%

Japan's M4+ activity rose faster than the global average in 2026: -8.3% locally vs -43.9% globally, a 35.5-point gap.

Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ = magnitude 4.0 or greater. YoY = year-on-year change. Global column uses the worldwide total from the same catalog.

0%100%1%
Share of Japan's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

275 of 27,995 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 1,296 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Japan.

How the 1,296 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 88.4%

M8+

3

0.2%

M7.0-7.9

147

11.3%

M6.0-6.9

1,146

88.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 1,296 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 59 km.

Japan88%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Japan's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

1,140

88.0% 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 (1,296 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.0 33 km SSW of Honchō, Japan 42.9 km
6.8 The 2026 Kumamoto Region, Japan Earthquake 10.0 km
6.1 147 km NNE of Hirara, Japan 10.0 km
6.0 54 km ENE of Noda, Japan 35.0 km
6.9 35 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

Showing the first 100 of 1,296 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

1,270 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Argentina

4,405 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

United States

17,353 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.

Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Ecuador

1,135 M4+ events

M7.8

Nepal

696 M4+ events

M7.8

Peru

4,621 M4+ events

M8.0

Costa Rica

720 M4+ events

M7.6

Philippines

14,420 M4+ events

M7.8

Pakistan

1,270 M4+ events

M7.7

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.