Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in New Caledonia

New Caledonia has catalogued 1,917 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 25th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.

New Caledonia ranks 25th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 91 M4+ events a year alongside 114 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1909 to 2026, peaking in 1981.

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

1,917
M4+ events (since 2005): 114
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~91
M4+ per year

The verdict

New Caledonia is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,917 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 114 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

1981
busiest year (8 major events): 23 km
average recorded event depth: 97%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.7 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Guatemala sits immediately above at 1,951 events and Colombia sits immediately below at 1,721.

Where New Caledonia sits in the catalog

Rank 25th of 187 tracked countries (87th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Guatemala sits immediately above at 1,951 events and Colombia sits immediately below at 1,721.

Guatemala - next more active (1,951 M4+)
Colombia - next less active (1,721 M4+)

New Caledonia's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

1,917 Top 13% higher than 87% 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 New Caledonia compares to its nearest peers

New Caledonia ranks in the 87th 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).

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

Read the chart (all 21 values)

Country	M4+ events	Strongest magnitude
Peru	4,598	M8.0
Fiji	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 (this page)	1,917	M7.5
Colombia	1,721	M7.3
Tajikistan	1,583	M7.2
El Salvador	1,501	M7.3
Nicaragua	1,416	M6.6
Pakistan	1,262	M7.7
Myanmar	1,136	M7.7
Ecuador	1,130	M7.8
Canada	1,026	M7.8
Iceland	982	M6.3
Bolivia	832	M6.8

2004

5
2005

4
2007

5
2009

2
2011

2
2012

1
2017

7
2018

7
2019

3
2022

1
2023

1
2026

1

What this shows New Caledonia's most active year for major earthquakes was 1981 (8 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

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

34 of 1,917 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 114 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for New Caledonia.

How the 114 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 92.1%

M6.0-6.9 92.1%

M7.0-7.9

7.9%

M6.0-6.9

105

92.1%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 114 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 23 km.

Depth distribution of New Caledonia's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

111

97.4% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

2.6% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in New Caledonia

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.7	249 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	20.2 km	May 16, 1995
7.6	274 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Mar 16, 1928
7.5	166 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 5, 2018
7.3	201 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2003
7.2	207 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 25, 1980
7.1	238 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	21.4 km	Aug 29, 2018
7.1	202 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	22.0 km	Jan 3, 2004
7.0	85 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Nov 19, 2017
7.0	118 km NNE of Tadine, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Jan 13, 2011
7.0	204 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	30.0 km	Feb 1, 1923

Significant earthquake record (114 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.0	277 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	11.0 km	Jan 19, 2026
6.1	290 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	10.0 km	May 23, 2023
6.9	284 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Mar 30, 2022
6.3	164 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.0	176 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	16.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.3	196 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.6	199 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 5, 2018
7.5	166 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 5, 2018
6.3	160 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 5, 2018
6.5	171 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	17.0 km	Oct 16, 2018
6.3	171 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	12.0 km	Oct 16, 2018
6.3	240 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	12.0 km	Sep 10, 2018
7.1	238 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	21.4 km	Aug 29, 2018
6.0	96 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Nov 20, 2017
7.0	85 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Nov 19, 2017
6.6	74 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	13.0 km	Nov 19, 2017
6.3	82 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	14.0 km	Nov 19, 2017
6.6	101 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	22.0 km	Nov 1, 2017
6.1	110 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	11.0 km	Nov 1, 2017
6.7	132 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	24.0 km	Oct 31, 2017
6.6	262 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	14.0 km	Mar 3, 2012
6.8	124 km NE of Wé, New Caledonia	11.0 km	May 10, 2011
7.0	118 km NNE of Tadine, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Jan 13, 2011
6.0	249 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Oct 11, 2009
6.7	298 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	27.0 km	Jan 15, 2009
6.1	140 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	37.0 km	Oct 13, 2007
6.5	161 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Sep 28, 2007
6.3	158 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	12.0 km	Sep 28, 2007
6.1	153 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Sep 27, 2007
6.2	134 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia	13.0 km	Apr 4, 2007
6.2	206 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Aug 11, 2005
6.7	286 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	68.0 km	Apr 11, 2005
6.1	189 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Apr 8, 2005
6.3	183 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Feb 10, 2005
6.3	252 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	14.0 km	May 7, 2004
6.1	232 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2004
7.1	202 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	22.0 km	Jan 3, 2004
6.1	185 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2004
6.0	211 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2004
6.3	195 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2003
6.7	202 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2003
7.3	201 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2003
6.1	164 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2003
6.8	168 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 26, 2003
6.0	190 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 25, 2003
6.5	183 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Dec 25, 2003
6.3	235 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Feb 28, 2001
6.7	245 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Feb 28, 2001
6.4	187 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Feb 22, 1999
6.0	211 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Jul 31, 1998
6.1	201 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Jul 31, 1998
6.0	207 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	May 15, 1997
6.1	266 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	73.1 km	Aug 17, 1995
6.0	235 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	11.6 km	Jul 19, 1995
6.3	258 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	18.6 km	May 22, 1995
6.5	271 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	19.7 km	May 17, 1995
7.7	249 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	20.2 km	May 16, 1995
6.1	285 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	16.4 km	Apr 13, 1995
6.0	235 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	32.4 km	Nov 25, 1993
6.2	238 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	42.3 km	Nov 5, 1988
6.1	282 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.8 km	May 3, 1988
6.1	138 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	23.8 km	Jun 26, 1987
6.1	278 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	14.6 km	Apr 21, 1987
6.1	245 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	51.6 km	May 1, 1986
6.2	291 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Nov 24, 1981
6.2	180 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Nov 16, 1981
6.0	278 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Sep 21, 1981
6.6	291 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	30.0 km	Sep 17, 1981
6.2	178 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	31.0 km	Sep 6, 1981
6.2	181 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	39.5 km	Jul 29, 1981
6.0	163 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Feb 19, 1981
6.7	156 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	29.9 km	Feb 17, 1981
6.0	207 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	86.0 km	Dec 17, 1980
6.4	164 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 29, 1980
6.5	271 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 25, 1980
7.2	207 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 25, 1980
6.7	226 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 25, 1980
6.7	241 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	33.0 km	Oct 24, 1980
6.1	275 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	85.0 km	Mar 13, 1975
6.0	214 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	26.2 km	Dec 28, 1972
6.4	246 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	30.0 km	Dec 22, 1962
6.0	218 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	25.0 km	Nov 20, 1961
6.1	144 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Jan 28, 1961
6.4	210 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Jan 26, 1961
6.6	179 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Jan 5, 1961
6.6	180 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Jan 5, 1961
6.4	133 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Nov 26, 1956
6.1	102 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Nov 16, 1953
6.4	159 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	May 11, 1953
6.3	252 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Sep 12, 1949
6.5	291 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	30.0 km	Nov 12, 1947
6.7	273 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Nov 9, 1947
6.5	239 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Apr 19, 1945
6.3	166 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	Feb 1, 1945
6.2	160 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	Feb 1, 1945
6.3	237 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Jun 25, 1944
6.6	200 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	25.0 km	Jun 21, 1944
6.9	298 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	15.0 km	Sep 14, 1943
6.3	201 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Mar 15, 1943
6.5	257 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	35.0 km	Mar 14, 1943

Showing the first 100 of 114 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Guinea

8 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

Maldives

5 M4+ events · strongest M4.9

M4.9

Oman

44 M4+ events · strongest M5.4

M5.4

Kenya

14 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Slovakia

1 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

Mongolia

196 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Timor Leste

3,416 M4+ events

M7.3

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events

M7.4

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events

M7.8

El Salvador

1,501 M4+ events

M7.3

Iraq

185 M4+ events

M7.3

Understand the data

Guatemala

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Colombia

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in New Caledonia? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,917 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in New Caledonia since 2005, an average of about 91 per year. Separately, 114 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in New Caledonia? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in New Caledonia measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.7 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is New Caledonia? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, New Caledonia ranks 25th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1981, with 8.

How deep are earthquakes in New Caledonia? ▼

Across the 114 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 23 km. 97% 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 New Caledonia's figures

1,917 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.7 · 114 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 10, 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 New Caledonia's numbers mean

New Caledonia ranks 25th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

About 91 M4+ earthquakes strike New Caledonia per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1981 was the busiest year on record with 8 significant events. See the full country ranking
97% of New Caledonia'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 M7.7. 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.