Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has catalogued 15,714 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 4th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.0.
Papua New Guinea ranks 4th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 748 M4+ events a year alongside 986 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1902 to 2026, peaking in 1971.
- 15,714
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 986
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M8.0
- Strongest
- ~748
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Papua New Guinea is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 15,714 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 986 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.
- 1971
- busiest year (29 major events)
- 51 km
- average recorded event depth
- 87%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.6 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder United States sits immediately above at 17,353 events and Philippines sits immediately below at 14,420.
ComCat country tape
Event tape PAPUA-NEW-GU · Papua New Guinea M4+ · 4th/187
Papua New Guinea · 15,714 M4+ · max M8.0 · 986 M6+
- PCT 15,714
- VS-PEER 4th/187
- COMCAT M8.0
- TAPE 986
- EPIC near United States
- YOY 87% 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 Papua New Guinea
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 715 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.6. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 715
- Average observed MMI
- 5.6
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 130 / 52
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where Papua New Guinea sits in the catalog
Rank 4th of 187 tracked countries (98th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder United States sits immediately above at 17,353 events and Philippines sits immediately below at 14,420.
- United States - next more active (17,353 M4+)
- Philippines - next less active (14,420 M4+)
Papua New Guinea's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
15,714 Top 2% higher than 98% 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
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Papua New Guinea by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2015
2015: 10 major (M6+) events
10
- 2016
2016: 13 major (M6+) events
13
- 2017
2017: 9 major (M6+) events
9
- 2018
2018: 16 major (M6+) events
16
- 2019
2019: 10 major (M6+) events
10
- 2020
2020: 10 major (M6+) events
10
- 2021
2021: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2022
2022: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2023
2023: 10 major (M6+) events
10
- 2024
2024: 8 major (M6+) events
8
- 2025
2025: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2026 1
2026: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Papua New Guinea's most active year for major earthquakes was 1971 (29 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
How Papua New Guinea earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | -85.7% | -43.9% |
| 2025 | 7 | -12.5% | +29.3% |
| 2024 | 8 | -20.0% | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 10 | +42.9% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 7 | 0.0% | -8.9% |
Papua New Guinea's M4+ activity fell more than the global average in 2026: -85.7% locally vs -43.9% globally.
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.
213 of 15,714 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 986 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Papua New Guinea.
M7.0-7.9
90
9.1%
M6.0-6.9
896
90.9%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 986 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 51 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
859
87.1% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
101
10.2% of events
Deep (>300 km)
26
2.6% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 60 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 km | Jan 1, 1916 |
| 7.9 | 35 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 135.0 km | Jan 22, 2017 |
| 7.9 | 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 94.5 km | Dec 17, 2016 |
| 7.9 | 56 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 49.0 km | Jul 20, 1975 |
| 7.8 | New Guinea, Papua New Guinea | 30.0 km | Sep 20, 1935 |
| 7.8 | 85 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 km | Jan 30, 1939 |
| 7.8 | 74 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 km | Feb 2, 1920 |
| 7.8 | 138 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 33.0 km | Nov 17, 2000 |
| 7.8 | 135 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 30.0 km | Nov 16, 2000 |
| 7.7 | 155 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 30.1 km | Aug 16, 1995 |
Significant earthquake record (986 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Papua New Guinea since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 | 196 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Jul 13, 2026 |
| 6.5 | 45 km NNE of Goroka, Papua New Guinea | 107.0 km | Dec 22, 2025 |
| 6.3 | 139 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Oct 10, 2025 |
| 6.6 | 17 km W of Lae, Papua New Guinea | 98.0 km | Oct 7, 2025 |
| 6.0 | 208 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 31.0 km | Sep 16, 2025 |
| 6.5 | 89 km ENE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 16.8 km | May 20, 2025 |
| 6.1 | 104 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 52.0 km | Apr 12, 2025 |
| 6.9 | 184 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 9.0 km | Apr 4, 2025 |
| 6.6 | 122 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 56.0 km | Nov 15, 2024 |
| 6.0 | 126 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 509.0 km | Oct 30, 2024 |
| 6.3 | 168 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 8.0 km | Sep 11, 2024 |
| 6.2 | 59 km NNE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 7.0 km | Sep 5, 2024 |
| 6.4 | 56 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 39.0 km | Sep 1, 2024 |
| 6.5 | 111 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 49.0 km | Apr 14, 2024 |
| 6.9 | 36 km ENE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | 41.5 km | Mar 23, 2024 |
| 6.0 | 68 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 44.0 km | Mar 13, 2024 |
| 6.5 | 44 km E of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Nov 27, 2023 |
| 6.1 | 126 km WNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Nov 13, 2023 |
| 6.9 | 48 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 52.0 km | Oct 7, 2023 |
| 6.7 | 54 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 55.0 km | Oct 7, 2023 |
| 6.2 | 96 km ESE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 23.8 km | Jun 19, 2023 |
| 6.3 | 30 km NNE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 40.0 km | Apr 19, 2023 |
| 7.0 | 40 km ESE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | 70.0 km | Apr 2, 2023 |
| 6.3 | 118 km E of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 213.0 km | Mar 14, 2023 |
| 6.6 | 106 km NW of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 600.9 km | Mar 1, 2023 |
| 6.2 | 33 km ENE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 34.0 km | Feb 25, 2023 |
| 6.4 | 155 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 72.0 km | Oct 13, 2022 |
| 7.6 | 70 km E of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea | 116.0 km | Sep 10, 2022 |
| 6.1 | 110 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 125.0 km | Sep 2, 2022 |
| 6.3 | 178 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | May 9, 2022 |
| 6.1 | 175 km NE of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Apr 28, 2022 |
| 6.1 | 28 km WSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 149.0 km | Apr 13, 2022 |
| 6.1 | 74 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 379.0 km | Jan 16, 2022 |
| 6.1 | 110 km NW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Nov 30, 2021 |
| 6.3 | 113 km SSE of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Nov 30, 2021 |
| 6.2 | 192 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 34.0 km | Nov 18, 2021 |
| 6.0 | 142 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 8.4 km | Jul 21, 2021 |
| 6.1 | 176 km ENE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Apr 27, 2021 |
| 6.0 | 196 km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 9.0 km | Apr 10, 2021 |
| 6.3 | 189 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Feb 7, 2021 |
| 6.3 | 40 km ENE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea | 106.0 km | Oct 8, 2020 |
| 6.1 | 100 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 74.0 km | Oct 1, 2020 |
| 6.2 | 141 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 22.0 km | Aug 25, 2020 |
| 6.0 | 141 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 23.0 km | Aug 25, 2020 |
| 6.1 | 199 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Aug 1, 2020 |
| 7.0 | 114 km NNW of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea | 73.0 km | Jul 17, 2020 |
| 6.1 | 215 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea | 471.2 km | May 7, 2020 |
| 6.1 | 140 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 19.0 km | Apr 25, 2020 |
| 6.1 | 127 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 34.0 km | Feb 9, 2020 |
| 6.0 | 130 km ENE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 117.0 km | Jan 7, 2020 |
| 6.3 | 26 km NNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 42.0 km | Jul 15, 2019 |
| 6.0 | 179 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea | 495.2 km | Jul 11, 2019 |
| 7.6 | 48 km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | May 14, 2019 |
| 7.1 | 32 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | 146.0 km | May 6, 2019 |
| 6.0 | 94 km WSW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 30.0 km | Apr 12, 2019 |
| 6.2 | 108 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 41.0 km | Mar 30, 2019 |
| 6.0 | 162 km ENE of Samarai, Papua New Guinea | 9.0 km | Mar 10, 2019 |
| 6.4 | 95 km N of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 368.1 km | Feb 17, 2019 |
| 6.2 | 116 km SE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea | 355.0 km | Jan 26, 2019 |
| 6.2 | 164 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Jan 17, 2019 |
| 6.2 | 91 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 121.0 km | Oct 10, 2018 |
| 7.0 | 119 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 39.0 km | Oct 10, 2018 |
| 6.1 | 136 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 41.6 km | Oct 10, 2018 |
| 6.0 | 91 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 29.6 km | Jul 19, 2018 |
| 6.0 | 178 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 9.0 km | May 9, 2018 |
| 6.3 | 45 km W of Tari, Papua New Guinea | 18.1 km | Apr 7, 2018 |
| 6.9 | 150 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 km | Mar 29, 2018 |
| 6.7 | 140 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 40.0 km | Mar 26, 2018 |
| 6.3 | 150 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 33.0 km | Mar 24, 2018 |
| 6.8 | 103 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 22.9 km | Mar 8, 2018 |
| 6.7 | 62 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea | 20.5 km | Mar 6, 2018 |
| 6.0 | 66 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Mar 4, 2018 |
| 6.1 | 63 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea | 16.0 km | Feb 28, 2018 |
| 6.3 | 59 km SW of Mendi, Papua New Guinea | 19.0 km | Feb 26, 2018 |
| 7.5 | 32 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea | 25.2 km | Feb 25, 2018 |
| 6.3 | 188 km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | Jan 26, 2018 |
| 6.0 | 51 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 34.0 km | Dec 1, 2017 |
| 6.0 | 109 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 54.0 km | Nov 27, 2017 |
| 6.5 | 67 km WSW of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 110.6 km | Nov 7, 2017 |
| 6.3 | 110 km NE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 8.0 km | Aug 27, 2017 |
| 6.4 | 115 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 34.0 km | Jul 13, 2017 |
| 6.2 | 40 km ENE of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 km | May 15, 2017 |
| 6.3 | 31 km NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 37.0 km | Mar 5, 2017 |
| 6.1 | 115 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 17.0 km | Mar 4, 2017 |
| 7.9 | 35 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 135.0 km | Jan 22, 2017 |
| 6.0 | 175 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 km | Dec 24, 2016 |
| 6.3 | 178 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 8.4 km | Dec 17, 2016 |
| 7.9 | 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 94.5 km | Dec 17, 2016 |
| 6.0 | 133 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 142.6 km | Dec 10, 2016 |
| 6.0 | 99 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 52.0 km | Nov 1, 2016 |
| 6.8 | 76 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 42.0 km | Oct 17, 2016 |
| 6.3 | 143 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 442.0 km | Oct 15, 2016 |
| 6.8 | 90 km NE of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 476.0 km | Aug 31, 2016 |
| 6.4 | 133 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea | 14.0 km | Jul 25, 2016 |
| 6.3 | 91 km NNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 354.0 km | Jun 21, 2016 |
| 6.2 | 119 km NE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 6.0 km | Apr 1, 2016 |
| 6.4 | 88 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 29.0 km | Feb 8, 2016 |
| 6.1 | 151 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 26.0 km | Jan 26, 2016 |
| 6.1 | 156 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 6.0 km | Sep 16, 2015 |
| 6.0 | 146 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 43.0 km | Jun 30, 2015 |
Showing the first 100 of 986 significant events.
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Papua New Guinea-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Papua New Guinea-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
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.