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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Philippines

Philippines has catalogued 14,262 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 5th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.3.

Philippines ranks 5th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 679 M4+ events a year alongside 624 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 3 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

14,262
M4+ events (since 2005)
624
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.3
Strongest
~679
M4+ per year

The verdict

Philippines is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 14,262 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 624 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.3.

2023
busiest year (15 major events)
60 km
average recorded event depth
86%
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 Papua New Guinea sits immediately above at 15,655 events and Chile sits immediately below at 13,836.

Where Philippines sits in the catalog

Rank 5th of 187 tracked countries (97th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Papua New Guinea sits immediately above at 15,655 events and Chile sits immediately below at 13,836.

Philippines's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

14,262 Top 3% higher than 97% 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. Philippines 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 Philippines compares to its nearest peers

Philippines ranks in the 97th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 14 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Philippines vs. its 14 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 15 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 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Philippines vs. its 14 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 15 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Indonesia 37,560 M8.6
Japan 27,851 M9.1
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines (this page) 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
China 4,952 M7.9
Greece 4,606 M7.0
Peru 4,598 M8.0

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Philippines by year

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

Value

What this shows Philippines's most active year for major earthquakes was 2023 (15 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%0.9%
Share of Philippines's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

134 of 14,262 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 624 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Philippines.

How the 624 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 86.2%

M8+

3

0.5%

M7.0-7.9

83

13.3%

M6.0-6.9

538

86.2%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 624 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 60 km.

Philippines85.9%9.6%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Philippines's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

536

85.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

60

9.6% of events

Deep (>300 km)

28

4.5% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Philippines

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

Mag Location Depth
8.3 1918 Mindanao, Philippines Earthquake 20.0 km
8.1 1924 Mindanao, Philippines Earthquake 15.0 km
8.0 1972 Mindanao, Philippines Earthquake 51.3 km
7.9 19 km WNW of Palimbang, Philippines 33.0 km
7.9 47 km ESE of Kalbay, Philippines 15.0 km
7.8 25 km SW of Kablalan, Philippines 57.0 km
7.8 3 km W of Buga, Philippines 15.0 km
7.8 77 km E of Baculin, Philippines 15.0 km
7.8 161 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 35.0 km
7.7 228 km SW of Sarangani, Philippines 332.8 km

Significant earthquake record (624 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 32 km WSW of Sarangani, Philippines 46.4 km
6.5 34 km WSW of Sarangani, Philippines 42.0 km
6.2 68 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 84.0 km
6.5 18 km SW of Balangonan, Philippines 75.1 km
6.0 5 km SSW of Pangyan, Philippines 35.0 km
6.1 19 km SW of Balangonan, Philippines 44.7 km
7.8 25 km SW of Kablalan, Philippines 57.0 km
6.0 10 km WSW of Nena, Philippines 43.0 km
6.0 95 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 67.0 km
6.4 247 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 31.0 km
6.4 35 km E of Santiago, Philippines 22.0 km
6.0 3 km N of Union, Philippines 32.0 km
6.0 3 km ESE of Bacolod, Philippines 67.7 km
6.7 12 km SE of Santiago, Philippines 47.0 km
7.4 12 km E of Santiago, Philippines 59.4 km
6.9 8 km ESE of Calape, Philippines 10.0 km
6.0 65 km E of Sarangani, Philippines 99.8 km
6.2 271 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 104.0 km
6.3 44 km E of Barcelona, Philippines 15.0 km
6.8 20 km E of Barcelona, Philippines 32.0 km
7.1 106 km WSW of Sangay, Philippines 639.5 km
6.0 103 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 115.0 km
6.7 93 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 62.6 km
6.9 34 km ENE of Aras-asan, Philippines 20.0 km
6.0 58 km E of Marihatag, Philippines 13.0 km
6.6 47 km ENE of Hinatuan, Philippines 19.0 km
6.0 49 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 9.0 km
6.3 63 km ENE of Barcelona, Philippines 46.4 km
6.1 41 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 36.1 km
6.4 47 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 35.0 km
7.6 19 km E of Gamut, Philippines 40.0 km
6.7 32 km SW of Kablalan, Philippines 52.0 km
6.4 65 km E of Sarangani, Philippines 113.0 km
6.2 69 km N of Namuac, Philippines 31.1 km
6.2 Mindoro, Philippines 112.0 km
6.2 124 km E of Gigmoto, Philippines 10.0 km
6.1 9 km NNE of Miaga, Philippines 8.0 km
6.0 1 km NW of Babag, Philippines 19.0 km
6.4 11 km E of Dolores, Philippines 6.0 km
7.0 11 km NE of Bantay, Philippines 33.7 km
6.0 49 km NNE of Namuac, Philippines 30.0 km
6.1 1 km S of Lian, Philippines 129.0 km
6.0 94 km SE of Lukatan, Philippines 18.0 km
6.0 50 km ESE of Manay, Philippines 19.0 km
6.1 41 km E of Santiago, Philippines 19.0 km
6.4 75 km WNW of Cabra, Philippines 11.0 km
6.0 232 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 21.0 km
7.1 60 km ENE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 55.1 km
6.7 15 km S of Hukay, Philippines 110.0 km
6.1 167 km SSW of Sarangani, Philippines 300.0 km
6.0 9 km W of Magsaysay, Philippines 16.0 km
7.0 211 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 80.0 km
6.3 2 km ESE of Calatagan, Philippines 109.0 km
6.1 25 km S of Sarangani, Philippines 14.0 km
6.0 5 km S of Marihatag, Philippines 43.0 km
6.3 17 km E of Talagutong, Philippines 120.0 km
6.6 13 km E of San Pedro, Philippines 10.0 km
6.4 11 km SW of Polloc, Philippines 483.0 km
6.1 27 km SW of Burias, Philippines 59.0 km
6.0 109 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 19.0 km
6.8 7 km S of Magsaysay, Philippines 18.0 km
6.5 2 km ENE of Bulatukan, Philippines 10.0 km
6.6 10 km NE of Columbio, Philippines 15.0 km
6.4 7 km ENE of Columbio, Philippines 16.1 km
6.2 86 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 73.0 km
6.0 43 km N of Basco, Philippines 9.0 km
6.1 34 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 98.7 km
6.4 17 km ESE of Tutubigan, Philippines 56.0 km
6.1 3 km WSW of San Francisco, Philippines 21.8 km
6.0 40 km N of Santa Monica, Philippines 30.0 km
7.0 96 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 60.2 km
6.0 10 km SSE of Sapad, Philippines 600.7 km
6.2 7 km WNW of Manay, Philippines 10.0 km
6.1 64 km NNW of Pandan, Philippines 18.0 km
6.0 43 km ESE of Tarragona, Philippines 34.0 km
6.2 1 km SE of Tuy, Philippines 172.0 km
6.5 2 km S of Lim-oo, Philippines 9.0 km
6.0 25 km S of Alburquerque, Philippines 533.0 km
6.9 31 km SW of Burias, Philippines 26.0 km
6.5 11 km N of Mabua, Philippines 15.0 km
7.3 189 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines 627.2 km
6.3 36 km SE of Tamisan, Philippines 65.0 km
6.0 15 km NW of Siocon, Philippines 17.0 km
6.5 227 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 13.0 km
6.1 23 km NW of Santa Monica, Philippines 32.0 km
6.1 122 km NNW of Siocon, Philippines 8.0 km
6.6 106 km WSW of Sangay, Philippines 614.0 km
6.3 78 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 20.0 km
6.3 51 km WSW of Alim, Philippines 15.5 km
7.1 4 km SE of Sagbayan, Philippines 19.0 km
6.1 16 km SE of Caburan, Philippines 105.0 km
6.1 2 km NW of Tigao, Philippines 37.0 km
6.0 166 km SW of Sarangani, Philippines 326.0 km
7.6 89 km E of Sulangan, Philippines 28.0 km
6.0 0 km NW of Amdos, Philippines 9.0 km
6.7 2 km NNE of Jimalalud, Philippines 11.0 km
6.0 97 km W of Palauig, Philippines 9.0 km
6.4 33 km WSW of Cayhagan, Philippines 19.0 km
6.0 43 km NNE of Namuac, Philippines 27.0 km
6.6 250 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines 525.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 624 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Haiti

217 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

Kiribati

6 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

New Zealand

7,523 M4+ events · strongest M8.1

M8.1

Trinidad and Tobago

88 M4+ events · strongest M6.1

M6.1

Vanuatu

7,572 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Australia

285 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Turkey

2,249 M4+ events

M7.8

Pakistan

1,262 M4+ events

M7.7

Canada

1,026 M4+ events

M7.8

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

Tonga

10,847 M4+ events

M7.6

Understand the data

Papua New Guinea

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Chile

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Philippines? ▼
The USGS catalog records 14,262 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Philippines since 2005, an average of about 679 per year. Separately, 624 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Philippines? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Philippines measured magnitude 8.3. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.6 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Philippines? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Philippines ranks 5th of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2023, with 15.
How deep are earthquakes in Philippines? ▼
Across the 624 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 60 km. 86% 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 Philippines's figures

14,262 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M8.3 · average M4.6 · 624 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 18, 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 Philippines's numbers mean

Philippines ranks 5th of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 679 M4+ earthquakes strike Philippines per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2023 was the busiest year on record with 15 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 86% of Philippines'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 M8.3. 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.