PlainQuake

Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Philippines

Philippines has catalogued 14,420 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 687 M4+ events a year alongside 625 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 3 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

14,420
M4+ events (since 2005)
625
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.3
Strongest
~687
M4+ per year

The verdict

Philippines is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 14,420 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 625 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 15,714 events and Chile sits immediately below at 13,888.

Follow Philippines events (RSS)

ComCat magnitude tape

Event tape PHILIPPINES · Philippines M4+ · 5th/187

Philippines · 14,420 M4+ · max M8.3 · 625 M6+

  • PHOTO 14,420
  • BUSY 5th/187
  • SHAL M8.3
  • PCT 625
  • VS-PEER near Papua New Guinea
  • COMCAT 86% 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 Philippines

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 413 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.7. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations
413
Average observed MMI
5.7
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
91 / 35

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

1. Tonga10,8842. Russia12,6113. Chile13,8884. Philippines14,4205. Papua New Gu…15,7146. United States17,353
M4+ catalog count for Philippines and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

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 15,714 events and Chile sits immediately below at 13,888.

Philippines's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

14,420 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: 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. 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

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

How Philippines earthquake activity changed recently

Year M4+ events YoY change Global YoY
2026 12 +71.4% -43.9%
2025 7 +40.0% +29.3%
2024 5 -66.7% -12.6%
2023 15 +66.7% +3.0%
2022 9 +80.0% -8.9%

Philippines's M4+ activity rose faster than the global average in 2026: +71.4% locally vs -43.9% globally, a 115.3-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%0.9%
Share of Philippines's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

135 of 14,420 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 625 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Philippines.

How the 625 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

539

86.2%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 625 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)

537

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 (625 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.3 28 km SW of Sarangani, Philippines 10.0 km
6.2 33 km WSW of Sarangani, Philippines 47.8 km
6.5 44 km SW of Balangonan, Philippines 42.0 km
6.2 76 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 92.8 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

Showing the first 100 of 625 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

7,547 M4+ events · strongest M8.1

M8.1

Trinidad and Tobago

89 M4+ events · strongest M6.1

M6.1

Vanuatu

7,620 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Australia

286 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.

Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Turkey

2,252 M4+ events

M7.8

Pakistan

1,270 M4+ events

M7.7

Canada

1,033 M4+ events

M7.8

Myanmar

1,146 M4+ events

M7.7

Tonga

10,884 M4+ events

M7.6

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.