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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Philippines

Philippines ranks 5th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

14,179
M4+ events (since 2005)
619
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.9
Strongest
~675
M4+ per year

The verdict

Philippines has logged 14,179 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 619 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

#5
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
14,179
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M7.9
strongest earthquake on record
619
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.6 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

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 2025

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 619 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Philippines.

M7.0-7.9

83

13.4%

M6.0-6.9

536

86.6%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 619 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 60 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

531

85.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

60

9.7% 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
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
7.7 4 km E of Macapsing, Philippines 25.1 km
7.7 74 km ENE of Barcelona, Philippines 15.0 km
7.6 6 km E of Tignoan, Philippines 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (619 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.5 34 km WSW of Sarangani, Philippines 42.0 km
6.2 67 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 111.9 km
6.5 18 km SW of Balangonan, Philippines 75.1 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
6.5 235 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines 523.2 km
6.6 89 km W of Bantogon, Philippines 618.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 619 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Philippines.

Chile

13,817 M4+ events · strongest M8.3

M8.3

Papua New Guinea

15,636 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Russia

12,226 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

United States

17,226 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Tonga

10,827 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

Mexico

8,296 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

Earthquake preparedness

Before, during and after a quake.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Philippines? ▼
The USGS catalog records 14,179 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Philippines since 2005, an average of about 675 per year. Separately, 619 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Philippines? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Philippines measured magnitude 7.9. 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 215 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 619 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 this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

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