PlainQuake

Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands has catalogued 6,129 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 12th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.

Solomon Islands ranks 12th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 292 M4+ events a year alongside 380 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2026, peaking in 2013.

6,129
M4+ events (since 2005)
380
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.9
Strongest
~292
M4+ per year

The verdict

Solomon Islands is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 6,129 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 380 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

2013
busiest year (19 major events)
32 km
average recorded event depth
92%
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 New Zealand sits immediately above at 7,523 events and China sits immediately below at 4,952.

Where Solomon Islands sits in the catalog

Rank 12th of 187 tracked countries (94th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder New Zealand sits immediately above at 7,523 events and China sits immediately below at 4,952.

  • New Zealand - next more active (7,523 M4+)
  • China - next less active (4,952 M4+)

Solomon Islands's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

6,129 Top 6% higher than 94% 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. Solomon Islands 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 Solomon Islands compares to its nearest peers

Solomon Islands ranks in the 94th 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).

Solomon Islands vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 21 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 010,00020,00030,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Solomon Islands vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Japan 27,851 M9.1
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 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 (this page) 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9
Greece 4,606 M7.0
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

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Solomon Islands by year

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

Value

What this shows Solomon Islands's most active year for major earthquakes was 2013 (19 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%1.7%
Share of Solomon Islands's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

102 of 6,129 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 380 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Solomon Islands.

How the 380 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 85.3%

M7.0-7.9

56

14.7%

M6.0-6.9

324

85.3%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 380 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 32 km.

Solomon Islands92.1%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Solomon Islands's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

350

92.1% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

29

7.6% of events

Deep (>300 km)

1

0.3% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Solomon Islands

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

Mag Location Depth
7.9 199 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 33.0 km
7.8 116 km NW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
7.8 23 km SSE of Malango, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
7.8 108 km SW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
7.8 69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 40.0 km
7.8 146 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 59.0 km
7.7 138 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
7.6 93 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 22.6 km
7.6 121 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 34.0 km
7.6 85 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands 18.1 km

Significant earthquake record (380 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 170 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.0 194 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 34.0 km
6.3 115 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 45.0 km
6.0 85 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 36.0 km
6.1 55 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 82.3 km
7.0 18 km SW of Malango, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.1 77 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.4 148 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands 33.0 km
6.6 175 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 107.0 km
6.0 70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 85.0 km
6.3 102 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 21.0 km
6.2 144 km NNE of Buala, Solomon Islands 27.0 km
6.2 136 km E of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.5 66 km NW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 68.0 km
6.0 118 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 38.0 km
6.0 70 km N of Auki, Solomon Islands 8.4 km
6.5 65 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 36.0 km
6.3 104 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 26.0 km
6.0 114 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.4 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 20.0 km
6.9 92 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 19.7 km
6.5 79 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 12.3 km
7.8 69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 40.0 km
6.0 72 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.2 18 km WNW of Auki, Solomon Islands 30.4 km
6.8 153 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands 12.6 km
6.4 213 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 8.0 km
6.5 177 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 6.4 km
6.6 186 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands 22.0 km
7.0 80 km WNW of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.7 150 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands 12.0 km
6.0 91 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 12.0 km
6.8 159 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.9 205 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 11.2 km
6.8 178 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.2 161 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 72.0 km
6.1 183 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.1 157 km SSW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 4.0 km
6.1 116 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.6 75 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
7.4 112 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 39.0 km
7.6 93 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 22.6 km
6.0 25 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 57.0 km
6.0 174 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 98.0 km
6.1 92 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 39.0 km
6.0 43 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.6 30 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 18.0 km
7.1 32 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 21.0 km
6.8 22 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands 12.0 km
6.7 33 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.0 139 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands 8.0 km
6.0 57 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.0 113 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.1 136 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
7.0 33 km NW of Lata, Solomon Islands 8.8 km
7.1 112 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.0 62 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.0 58 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 6.0 km
6.4 63 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.3 49 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.0 50 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
6.1 63 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands 9.0 km
6.1 63 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.4 1 km E of Malango, Solomon Islands 20.0 km
6.4 89 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 51.0 km
6.4 70 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands 28.0 km
6.0 16 km NE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 21.0 km
6.1 26 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 72.1 km
6.0 87 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.8 79 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 79.0 km
6.3 126 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 22.0 km
6.7 55 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
6.9 99 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 21.0 km
6.2 142 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 12.0 km
6.0 155 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
6.8 127 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 15.4 km
7.1 94 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.6 98 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.0 164 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 31.1 km
6.1 59 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 44.7 km
6.0 183 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
6.8 186 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 21.0 km
6.6 103 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
6.0 197 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands 51.0 km
6.1 67 km WNW of Tulagi, Solomon Islands 118.0 km
6.0 130 km E of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.2 134 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.6 146 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 11.0 km
6.2 71 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 84.0 km
6.6 60 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 16.0 km
6.3 115 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 36.7 km
7.2 97 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
6.5 31 km WSW of Malango, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
6.0 88 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 42.0 km
6.4 54 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 17.0 km
6.1 117 km WNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 8.0 km
6.2 82 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 18.0 km
6.2 108 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.1 117 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 34.0 km
6.1 155 km S of Gizo, Solomon Islands 24.3 km

Showing the first 100 of 380 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Netherlands

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.2

M4.2

Jordan

5 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

France

53 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Montserrat

4 M4+ events · strongest M4.1

M4.1

Nicaragua

1,416 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Micronesia

672 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Nepal

694 M4+ events

M7.8

Iran

3,554 M4+ events

M7.7

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

Venezuela

531 M4+ events

M7.5

Afghanistan

3,478 M4+ events

M7.5

Ecuador

1,130 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

New Zealand

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

China

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Solomon Islands? ▼
The USGS catalog records 6,129 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Solomon Islands since 2005, an average of about 292 per year. Separately, 380 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Solomon Islands? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Solomon Islands measured magnitude 7.9. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.6 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Solomon Islands? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Solomon Islands ranks 12th of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 2013, with 19.
How deep are earthquakes in Solomon Islands? ▼
Across the 380 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 32 km. 92% 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 Solomon Islands's figures

6,129 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.9 · average M4.6 · 380 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 17, 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 Solomon Islands's numbers mean

Solomon Islands ranks 12th of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 292 M4+ earthquakes strike Solomon Islands per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 2013 was the busiest year on record with 19 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 92% of Solomon Islands'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 M7.9. 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.