Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands ranks 13th 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.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

6,125
M4+ events (since 2005): 380
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.9
Strongest: ~292
M4+ per year

The verdict

Solomon Islands has logged 6,125 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 380 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

#13
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 6,125
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.9
strongest earthquake on record: 380
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.

2014

7
2015

12
2016

7
2017

3
2018

3
2019

1
2020

3
2021

2
2022

1
2023

1
2025

3
2026

1

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.

Magnitude distribution of major events

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

M7.0-7.9

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.

Shallow (<70 km)

350

92.1% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

7.6% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.3% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Solomon Islands

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.9	199 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	33.0 km	Jul 17, 1980
7.8	116 km NW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	15.0 km	Oct 10, 1931
7.8	23 km SSE of Malango, Solomon Islands	15.0 km	Apr 30, 1939
7.8	108 km SW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	15.0 km	Oct 3, 1931
7.8	69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	40.0 km	Dec 8, 2016
7.8	146 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	59.0 km	Dec 31, 1966
7.7	138 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jul 18, 1934
7.6	93 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	22.6 km	Apr 12, 2014
7.6	121 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	34.0 km	Aug 10, 1988
7.6	85 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands	18.1 km	Feb 7, 1984

Significant earthquake record (380 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.2	170 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Mar 6, 2026
6.0	194 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	34.0 km	Oct 25, 2025
6.3	115 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	45.0 km	Aug 14, 2025
6.0	85 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands	36.0 km	Feb 23, 2025
6.1	55 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	82.3 km	May 21, 2023
7.0	18 km SW of Malango, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Nov 22, 2022
6.1	77 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Nov 25, 2021
6.4	148 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands	33.0 km	Oct 15, 2021
6.6	175 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	107.0 km	May 12, 2020
6.0	70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	85.0 km	Jan 29, 2020
6.3	102 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Jan 27, 2020
6.2	144 km NNE of Buala, Solomon Islands	27.0 km	May 3, 2019
6.2	136 km E of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Nov 16, 2018
6.5	66 km NW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	68.0 km	Sep 9, 2018
6.0	118 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands	38.0 km	Jul 17, 2018
6.0	70 km N of Auki, Solomon Islands	8.4 km	Mar 19, 2017
6.5	65 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	36.0 km	Jan 19, 2017
6.3	104 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	26.0 km	Jan 10, 2017
6.0	114 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Dec 20, 2016
6.4	81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	20.0 km	Dec 20, 2016
6.9	92 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	19.7 km	Dec 9, 2016
6.5	79 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	12.3 km	Dec 8, 2016
7.8	69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	40.0 km	Dec 8, 2016
6.0	72 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Sep 14, 2016
6.2	18 km WNW of Auki, Solomon Islands	30.4 km	Jun 10, 2016
6.8	153 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands	12.6 km	Nov 18, 2015
6.4	213 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	8.0 km	Aug 15, 2015
6.5	177 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	6.4 km	Aug 12, 2015
6.6	186 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands	22.0 km	Aug 10, 2015
7.0	80 km WNW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Jul 18, 2015
6.7	150 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Jul 10, 2015
6.0	91 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Jul 1, 2015
6.8	159 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	May 22, 2015
6.9	205 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	11.2 km	May 22, 2015
6.8	178 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	May 20, 2015
6.2	161 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	72.0 km	Apr 22, 2015
6.1	183 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 18, 2015
6.1	157 km SSW of Gizo, Solomon Islands	4.0 km	Sep 25, 2014
6.1	116 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Apr 18, 2014
6.6	75 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Apr 13, 2014
7.4	112 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	39.0 km	Apr 13, 2014
7.6	93 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	22.6 km	Apr 12, 2014
6.0	25 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	57.0 km	Apr 4, 2014
6.0	174 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	98.0 km	Mar 27, 2014
6.1	92 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands	39.0 km	Jun 5, 2013
6.0	43 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Feb 10, 2013
6.6	30 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	18.0 km	Feb 9, 2013
7.1	32 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Feb 8, 2013
6.8	22 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Feb 8, 2013
6.7	33 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Feb 7, 2013
6.0	139 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands	8.0 km	Feb 7, 2013
6.0	57 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Feb 6, 2013
6.0	113 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2013
6.1	136 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2013
7.0	33 km NW of Lata, Solomon Islands	8.8 km	Feb 6, 2013
7.1	112 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 6, 2013
6.0	62 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Feb 6, 2013
6.0	58 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	6.0 km	Feb 2, 2013
6.4	63 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 1, 2013
6.3	49 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 1, 2013
6.0	50 km SW of Lata, Solomon Islands	15.0 km	Feb 1, 2013
6.1	63 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands	9.0 km	Jan 31, 2013
6.1	63 km E of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jan 30, 2013
6.4	1 km E of Malango, Solomon Islands	20.0 km	Jul 25, 2012
6.4	89 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	51.0 km	Feb 14, 2012
6.4	70 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	28.0 km	Jan 9, 2012
6.0	16 km NE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Jul 20, 2011
6.1	26 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	72.1 km	Jun 24, 2011
6.0	87 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Jun 21, 2011
6.8	79 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	79.0 km	Apr 23, 2011
6.3	126 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	22.0 km	Mar 7, 2011
6.7	55 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Jun 26, 2010
6.9	99 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Apr 11, 2010
6.2	142 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Jan 9, 2010
6.0	155 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Jan 5, 2010
6.8	127 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	15.4 km	Jan 5, 2010
7.1	94 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2010
6.6	98 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2010
6.0	164 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	31.1 km	Oct 23, 2009
6.1	59 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	44.7 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.0	183 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.8	186 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Oct 7, 2009
6.6	103 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Aug 10, 2009
6.0	197 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	51.0 km	Dec 10, 2008
6.1	67 km WNW of Tulagi, Solomon Islands	118.0 km	Nov 21, 2008
6.0	130 km E of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jul 28, 2008
6.2	134 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Jul 19, 2008
6.6	146 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Jul 19, 2008
6.2	71 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	84.0 km	Jun 3, 2008
6.6	60 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	16.0 km	Nov 27, 2007
6.3	115 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	36.7 km	Sep 2, 2007
7.2	97 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Sep 2, 2007
6.5	31 km WSW of Malango, Solomon Islands	15.0 km	Aug 16, 2007
6.0	88 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands	42.0 km	Aug 12, 2007
6.4	54 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands	17.0 km	Apr 4, 2007
6.1	117 km WNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands	8.0 km	Apr 3, 2007
6.2	82 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	18.0 km	Apr 2, 2007
6.2	108 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Apr 2, 2007
6.1	117 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands	34.0 km	Apr 2, 2007
6.1	155 km S of Gizo, Solomon Islands	24.3 km	Apr 1, 2007

Showing the first 100 of 380 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Solomon Islands.

Japan region

6,324 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

China

4,920 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

New Zealand

7,422 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Vanuatu

7,557 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Greece

4,600 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

Peru

4,591 M4+ events · strongest M8.0

M8.0

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 Solomon Islands? ▼

The USGS catalog records 6,125 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 13th of 215 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 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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