Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands has catalogued 6,147 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 293 M4+ events a year alongside 380 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2026, peaking in 2013.
- 6,147
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 380
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.9
- Strongest
- ~293
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Solomon Islands is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 6,147 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 7,547 events and China sits immediately below at 4,994.
ComCat country tape
Event tape SOLOMON-ISLA · Solomon Islands M4+ · 12th/187
Solomon Islands · 6,147 M4+ · max M7.9 · 380 M6+
- PCT 6,147
- VS-PEER 12th/187
- COMCAT M7.9
- TAPE 380
- EPIC near New Zealand
- YOY 92% 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 Solomon Islands
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 236 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
- 236
- Average observed MMI
- 5.7
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 63 / 26
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
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 7,547 events and China sits immediately below at 4,994.
- New Zealand - next more active (7,547 M4+)
- China - next less active (4,994 M4+)
Solomon Islands's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
6,147 Top 6% higher than 94% of 187 countries
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 Solomon Islands by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2014
2014: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2015
2015: 12 major (M6+) events
12
- 2016
2016: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2017 3
2017: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2018 3
2018: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2019 1
2019: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2020 3
2020: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2021 2
2021: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2022 1
2022: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2023 1
2023: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025 3
2025: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2026 1
2026: 1 major (M6+) events
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.
How Solomon Islands earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | -66.7% | -43.9% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0.0% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 1 | -50.0% | -8.9% |
Solomon Islands's M4+ activity fell more than the global average in 2026: -66.7% locally vs -43.9% globally.
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.
102 of 6,147 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.
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.
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 | 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.
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Solomon Islands-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Solomon Islands-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
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.