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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has catalogued 7,620 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 10th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.

Vanuatu ranks 10th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 363 M4+ events a year alongside 557 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1905 to 2026, peaking in 1994.

7,620
M4+ events (since 2005)
557
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.9
Strongest
~363
M4+ per year

The verdict

Vanuatu is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 7,620 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 557 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

1994
busiest year (16 major events)
61 km
average recorded event depth
75%
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 Mexico sits immediately above at 8,517 events and New Zealand sits immediately below at 7,547.

Follow Vanuatu events (RSS)

ComCat country tape

Event tape VANUATU · Vanuatu M4+ · 10th/187

Vanuatu · 7,620 M4+ · max M7.9 · 557 M6+

  • COMCAT 7,620
  • TAPE 10th/187
  • EPIC M7.9
  • YOY 557
  • BAND near Mexico
  • STRIP 75% 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 Vanuatu

USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 340 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.4. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.

MMI observations
340
Average observed MMI
5.4
PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
76 / 31

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

1. Peru4,6212. China4,9943. Solomon Isla…6,1474. New Zealand7,5475. Vanuatu7,6206. Mexico8,517
M4+ catalog count for Vanuatu and nearest-count peers. Source: USGS ComCat, 2005–present.

Where Vanuatu sits in the catalog

Rank 10th of 187 tracked countries (95th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Mexico sits immediately above at 8,517 events and New Zealand sits immediately below at 7,547.

Vanuatu's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

7,620 Top 5% higher than 95% 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. Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu by year

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

Value

What this shows Vanuatu's most active year for major earthquakes was 1994 (16 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 Vanuatu earthquake activity changed recently

Year M4+ events YoY change Global YoY
2024 7 -12.5% -12.6%
2023 8 +33.3% +3.0%
2022 6 -14.3% -8.9%

Vanuatu's year-on-year change (-12.5%) is roughly in line with the global trend (-12.6%) in 2024.

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%1.9%
Share of Vanuatu's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

148 of 7,620 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 557 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Vanuatu.

How the 557 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 86.9%

M7.0-7.9

73

13.1%

M6.0-6.9

484

86.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 557 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 61 km.

Vanuatu75%24.8%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Vanuatu's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

418

75.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

138

24.8% of events

Deep (>300 km)

1

0.2% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Vanuatu

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

Mag Location Depth
7.9 99 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 30.0 km
7.8 28 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu 100.0 km
7.8 196 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 35.0 km
7.8 186 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu 123.6 km
7.7 148 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 45.0 km
7.7 171 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu 33.0 km
7.7 45 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 50.0 km
7.6 31 km S of Luganville, Vanuatu 47.6 km
7.6 63 km NW of Isangel, Vanuatu 125.0 km
7.5 92 km ESE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 33.0 km

Significant earthquake record (557 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.1 56 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 188.1 km
6.0 55 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 15.0 km
7.3 51 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu 120.6 km
6.1 98 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 21.0 km
6.4 48 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 43.0 km
6.1 33 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 47.0 km
7.3 24 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 54.4 km
6.1 99 km NE of Norsup, Vanuatu 4.0 km
6.3 49 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 149.0 km
6.3 83 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 22.0 km
6.1 101 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu 19.2 km
6.3 39 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 31.0 km
7.1 118 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu 48.0 km
6.7 97 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.0 53 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 68.0 km
6.1 62 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu 125.0 km
6.5 35 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 188.0 km
6.4 96 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.5 83 km WSW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 17.0 km
7.0 23 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 29.0 km
6.1 289 km SE of Isangel, Vanuatu 4.0 km
7.0 209 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 137.0 km
6.0 82 km ESE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 10.0 km
6.3 63 km WSW of Norsup, Vanuatu 17.0 km
6.0 56 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 31.0 km
6.0 110 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 104.0 km
6.2 59 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu 93.0 km
6.9 17 km N of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 93.0 km
6.1 66 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu 173.3 km
6.2 136 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 14.0 km
6.2 82 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.1 50 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 160.0 km
6.1 146 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 113.0 km
6.2 72 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 10.0 km
6.2 104 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 10.0 km
6.4 69 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 181.9 km
6.2 51 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 9.7 km
6.1 99 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 176.0 km
6.0 56 km SSE of Sola, Vanuatu 7.5 km
6.0 60 km NNE of Isangel, Vanuatu 266.0 km
6.0 23 km ENE of Sola, Vanuatu 19.0 km
6.4 61 km NNE of Isangel, Vanuatu 231.0 km
6.0 61 km SW of Sola, Vanuatu 115.0 km
6.6 63 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 181.0 km
6.0 40 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu 91.0 km
6.3 53 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu 119.0 km
6.0 67 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 38.7 km
6.6 94 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 35.0 km
6.0 95 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu 42.0 km
6.5 78 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 9.0 km
6.4 72 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 167.0 km
6.1 27 km WSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 28.0 km
6.4 85 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 197.0 km
6.8 59 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 169.0 km
6.1 71 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 167.0 km
6.0 7 km NE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 27.0 km
6.0 91 km SW of Isangel, Vanuatu 15.0 km
6.3 84 km SSW of Isangel, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.2 98 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 111.0 km
7.0 3 km NW of Norsup, Vanuatu 24.0 km
6.4 89 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 16.0 km
6.7 104 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 27.6 km
6.7 102 km WSW of Sola, Vanuatu 24.0 km
6.9 82 km NNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 26.0 km
6.0 128 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu 10.0 km
7.1 31 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 135.0 km
6.0 209 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 7.1 km
6.8 81 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 220.0 km
6.2 10 km ENE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 110.2 km
6.2 85 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu 36.0 km
6.6 239 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 106.0 km
6.3 262 km ESE of Sola, Vanuatu 638.0 km
6.5 32 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 122.0 km
6.5 32 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 187.0 km
6.1 58 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu 124.0 km
6.0 51 km NNE of Isangel, Vanuatu 280.2 km
6.7 59 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu 200.7 km
6.1 99 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 32.0 km
6.2 112 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu 36.0 km
6.0 191 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu 27.0 km
6.3 51 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 160.1 km
6.2 84 km NW of Isangel, Vanuatu 11.0 km
6.7 57 km NE of Isangel, Vanuatu 16.0 km
6.1 117 km WSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 8.0 km
6.1 81 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 145.0 km
6.1 116 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 8.0 km
7.1 125 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 23.0 km
7.0 133 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 185.1 km
6.0 193 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu 41.0 km
6.2 77 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 13.0 km
7.1 64 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 28.0 km
6.5 65 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 35.0 km
7.2 71 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 32.0 km
6.2 72 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 17.0 km
6.1 124 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 18.0 km
6.5 110 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 22.0 km
6.4 120 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu 16.0 km
6.0 105 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu 13.0 km
7.3 141 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu 16.0 km
6.3 137 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu 10.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 557 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Greenland

77 M4+ events · strongest M4.9

M4.9

French Guiana

3 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

New Caledonia

1,921 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Pakistan

1,270 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Croatia

65 M4+ events · strongest M6.4

M6.4

Syria

39 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Vanuatu-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

Peru

4,621 M4+ events

M8.0

China

4,994 M4+ events

M7.9

India

4,099 M4+ events

M7.5

Iran

3,577 M4+ events

M7.7

Venezuela

538 M4+ events

M7.5

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.