Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2005

15,703 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2005, including 150 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.6.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

15,703
M4+ events: 150
Significant M6+: M8.6
Strongest: 72 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2005 logged 15,703 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 150 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.6.

15,703
M4+ events worldwide: 150
major M6+ events: M8.6
strongest of the year: 72 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Jan with 23 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

13,861
M5.0–5.9

1,692
M6.0–6.9

139
M7.0–7.9

10
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 150 events in 2005 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2005.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2005 (150)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2005, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.6	78 km WSW of Singkil, Indonesia	30.0 km	Mar 28, 2005
7.8	102 km ENE of Iquique, Chile	115.6 km	Jun 13, 2005
7.6	21 km NNE of Muzaffar?b?d, Pakistan	26.0 km	Oct 8, 2005
7.6	135 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	90.0 km	Sep 9, 2005
7.5	39 km NW of Yurimaguas, Peru	115.0 km	Sep 26, 2005
7.2	66 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	36.0 km	Aug 16, 2005
7.2	153 km W of Big Lagoon, California	16.0 km	Jun 15, 2005
7.2	Nicobar Islands, India region	16.0 km	Jul 24, 2005
7.1	Banda Sea	201.7 km	Mar 2, 2005
7.1	138 km SW of Palimbang, Philippines	525.0 km	Feb 5, 2005
7.0	293 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	11.0 km	Nov 14, 2005
6.9	67 km ENE of Joaquín V. González, Argentina	579.1 km	Mar 21, 2005
6.9	89 km WSW of Singkil, Indonesia	30.0 km	May 19, 2005
6.8	76 km ESE of Kalemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo	22.0 km	Dec 5, 2005
6.8	68 km NNE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile	147.0 km	Nov 17, 2005
6.8	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Jan 12, 2005
6.8	289 km WSW of Adak, Alaska	17.0 km	Jun 14, 2005
6.8	99 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia	36.0 km	Feb 26, 2005
6.7	116 km SSW of Leava, Wallis and Futuna	10.0 km	Dec 13, 2005
6.7	113 km SW of Padang, Indonesia	19.0 km	Apr 10, 2005
6.7	286 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	68.0 km	Apr 11, 2005
6.7	off the west coast of northern Sumatra	11.7 km	Jan 1, 2005
6.7	52 km SW of Sola, Vanuatu	206.3 km	Feb 8, 2005
6.7	94 km WSW of Singkil, Indonesia	21.0 km	Jul 5, 2005
6.7	125 km SW of Padangsidempuan, Indonesia	34.0 km	May 14, 2005
6.6	32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua	27.0 km	Jul 2, 2005
6.6	28 km NNW of Maebaru-ch??, Japan	10.0 km	Mar 20, 2005
6.6	247 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	17.0 km	Dec 11, 2005
6.6	129 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	25.0 km	Sep 29, 2005
6.6	192 km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea	11.4 km	Apr 11, 2005
6.6	southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Feb 16, 2005
6.6	89 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands	142.7 km	Feb 5, 2005
6.6	south of the Kermadec Islands	34.0 km	May 16, 2005
6.6	133 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia	24.9 km	Jan 16, 2005
6.6	161 km SE of Katsuura, Japan	27.8 km	Jan 19, 2005
6.6	196 km W of Ferndale, California	12.0 km	Jun 17, 2005
6.5	57 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia	21.0 km	Nov 19, 2005
6.5	southeast Indian Ridge	8.0 km	Oct 29, 2005
6.5	53 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan	224.6 km	Dec 12, 2005
6.5	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	May 12, 2005
6.5	80 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	29.0 km	Dec 2, 2005
6.5	256 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama	18.0 km	May 5, 2005
6.5	81 km SSW of Katabu, Indonesia	10.0 km	Feb 19, 2005
6.5	Pulau-Pulau Talaud, Indonesia	39.7 km	Feb 15, 2005
6.5	106 km SW of Padang, Indonesia	30.0 km	Apr 10, 2005
6.4	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	21.0 km	Dec 7, 2005
6.4	156 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea	25.0 km	Nov 5, 2005
6.4	9 km NE of Battagram, Pakistan	8.0 km	Oct 8, 2005
6.4	Off the coast of Aisen, Chile	10.0 km	Jun 15, 2005
6.4	24 km ESE of Zarand, Iran	14.0 km	Feb 22, 2005
6.4	54 km SSW of Singkil, Indonesia	31.0 km	Apr 16, 2005
6.4	59 km ESE of Apolinario Saravia, Argentina	570.1 km	Mar 21, 2005
6.4	284 km W of Sabang, Indonesia	30.0 km	Jan 2, 2005
6.4	47 km NNW of Buala, Solomon Islands	29.0 km	Jan 22, 2005
6.4	18 km WNW of Palimbang, Philippines	13.0 km	Nov 30, 2005
6.4	99 km NNE of Yonakuni, Japan	192.0 km	Oct 15, 2005
6.4	100 km SW of Padang, Indonesia	30.0 km	Apr 10, 2005
6.3	33 km SSE of Singkil, Indonesia	36.0 km	Apr 3, 2005
6.3	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Dec 22, 2005
6.3	6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua	14.0 km	Aug 3, 2005
6.3	25 km ENE of ?arai, Japan	32.0 km	Oct 19, 2005
6.3	196 km NE of Jumla, Nepal	11.0 km	Apr 7, 2005
6.3	southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia	17.0 km	May 10, 2005
6.3	153 km S of Tomohon, Indonesia	25.0 km	Dec 21, 2005
6.3	40 km E of Kushiro, Japan	42.0 km	Jan 18, 2005
6.3	121 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia	22.0 km	Mar 30, 2005
6.3	Prince Edward Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 4, 2005
6.3	Bonin Islands, Japan region	24.0 km	Feb 9, 2005
6.3	32 km SSE of Palu, Indonesia	11.0 km	Jan 23, 2005
6.3	Fiji region	598.7 km	Mar 19, 2005
6.3	63 km NNW of Yigo Village, Guam	158.7 km	Feb 2, 2005
6.3	Nicobar Islands, India region	30.0 km	Jan 24, 2005
6.3	north of Severnaya Zemlya	10.0 km	Mar 6, 2005
6.3	183 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Feb 10, 2005
6.3	55 km NW of Zorritos, Peru	39.5 km	May 21, 2005
6.2	115 km ESE of Akutan, Alaska	30.0 km	Nov 20, 2005
6.2	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Sep 5, 2005
6.2	236 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 27, 2005
6.2	206 km E of Vao, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Aug 11, 2005
6.2	106 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	74.6 km	Jun 15, 2005
6.2	92 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	May 18, 2005
6.2	199 km S of Al Ghayz?ah, Yemen	10.0 km	Aug 26, 2005
6.2	142 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	28.0 km	Sep 29, 2005
6.2	Prince Edward Islands region	10.0 km	Aug 7, 2005
6.2	south of the Fiji Islands	16.0 km	Jan 16, 2005
6.2	199 km W of Sinabang, Indonesia	22.2 km	Jan 26, 2005
6.2	51 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 28, 2005
6.2	56 km W of Madang, Papua New Guinea	68.0 km	Nov 22, 2005
6.2	60 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia	22.0 km	Apr 28, 2005
6.1	130 km E of Madang, Papua New Guinea	216.8 km	Dec 8, 2005
6.1	41 km SW of Makurazaki, Japan	145.0 km	Nov 21, 2005
6.1	123 km ESE of ?funato, Japan	10.0 km	Aug 24, 2005
6.1	59 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	30.0 km	Sep 25, 2005
6.1	east of the Kuril Islands	42.8 km	Oct 15, 2005
6.1	142 km ESE of ?funato, Japan	21.1 km	Aug 30, 2005
6.1	76 km S of Boca Chica, Panama	10.0 km	Dec 30, 2005
6.1	277 km N of Fais, Micronesia	22.8 km	Dec 20, 2005
6.1	69 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina	196.2 km	Jun 2, 2005
6.1	54 km SE of Tena, Ecuador	192.9 km	Dec 23, 2005
6.1	218 km W of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen	10.0 km	Apr 2, 2005
6.1	136 km N of Fais, Micronesia	12.0 km	Jan 17, 2005
6.1	72 km SSW of Banda Aceh, Indonesia	40.0 km	Jan 9, 2005
6.1	Vanuatu region	35.0 km	Aug 9, 2005
6.1	139 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Mar 6, 2005
6.1	47 km NNW of Lae, Papua New Guinea	26.0 km	Jun 4, 2005
6.1	Vanuatu region	23.6 km	Aug 9, 2005
6.1	north of Macquarie Island	10.0 km	Jan 3, 2005
6.1	West Chile Rise	10.0 km	Jul 10, 2005
6.1	189 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Apr 8, 2005
6.1	Andaman Islands, India region	23.2 km	Jan 4, 2005
6.1	Nicobar Islands, India region	55.4 km	Jan 1, 2005
6.1	136 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia	36.1 km	Mar 28, 2005
6.1	51 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia	23.5 km	Jun 8, 2005
6.1	219 km W of Banda Aceh, Indonesia	2.5 km	May 18, 2005
6.1	103 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	36.5 km	Feb 7, 2005
6.1	54 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia	24.0 km	Apr 11, 2005
6.1	51 km ENE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Jan 14, 2005
6.1	south of the Fiji Islands	588.7 km	Mar 30, 2005
6.1	205 km SSE of Amahai, Indonesia	10.0 km	Mar 26, 2005
6.1	65 km S of Pangai, Tonga	18.0 km	Mar 19, 2005
6.1	245 km SSW of Sibolga, Indonesia	20.9 km	Apr 8, 2005
6.1	142 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama	10.0 km	Aug 27, 2005
6.1	90 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 28, 2005
6.1	23 km W of Jipijapa, Ecuador	16.9 km	Jan 24, 2005
6.1	10 km NE of San Bartolo, Guatemala	197.4 km	Mar 17, 2005
6.1	92 km NW of Aksu, China	22.0 km	Feb 14, 2005
6.1	27 km ESE of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Russia	103.0 km	Sep 21, 2005
6.0	154 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama	7.0 km	Dec 21, 2005
6.0	259 km NW of Manado, Indonesia	443.9 km	Sep 4, 2005
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	94.1 km	Jun 12, 2005
6.0	Mariana Islands region	11.0 km	Nov 28, 2005
6.0	158 km W of Pangai, Tonga	205.4 km	Aug 6, 2005
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 30, 2005
6.0	96 km SE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Feb 23, 2005
6.0	89 km E of Alo, Wallis and Futuna	10.0 km	Aug 7, 2005
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	10.0 km	Jul 23, 2005
6.0	154 km SW of Padangsidempuan, Indonesia	30.0 km	Apr 3, 2005
6.0	166 km WSW of Nadi, Fiji	10.0 km	Mar 31, 2005
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	565.3 km	May 20, 2005
6.0	66 km W of Labuan, Indonesia	58.7 km	Jan 15, 2005
6.0	119 km E of Iranshahr, Iran	54.0 km	Mar 13, 2005
6.0	156 km W of Sinabang, Indonesia	30.0 km	Feb 5, 2005
6.0	Kermadec Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 11, 2005
6.0	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	48.6 km	Aug 13, 2005
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	102.2 km	May 18, 2005
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	10.0 km	Jan 8, 2005
6.0	85 km SSW of Banda Aceh, Indonesia	44.5 km	Feb 9, 2005
6.0	21 km WSW of Montecristi, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 21, 2005
6.0	18 km ENE of Shirac, Peru	129.9 km	Apr 11, 2005
6.0	53 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan	42.9 km	Dec 16, 2005

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

All years

The full long-term seismic trend.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes occurred in 2005? ▼

In 2005, the USGS catalog recorded 15,703 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 150 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2005? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2005 reached magnitude 8.6, near 78 km WSW of Singkil, Indonesia. There were 10 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2005 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2005 recorded 15,703, with an average depth of 72 km. See the year index for the full long-term trend.

What magnitude scale is used? ▼

All magnitudes use the moment magnitude scale (Mw), the USGS standard. The scale is logarithmic, each whole step is roughly 32× more energy released.

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. The worldwide catalog covers magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step up represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Annual counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred; the current calendar year is always partial and will keep rising as the USGS adds and revises events, so it should never be compared directly against completed years.

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

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