Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2011

15,808 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2011, including 207 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M9.1.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

15,808
M4+ events: 207
Significant M6+: M9.1
Strongest: 52 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2011 logged 15,808 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 207 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 9.1.

15,808
M4+ events worldwide: 207
major M6+ events: M9.1
strongest of the year: 52 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Mar with 73 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

13,112
M5.0–5.9

2,489
M6.0–6.9

187
M7.0–7.9

19
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 207 events in 2011 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2011.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2011 (207)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2011, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
9.1	2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan	29.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
7.9	47 km E of ?arai, Japan	42.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
7.7	272 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	18.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
7.6	Kermadec Islands region	17.0 km	Jul 6, 2011
7.4	Kermadec Islands region	33.0 km	Oct 21, 2011
7.3	Fiji region	644.6 km	Sep 15, 2011
7.3	Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	52.0 km	Jun 24, 2011
7.3	120 km SE of ?funato, Japan	32.0 km	Mar 9, 2011
7.2	71 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	32.0 km	Aug 20, 2011
7.2	42 km NNW of Carahue, Chile	24.0 km	Jan 2, 2011
7.2	46 km WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan	68.0 km	Jan 18, 2011
7.1	29 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	42.0 km	Apr 7, 2011
7.1	64 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	28.0 km	Aug 20, 2011
7.1	27 km NNE of Van, Turkey	18.0 km	Oct 23, 2011
7.1	25 km SSE of Wau, Papua New Guinea	135.0 km	Dec 14, 2011
7.0	64 km ESE of Contamana, Peru	147.0 km	Aug 24, 2011
7.0	133 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu	185.1 km	Sep 3, 2011
7.0	118 km NNE of Tadine, New Caledonia	9.0 km	Jan 13, 2011
7.0	177 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	23.0 km	Jul 10, 2011
7.0	26 km NNE of El Hoyo, Argentina	576.8 km	Jan 1, 2011
6.9	27 km NNW of Tachilek, Myanmar	8.0 km	Mar 24, 2011
6.9	238 km WNW of Naha, Japan	224.9 km	Nov 8, 2011
6.9	170 km E of Atka, Alaska	32.0 km	Sep 2, 2011
6.9	236 km N of Baukau, Timor Leste	469.8 km	Aug 30, 2011
6.9	39 km SW of Santiago, Peru	24.0 km	Oct 28, 2011
6.9	43 km NW of Mangan, India	50.0 km	Sep 18, 2011
6.9	21 km N of Tomé, Chile	26.0 km	Feb 11, 2011
6.8	124 km NE of Wé, New Caledonia	11.0 km	May 10, 2011
6.8	79 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	79.0 km	Apr 23, 2011
6.7	38 km W of Constitución, Chile	21.0 km	Feb 14, 2011
6.7	20 km WNW of Añatuya, Argentina	578.9 km	Sep 2, 2011
6.7	278 km SSW of Kawalu, Indonesia	14.0 km	Apr 3, 2011
6.7	68 km WSW of Kabanjahe, Indonesia	91.0 km	Sep 5, 2011
6.7	south of the Fiji Islands	532.0 km	Jul 29, 2011
6.7	134 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	2.8 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.7	99 km NE of Miyako, Japan	30.0 km	Sep 16, 2011
6.7	41 km NNE of Miyako, Japan	33.0 km	Jun 22, 2011
6.6	south of the Kermadec Islands	86.0 km	Apr 18, 2011
6.6	62 km SSW of Trinidad, Bolivia	549.9 km	Nov 22, 2011
6.6	133 km ENE of Hasaki, Japan	16.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.6	50 km ESE of ?tsuchi, Japan	25.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.6	103 km NE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Jul 31, 2011
6.6	250 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines	525.0 km	Feb 10, 2011
6.6	7 km SW of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico	166.2 km	Apr 7, 2011
6.6	17 km SSW of Ishikawa, Japan	11.0 km	Apr 11, 2011
6.6	45 km NNE of Saryg-Sep, Russia	15.0 km	Dec 27, 2011
6.5	6 km SSW of Nuevo Balsas, Mexico	59.0 km	Dec 11, 2011
6.5	81 km NE of Hasaki, Japan	6.8 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.5	128 km SE of ?funato, Japan	15.0 km	Mar 9, 2011
6.5	South Sandwich Islands region	87.7 km	Mar 6, 2011
6.5	south of the Fiji Islands	558.1 km	Feb 21, 2011
6.5	65 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	35.0 km	Aug 20, 2011
6.5	115 km ENE of Hasaki, Japan	49.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.5	110 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu	22.0 km	Jan 9, 2011
6.5	146 km E of Namie, Japan	20.0 km	Mar 12, 2011
6.5	4 km ESE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea	37.0 km	Oct 14, 2011
6.5	235 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines	523.2 km	Feb 10, 2011
6.5	178 km NNE of Gili Air, Indonesia	510.6 km	Mar 10, 2011
6.4	110 km NE of Calama, Chile	128.0 km	Jun 20, 2011
6.4	108 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	16.0 km	Jun 16, 2011
6.4	west of Macquarie Island	3.0 km	Jun 5, 2011
6.4	227 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji	551.7 km	Apr 3, 2011
6.4	South Sandwich Islands region	84.0 km	Sep 3, 2011
6.4	208 km E of Namie, Japan	35.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.4	35 km NE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	29.0 km	Mar 9, 2011
6.4	98 km SSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	415.0 km	Feb 7, 2011
6.4	120 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	40.0 km	May 15, 2011
6.4	267 km E of Namie, Japan	11.0 km	Mar 22, 2011
6.4	172 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Sep 22, 2011
6.4	108 km ESE of Kitaibaraki, Japan	32.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.4	Bonin Islands, Japan region	512.0 km	Jan 12, 2011
6.4	130 km E of Miyako, Japan	13.0 km	Mar 22, 2011
6.4	33 km WSW of Cayhagan, Philippines	19.0 km	Jul 11, 2011
6.4	66 km SW of Vernon, Canada	22.0 km	Sep 9, 2011
6.3	21 km SSE of ?funato, Japan	41.0 km	Jul 23, 2011
6.3	43 km NE of Namie, Japan	40.0 km	Jul 24, 2011
6.3	199 km SSW of Ternate, Indonesia	17.0 km	Nov 14, 2011
6.3	254 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna	15.5 km	Mar 31, 2011
6.3	49 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	45.4 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	221 km SE of ?funato, Japan	35.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	126 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	22.0 km	Mar 7, 2011
6.3	103 km E of Namie, Japan	50.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	146 km SSE of Biak, Indonesia	17.0 km	Jun 26, 2011
6.3	4 km NW of Lebu, Chile	21.0 km	Jun 1, 2011
6.3	near the east coast of Honshu, Japan	24.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	30 km NNE of Namie, Japan	32.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	off the east coast of Honshu, Japan	35.9 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	47 km SE of Kamaishi, Japan	42.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	13 km SSE of Iwaki, Japan	38.0 km	Jul 30, 2011
6.3	70 km SSW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Jul 25, 2011
6.3	92 km ENE of Hasaki, Japan	21.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.3	Revilla Gigedo Islands region	10.0 km	Nov 1, 2011
6.3	193 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia	61.1 km	Jun 13, 2011
6.3	68 km ESE of Palca, Peru	118.0 km	Mar 6, 2011
6.2	53 km SSE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan	38.0 km	Nov 24, 2011
6.2	36 km SSE of ?funato, Japan	39.0 km	Mar 25, 2011
6.2	13 km E of Arai, Japan	9.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	70 km ESE of Kitaibaraki, Japan	39.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	134 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	11.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	110 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	40.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	61 km ESE of Namie, Japan	40.1 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	128 km SE of ?funato, Japan	51.7 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	45 km SE of Kamaishi, Japan	56.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	South Sandwich Islands region	116.0 km	Dec 11, 2011
6.2	261 km ESE of ?funato, Japan	25.4 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	271 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna	407.9 km	Aug 19, 2011
6.2	62 km E of W?ngjing, India	85.0 km	Feb 4, 2011
6.2	75 km E of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen	15.0 km	Jan 29, 2011
6.2	6 km WNW of T?gane, Japan	43.0 km	Apr 21, 2011
6.2	57 km NNE of Miyako, Japan	29.0 km	Mar 17, 2011
6.2	119 km SSE of Bam, Iran	10.0 km	Jan 27, 2011
6.2	88 km WNW of Noshiro, Japan	10.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.2	77 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	13.0 km	Aug 24, 2011
6.2	72 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	17.0 km	Mar 17, 2011
6.2	62 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan	19.0 km	Mar 27, 2011
6.2	61 km ENE of Namie, Japan	47.0 km	Aug 19, 2011
6.2	75 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga	37.0 km	Sep 5, 2011
6.2	23 km SE of T?gane, Japan	15.0 km	Apr 11, 2011
6.1	205 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	25.0 km	Nov 28, 2011
6.1	163 km SW of Bandar Lampung, Indonesia	29.0 km	Aug 22, 2011
6.1	Vanuatu region	10.0 km	Jul 31, 2011
6.1	16 km NNE of Aydarken, Kyrgyzstan	20.0 km	Jul 19, 2011
6.1	South Sandwich Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 15, 2011
6.1	35 km ESE of Namie, Japan	34.0 km	Nov 23, 2011
6.1	143 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama	12.0 km	Apr 30, 2011
6.1	102 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	26.0 km	Oct 18, 2011
6.1	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Nov 2, 2011
6.1	87 km ESE of Iwaki, Japan	28.4 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	off the east coast of Honshu, Japan	41.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	284 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	47.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	260 km ESE of ?funato, Japan	40.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	146 km SSE of Poso, Indonesia	16.2 km	Feb 15, 2011
6.1	124 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu	18.0 km	Jan 9, 2011
6.1	258 km E of Namie, Japan	14.0 km	Jun 3, 2011
6.1	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	May 15, 2011
6.1	55 km SE of Ishinomaki, Japan	15.0 km	Mar 12, 2011
6.1	east of the North Island of New Zealand	10.0 km	Sep 15, 2011
6.1	29 km SSE of Namie, Japan	38.0 km	Mar 12, 2011
6.1	178 km E of Namie, Japan	17.0 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	227 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia	36.0 km	Aug 4, 2011
6.1	south of the Kermadec Islands	36.0 km	Oct 7, 2011
6.1	58 km ESE of Sinabang, Indonesia	23.0 km	Jan 26, 2011
6.1	151 km NW of Amahai, Indonesia	26.0 km	Aug 16, 2011
6.1	26 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	72.1 km	Jun 24, 2011
6.1	275 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	39.5 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	southeast of the Loyalty Islands	112.2 km	Jan 5, 2011
6.1	72 km ESE of Kamaishi, Japan	17.4 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.1	41 km SSW of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia	33.0 km	Feb 20, 2011
6.1	138 km ENE of Miyako, Japan	18.0 km	Mar 15, 2011
6.1	47 km NE of Katabu, Indonesia	8.0 km	Apr 24, 2011
6.1	56 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga	85.0 km	Feb 12, 2011
6.1	72 km ESE of Namie, Japan	31.0 km	Mar 22, 2011
6.1	16 km NE of Asahikawa, Japan	187.0 km	Oct 21, 2011
6.1	72 km E of Hasaki, Japan	8.0 km	Mar 13, 2011
6.1	258 km ESE of Namie, Japan	9.0 km	Aug 17, 2011
6.1	13 km SSE of Chiguayante, Chile	16.0 km	Feb 12, 2011
6.1	72 km ESE of King Cove, Alaska	36.0 km	Jul 16, 2011
6.1	76 km NNW of Vallenar, Chile	20.0 km	Dec 7, 2011
6.1	114 km E of Namie, Japan	15.0 km	Mar 29, 2011
6.1	31 km ESE of Namie, Japan	35.0 km	May 13, 2011
6.1	6 km SE of Christchurch, New Zealand	5.9 km	Feb 21, 2011
6.1	88 km SW of Jimbaran, Indonesia	39.0 km	Oct 13, 2011
6.1	68 km E of ?arai, Japan	28.0 km	Sep 15, 2011
6.0	99 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan	22.0 km	Mar 9, 2011
6.0	8 km ESE of Takhtamygda, Russia	12.0 km	Oct 14, 2011
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	15.2 km	Jul 9, 2011
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	14.0 km	Jul 9, 2011
6.0	224 km SE of Kamaishi, Japan	11.0 km	May 5, 2011
6.0	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Nov 11, 2011
6.0	146 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji	6.0 km	Mar 26, 2011
6.0	109 km E of Namie, Japan	28.0 km	Mar 15, 2011
6.0	221 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena	10.0 km	Aug 10, 2011
6.0	80 km E of Yamada, Japan	27.1 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	193 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu	41.0 km	Sep 1, 2011
6.0	87 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	14.0 km	Jun 21, 2011
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 21, 2011
6.0	108 km SW of Singkil, Indonesia	20.0 km	Apr 6, 2011
6.0	42 km NW of Fry, Greece	59.9 km	Apr 1, 2011
6.0	south of the Kermadec Islands	32.0 km	Dec 15, 2011
6.0	55 km S of Gorontalo, Indonesia	161.0 km	Dec 13, 2011
6.0	Easter Island region	10.0 km	Mar 1, 2011
6.0	122 km E of Levuka, Fiji	602.9 km	Oct 27, 2011
6.0	17 km ESE of Namie, Japan	49.2 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	126 km ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan	42.8 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	4 km ESE of Hasaki, Japan	47.5 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	73 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico	12.0 km	Jul 26, 2011
6.0	16 km NE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Jul 20, 2011
6.0	123 km SE of Ishinomaki, Japan	14.0 km	Mar 14, 2011
6.0	108 km ESE of Takahagi, Japan	52.8 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	15 km E of Namie, Japan	37.3 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	94 km ESE of Yamada, Japan	27.6 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	76 km ESE of Yamada, Japan	26.5 km	Mar 11, 2011
6.0	114 km SE of ?funato, Japan	23.0 km	Mar 9, 2011
6.0	129 km SSW of Pagar Alam, Indonesia	36.0 km	Jan 17, 2011
6.0	32 km NNW of Attu Station, Alaska	15.0 km	Sep 14, 2011
6.0	101 km SSW of Vaini, Tonga	76.0 km	Jan 31, 2011
6.0	120 km E of Yamada, Japan	22.0 km	Apr 13, 2011
6.0	18 km SSE of ?funato, Japan	42.0 km	Mar 31, 2011
6.0	27 km SSW of Hihifo, Tonga	90.0 km	Dec 26, 2011
6.0	9 km NNW of Talcahuano, Chile	17.0 km	Feb 13, 2011
6.0	106 km WNW of Murghob, Tajikistan	110.0 km	Jan 24, 2011
6.0	43 km NNE of Namuac, Philippines	27.0 km	Mar 20, 2011
6.0	87 km NW of Salinas, Ecuador	26.6 km	Nov 17, 2011
6.0	32 km SW of San Antonio, Chile	20.0 km	Jul 16, 2011
6.0	97 km W of Palauig, Philippines	9.0 km	Nov 30, 2011
6.0	7 km NNE of Belén, Nicaragua	177.0 km	Nov 7, 2011
6.0	6 km NNW of Fujinomiya, Japan	9.0 km	Mar 15, 2011

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 2011? ▼

In 2011, the USGS catalog recorded 15,808 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 207 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2011? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2011 reached magnitude 9.1, near 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan. There were 19 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2011 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2011 recorded 15,808, with an average depth of 52 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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