Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2014

17,532 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2014, including 155 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.2.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

17,532
M4+ events: 155
Significant M6+: M8.2
Strongest: 84 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2014 logged 17,532 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 155 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.2.

17,532
M4+ events worldwide: 155
major M6+ events: M8.2
strongest of the year: 84 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Apr with 26 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

15,791
M5.0–5.9

1,586
M6.0–6.9

143
M7.0–7.9

11
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 155 events in 2014 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2014.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2014 (155)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2014, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.2	93 km NW of Iquique, Chile	25.0 km	Apr 1, 2014
7.9	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	109.0 km	Jun 23, 2014
7.7	53 km SW of Iquique, Chile	22.4 km	Apr 3, 2014
7.6	93 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	22.6 km	Apr 12, 2014
7.5	70 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	43.4 km	Apr 19, 2014
7.4	112 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	39.0 km	Apr 13, 2014
7.3	74 km S of Intipucá, El Salvador	40.0 km	Oct 14, 2014
7.2	9 km ENE of Coyuquilla Norte, Mexico	24.0 km	Apr 18, 2014
7.1	56 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	60.5 km	Apr 11, 2014
7.1	Fiji region	434.0 km	Nov 1, 2014
7.1	155 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	45.0 km	Nov 15, 2014
7.0	southern East Pacific Rise	16.5 km	Oct 9, 2014
6.9	Federated States of Micronesia region	13.0 km	Aug 3, 2014
6.9	Fiji region	615.4 km	Jul 21, 2014
6.9	South Sandwich Islands region	8.0 km	Jun 29, 2014
6.9	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	20.0 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.9	4 km W of Puerto Madero, Mexico	53.0 km	Jul 7, 2014
6.9	21 km SSW of Kamariótissa, Greece	6.4 km	May 24, 2014
6.9	90 km WNW of Iquique, Chile	28.4 km	Apr 1, 2014
6.9	272 km ESE of Hotan, China	10.0 km	Feb 12, 2014
6.8	Bouvet Island region	11.2 km	Apr 15, 2014
6.8	38 km NW of Aniso, Peru	101.0 km	Aug 24, 2014
6.8	157 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	39.0 km	Nov 26, 2014
6.8	77 km WNW of Indianola, California	16.4 km	Mar 10, 2014
6.7	43 km NW of Piti Village, Guam	130.0 km	Sep 17, 2014
6.7	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	26.6 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.7	201 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna	18.0 km	Jun 29, 2014
6.7	63 km WNW of Iquique, Chile	20.0 km	Mar 16, 2014
6.7	183 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand	22.0 km	Nov 16, 2014
6.6	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Oct 9, 2014
6.6	south of the Fiji Islands	527.0 km	May 4, 2014
6.6	239 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu	106.0 km	May 1, 2014
6.6	57 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	29.0 km	Apr 19, 2014
6.6	75 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Apr 13, 2014
6.6	15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua	135.0 km	Apr 11, 2014
6.6	22 km ESE of Punta de Burica, Panama	20.0 km	Dec 8, 2014
6.6	76 km NE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea	53.2 km	Nov 7, 2014
6.6	115 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	23.0 km	Dec 7, 2014
6.6	106 km WSW of Sangay, Philippines	614.0 km	Dec 2, 2014
6.5	217 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	20.0 km	Jul 4, 2014
6.5	South Indian Ocean	4.0 km	Jun 14, 2014
6.5	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	10.0 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.5	southern East Pacific Rise	10.5 km	May 12, 2014
6.5	78 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	20.0 km	Apr 11, 2014
6.5	45 km WSW of Iquique, Chile	24.1 km	Apr 3, 2014
6.5	110 km SE of Punta de Burica, Panama	10.0 km	May 13, 2014
6.5	107 km WSW of Vernon, Canada	10.0 km	Apr 24, 2014
6.5	139 km ESE of Namie, Japan	20.0 km	Jul 11, 2014
6.5	109 km NW of Nago, Japan	119.0 km	Mar 2, 2014
6.5	171 km NNE of Greenland, Barbados	14.8 km	Feb 18, 2014
6.5	32 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu	122.0 km	Feb 7, 2014
6.5	south of the Kermadec Islands	44.3 km	Feb 2, 2014
6.5	32 km W of Sola, Vanuatu	187.0 km	Jan 1, 2014
6.5	123 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia	35.0 km	Nov 21, 2014
6.4	79 km SW of Iquique, Chile	25.0 km	Apr 3, 2014
6.4	193 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna	9.0 km	Jun 29, 2014
6.4	3 km NNE of Nuxco, Mexico	17.1 km	May 8, 2014
6.4	23 km WNW of Hacienda La Calera, Chile	32.0 km	Aug 23, 2014
6.4	232 km NNW of Sabang, Indonesia	21.5 km	Mar 21, 2014
6.4	79 km WNW of Iquique, Chile	21.0 km	Mar 17, 2014
6.4	east of the South Sandwich Islands	10.0 km	Mar 11, 2014
6.4	61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico	20.0 km	Jan 13, 2014
6.3	Kermadec Islands region	35.0 km	Jul 3, 2014
6.3	State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia	11.0 km	May 15, 2014
6.3	West Chile Rise	16.8 km	May 6, 2014
6.3	south of the Fiji Islands	634.2 km	May 4, 2014
6.3	70 km SW of Iquique, Chile	13.7 km	Apr 4, 2014
6.3	78 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines	20.0 km	Jul 14, 2014
6.3	51 km WSW of Alim, Philippines	15.5 km	May 15, 2014
6.3	2 km SE of Santa Teresa, Mexico	107.0 km	Jul 29, 2014
6.3	Mid-Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Nov 3, 2014
6.3	156 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia	41.0 km	Dec 21, 2014
6.3	248 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska	4.0 km	Jun 24, 2014
6.3	south of the Fiji Islands	495.0 km	Mar 26, 2014
6.3	93 km NW of Iquique, Chile	21.0 km	Mar 23, 2014
6.3	16 km W of Sechura, Peru	29.0 km	Mar 15, 2014
6.3	32 km SSW of Hikari, Japan	79.0 km	Mar 13, 2014
6.3	262 km ESE of Sola, Vanuatu	638.0 km	Mar 5, 2014
6.2	172 km S of Tondano, Indonesia	35.0 km	Sep 10, 2014
6.2	217 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	17.0 km	Sep 6, 2014
6.2	179 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste	10.0 km	Aug 6, 2014
6.2	71 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga	227.3 km	Jul 19, 2014
6.2	Bonin Islands, Japan region	511.0 km	Jun 30, 2014
6.2	Volcano Islands, Japan region	48.0 km	Jun 29, 2014
6.2	85 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu	36.0 km	Jun 19, 2014
6.2	95 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	20.0 km	Apr 20, 2014
6.2	Balleny Islands region	20.6 km	Apr 17, 2014
6.2	71 km SW of Iquique, Chile	13.8 km	Apr 11, 2014
6.2	96 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia	61.0 km	Jul 20, 2014
6.2	250 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	5.0 km	May 31, 2014
6.2	10 km ENE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	110.2 km	Jul 8, 2014
6.2	33 km WSW of Zhaotong, China	12.0 km	Aug 3, 2014
6.2	22 km WSW of Skwentna, Alaska	108.9 km	Sep 25, 2014
6.2	56 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina	224.0 km	Sep 24, 2014
6.2	6 km SSE of Hakuba, Japan	9.0 km	Nov 22, 2014
6.2	90 km WNW of Iquique, Chile	20.0 km	Mar 22, 2014
6.2	33 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua	60.0 km	Mar 2, 2014
6.2	40 km E of Dehlor?n, Iran	10.2 km	Aug 18, 2014
6.1	Easter Island region	7.0 km	Sep 6, 2014
6.1	116 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Apr 18, 2014
6.1	State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia	10.0 km	May 14, 2014
6.1	91 km SSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	20.0 km	Apr 12, 2014
6.1	56 km NE of Kolonga, Tonga	45.0 km	Apr 26, 2014
6.1	78 km E of Mutsu, Japan	41.0 km	Aug 10, 2014
6.1	16 km SW of Valle San Francisco, Nicaragua	13.0 km	Apr 10, 2014
6.1	32 km SSW of Chiang Rai, Thailand	6.0 km	May 5, 2014
6.1	122 km NNW of Siocon, Philippines	8.0 km	Dec 29, 2014
6.1	96 km SSW of Altata, Mexico	10.0 km	Oct 8, 2014
6.1	77 km NE of Jiufen, Taiwan	256.0 km	Dec 10, 2014
6.1	61 km SSW of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	32.0 km	Dec 7, 2014
6.1	24 km SSW of Paracas, Peru	20.0 km	Mar 15, 2014
6.1	183 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea	7.0 km	Mar 11, 2014
6.1	210 km WNW of Nikolski, Alaska	265.0 km	Feb 26, 2014
6.1	South Sandwich Islands region	130.0 km	Feb 1, 2014
6.1	1 km ENE of Lixoúri, Greece	8.0 km	Jan 26, 2014
6.1	39 km S of Kroya, Indonesia	66.0 km	Jan 25, 2014
6.1	130 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga	6.1 km	Jan 21, 2014
6.1	35 km NNE of Masterton, New Zealand	28.0 km	Jan 20, 2014
6.1	Prince Edward Islands region	10.0 km	Nov 17, 2014
6.1	152 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan	22.0 km	Oct 11, 2014
6.1	125 km SW of Jianshui, China	8.5 km	Oct 7, 2014
6.1	157 km SSW of Gizo, Solomon Islands	4.0 km	Sep 25, 2014
6.0	The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake	11.1 km	Aug 24, 2014
6.0	northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Jul 27, 2014
6.0	40 km WNW of Elfin Cove, Alaska	10.0 km	Jul 25, 2014
6.0	168 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga	35.0 km	Sep 4, 2014
6.0	163 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea	9.8 km	Jul 29, 2014
6.0	Owen Fracture Zone region	10.0 km	Jul 19, 2014
6.0	86 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia	20.0 km	Jul 5, 2014
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 2, 2014
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	10.0 km	Jun 29, 2014
6.0	96 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	May 7, 2014
6.0	off the west coast of northern Sumatra	35.0 km	May 18, 2014
6.0	25 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	57.0 km	Apr 4, 2014
6.0	42 km ESE of Dehlor?n, Iran	5.0 km	Aug 18, 2014
6.0	276 km SE of Kon?rka, India	47.2 km	May 21, 2014
6.0	31 km ESE of It?, Japan	153.0 km	May 4, 2014
6.0	6 km W of Nuxco, Mexico	23.0 km	May 10, 2014
6.0	Fiji region	599.3 km	Dec 30, 2014
6.0	Easter Island region	10.0 km	Nov 1, 2014
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Nov 2, 2014
6.0	119 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga	8.0 km	Oct 28, 2014
6.0	Banda Sea	116.0 km	Dec 6, 2014
6.0	15 km ESE of Punta de Burica, Panama	15.0 km	Dec 6, 2014
6.0	90 km NNW of Yakutat, Alaska	10.0 km	Jul 17, 2014
6.0	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	101.9 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.0	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	106.6 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.0	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	102.8 km	Jun 23, 2014
6.0	33 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama	25.0 km	Apr 2, 2014
6.0	174 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	98.0 km	Mar 27, 2014
6.0	98 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	18.5 km	Mar 2, 2014
6.0	122 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	41.8 km	Feb 9, 2014
6.0	8 km NNW of Lixoúri, Greece	5.0 km	Feb 3, 2014
6.0	15 km N of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	42.0 km	Oct 1, 2014
6.0	Fiji region	10.0 km	Nov 13, 2014

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 2014? ▼

In 2014, the USGS catalog recorded 17,532 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 155 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2014? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2014 reached magnitude 8.2, near 93 km NW of Iquique, Chile. There were 11 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2014 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2014 recorded 17,532, with an average depth of 84 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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