Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2015

15,325 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2015, including 146 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.3.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

15,325
M4+ events: 146
Significant M6+: M8.3
Strongest: 88 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2015 logged 15,325 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 146 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.3.

15,325
M4+ events worldwide: 146
major M6+ events: M8.3
strongest of the year: 88 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Sep with 24 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

13,757
M5.0–5.9

1,422
M6.0–6.9

127
M7.0–7.9

18
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 146 events in 2015 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2015.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2015 (146)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2015, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.3	48 km W of Illapel, Chile	22.4 km	Sep 16, 2015
7.8	Bonin Islands, Japan region	664.0 km	May 30, 2015
7.8	67 km NNE of Bharatpur, Nepal	8.2 km	Apr 25, 2015
7.6	155 km WNW of Iñapari, Peru	606.2 km	Nov 24, 2015
7.6	185 km WNW of Iñapari, Peru	620.6 km	Nov 24, 2015
7.5	131 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	55.0 km	May 5, 2015
7.5	53 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	41.0 km	Mar 29, 2015
7.5	Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan	231.0 km	Oct 26, 2015
7.3	Nepal	15.0 km	May 12, 2015
7.2	104 km W of Murghob, Tajikistan	22.0 km	Dec 7, 2015
7.1	southeast Indian Ridge	35.0 km	Dec 4, 2015
7.1	31 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu	135.0 km	Oct 20, 2015
7.1	143 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	May 7, 2015
7.1	northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	16.7 km	Feb 13, 2015
7.0	234 km W of Abepura, Indonesia	48.0 km	Jul 27, 2015
7.0	25 km WNW of Illapel, Chile	28.4 km	Sep 16, 2015
7.0	southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Jun 17, 2015
7.0	80 km WNW of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	Jul 18, 2015
7.0	150 km NNE of Maumere, Indonesia	552.1 km	Feb 27, 2015
6.9	81 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile	12.0 km	Nov 11, 2015
6.9	107 km SE of Amahai, Indonesia	21.0 km	Dec 9, 2015
6.9	85 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile	10.0 km	Nov 11, 2015
6.9	205 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	11.2 km	May 22, 2015
6.9	Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	29.0 km	Jul 27, 2015
6.8	153 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands	12.6 km	Nov 18, 2015
6.8	39 km SW of Ovalle, Chile	46.0 km	Nov 7, 2015
6.8	117 km SSE of Ugashik, Alaska	72.6 km	May 29, 2015
6.8	109 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	44.0 km	May 1, 2015
6.8	32 km SE of ?funato, Japan	35.0 km	May 12, 2015
6.8	159 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	May 22, 2015
6.8	178 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	11.0 km	May 20, 2015
6.8	81 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	220.0 km	Jan 23, 2015
6.7	95 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico	10.0 km	Sep 13, 2015
6.7	21 km SSE of Kod?ri??, Nepal	22.9 km	Apr 26, 2015
6.7	103 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina	223.0 km	Feb 11, 2015
6.7	125 km SSW of Tarauacá, Brazil	602.8 km	Nov 26, 2015
6.7	140 km WSW of Makurazaki, Japan	12.0 km	Nov 13, 2015
6.7	61 km WNW of Illapel, Chile	23.0 km	Sep 17, 2015
6.7	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	7.2 km	May 19, 2015
6.7	150 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Jul 10, 2015
6.7	126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	31.0 km	Apr 30, 2015
6.7	83 km ENE of Miyako, Japan	23.0 km	Feb 16, 2015
6.6	28 km N of Sorong, Indonesia	18.0 km	Sep 24, 2015
6.6	4 km W of Manuel Ávila Camacho (Ponte Duro), Mexico	85.0 km	Dec 17, 2015
6.6	22 km WSW of Illapel, Chile	35.0 km	Sep 21, 2015
6.6	Nicobar Islands, India region	10.0 km	Nov 8, 2015
6.6	186 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands	22.0 km	Aug 10, 2015
6.6	71 km NNE of Bharatpur, Nepal	10.0 km	Apr 25, 2015
6.5	19 km SSW of Lefkáda, Greece	11.0 km	Nov 17, 2015
6.5	99 km SE of Atka, Alaska	15.0 km	Nov 9, 2015
6.5	128 km NE of Bathsheba, Barbados	20.0 km	Jul 16, 2015
6.5	47 km NW of Maubara, Timor Leste	20.0 km	Nov 4, 2015
6.5	54 km WNW of Illapel, Chile	27.0 km	Sep 17, 2015
6.5	177 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands	6.4 km	Aug 12, 2015
6.5	Bonin Islands, Japan region	460.0 km	Jun 23, 2015
6.5	181 km SSW of Alo, Wallis and Futuna	10.0 km	Apr 17, 2015
6.5	96 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	11.0 km	Mar 30, 2015
6.5	236 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama	8.0 km	Jan 7, 2015
6.4	52 km ENE of Pedro Bay, Alaska	119.3 km	Jul 29, 2015
6.4	75 km WSW of Yonakuni, Japan	29.0 km	Apr 20, 2015
6.4	110 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga	14.5 km	Mar 30, 2015
6.4	70 km SW of Ovalle, Chile	42.3 km	Sep 17, 2015
6.4	54 km W of Illapel, Chile	26.7 km	Sep 16, 2015
6.4	213 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	8.0 km	Aug 15, 2015
6.4	74 km WNW of Talcahuano, Chile	11.0 km	Jun 20, 2015
6.4	57 km WNW of Zangguy, China	20.0 km	Jul 3, 2015
6.4	94 km SW of Curahuara de Carangas, Bolivia	130.0 km	Mar 23, 2015
6.4	Vanuatu	10.0 km	Feb 19, 2015
6.3	south of the Kermadec Islands	17.0 km	Sep 7, 2015
6.3	42 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan	206.0 km	Dec 25, 2015
6.3	161 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	41.5 km	Sep 16, 2015
6.3	26 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile	46.0 km	Sep 26, 2015
6.3	101 km E of Shikotan, Russia	49.0 km	Jul 7, 2015
6.3	southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	May 24, 2015
6.3	42 km SSE of Kod?ri??, Nepal	15.0 km	May 12, 2015
6.3	106 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga	30.0 km	Apr 7, 2015
6.3	63 km W of Villa General Roca, Argentina	172.0 km	Feb 2, 2015
6.2	207 km WSW of José María Morelos, Mexico	5.0 km	Feb 22, 2015
6.2	southern East Pacific Rise	12.3 km	Dec 24, 2015
6.2	107 km WNW of Coquimbo, Chile	13.0 km	Nov 7, 2015
6.2	65 km N of Taltal, Chile	34.0 km	Nov 27, 2015
6.2	Bouvet Island region	11.0 km	Oct 23, 2015
6.2	79 km W of La Ligua, Chile	18.0 km	Sep 19, 2015
6.2	92 km NW of Valparaíso, Chile	8.0 km	Sep 18, 2015
6.2	175 km WNW of Pangai, Tonga	10.0 km	May 24, 2015
6.2	Izu Islands, Japan region	6.0 km	May 30, 2015
6.2	282 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	8.0 km	Apr 24, 2015
6.2	161 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	72.0 km	Apr 22, 2015
6.2	136 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	44.0 km	Mar 17, 2015
6.2	75 km NW of Tomé, Chile	13.0 km	Mar 18, 2015
6.2	142 km E of Miyako, Japan	10.0 km	Feb 20, 2015
6.2	2 km NNW of Cepitá, Colombia	155.0 km	Mar 10, 2015
6.2	South Sandwich Islands region	13.0 km	Feb 16, 2015
6.2	Taiwan region	30.0 km	Feb 13, 2015
6.2	Fiji region	484.1 km	Jan 28, 2015
6.1	Kepulauan Babar, Indonesia	82.0 km	Nov 21, 2015
6.1	37 km N of Tarakan, Indonesia	14.0 km	Dec 20, 2015
6.1	253 km WNW of Lautoka, Fiji	10.0 km	Dec 9, 2015
6.1	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Oct 11, 2015
6.1	79 km WNW of Coquimbo, Chile	6.0 km	Sep 19, 2015
6.1	156 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	6.0 km	Sep 16, 2015
6.1	54 km W of Illapel, Chile	30.0 km	Sep 21, 2015
6.1	55 km WSW of Illapel, Chile	19.1 km	Sep 16, 2015
6.1	71 km W of Illapel, Chile	35.0 km	Sep 16, 2015
6.1	74 km ENE of Mutsu, Japan	42.0 km	Jun 8, 2015
6.1	0 km NNW of Dhulikhel, Nepal	10.0 km	Apr 25, 2015
6.1	23 km NW of Santa Monica, Philippines	32.0 km	Jul 3, 2015
6.1	Fiji region	581.0 km	Apr 28, 2015
6.1	73 km S of Wakefield, New Zealand	48.0 km	Apr 24, 2015
6.1	72 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan	29.0 km	Apr 20, 2015
6.1	70 km NW of Luwuk, Indonesia	31.0 km	Mar 15, 2015
6.1	183 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands	10.0 km	Feb 18, 2015
6.1	157 km W of Pariaman, Indonesia	28.0 km	Mar 3, 2015
6.0	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	586.9 km	Nov 24, 2015
6.0	Prince Edward Islands region	10.0 km	Oct 23, 2015
6.0	202 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia	12.0 km	Oct 14, 2015
6.0	Izu Islands, Japan region	8.0 km	Sep 1, 2015
6.0	104 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska	20.0 km	Sep 10, 2015
6.0	134 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	35.0 km	May 1, 2015
6.0	128 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu	10.0 km	Dec 19, 2015
6.0	63 km ESE of Hihifo, Tonga	12.0 km	Oct 18, 2015
6.0	northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Sep 18, 2015
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	535.0 km	Sep 7, 2015
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	228.0 km	Aug 24, 2015
6.0	22 km NNW of Illapel, Chile	58.0 km	Sep 22, 2015
6.0	Mid-Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Aug 13, 2015
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	269.0 km	Aug 6, 2015
6.0	91 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	12.0 km	Jul 1, 2015
6.0	50 km E of Calama, Chile	124.0 km	Jun 10, 2015
6.0	south of the Kermadec Islands	10.0 km	Jun 25, 2015
6.0	146 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	43.0 km	Jun 30, 2015
6.0	Fiji region	562.6 km	Jun 21, 2015
6.0	89 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	48.0 km	Jun 12, 2015
6.0	51 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	May 30, 2015
6.0	135 km WNW of Pangai, Tonga	203.0 km	May 20, 2015
6.0	14 km WNW of Ranau, Malaysia	10.0 km	Jun 4, 2015
6.0	106 km ESE of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia	151.0 km	May 15, 2015
6.0	Izu Islands, Japan region	6.0 km	May 10, 2015
6.0	156 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	24.0 km	May 3, 2015
6.0	69 km SW of Yonakuni, Japan	29.0 km	Apr 20, 2015
6.0	65 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	39.0 km	Mar 31, 2015
6.0	98 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Mar 30, 2015
6.0	26 km SSW of Fry, Greece	20.0 km	Apr 16, 2015
6.0	Mid-Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Mar 6, 2015
6.0	133 km E of Miyako, Japan	7.0 km	Feb 21, 2015
6.0	209 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu	7.1 km	Jan 30, 2015

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 2015? ▼

In 2015, the USGS catalog recorded 15,325 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 146 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2015? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2015 reached magnitude 8.3, near 48 km W of Illapel, Chile. There were 18 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2015 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2015 recorded 15,325, with an average depth of 88 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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