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Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2016

15,388 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2016, including 147 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M7.9.

15,388
M4+ events
147
Significant M6+
M7.9
Strongest
88 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2016 logged 15,388 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 147 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 7.9.

15,388
M4+ events worldwide
147
major M6+ events
M7.9
strongest of the year
88 km
average hypocentral depth

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

Magnitude breakdown - 2016

How 2016's 15,388 catalogued M4+ earthquakes split across the magnitude scale

Value

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 147 events in 2016 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2016

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2016.

Jan

13

Feb

10

Mar

5

Apr

23

May

7

Jun

15

Jul

7

Aug

13

Sep

13

Oct

8

Nov

13

Dec

20

Significant earthquakes in 2016 (147)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2016, strongest impact first.

Mag Location Depth
7.9 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 94.5 km
7.8 69 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 40.0 km
7.8 53 km NNE of Amberley, New Zealand 15.1 km
7.8 27 km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador 20.6 km
7.8 southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia 24.0 km
7.7 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 196.0 km
7.6 41 km SW of Quellón, Chile 38.0 km
7.4 South Georgia Island region 10.0 km
7.2 80 km S of Mil’kovo, Russia 177.0 km
7.2 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 16.4 km
7.2 South Sandwich Islands region 78.0 km
7.1 47 km ESE of Pedro Bay, Alaska 125.6 km
7.1 north of Ascension Island 10.0 km
7.0 175 km NE of Gisborne, New Zealand 19.0 km
7.0 3 km NW of Norsup, Vanuatu 24.0 km
7.0 6 km ESE of Kumamoto, Japan 10.0 km
6.9 92 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 19.7 km
6.9 35 km ESE of Namie, Japan 9.0 km
6.9 156 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador 10.0 km
6.9 24 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador 29.9 km
6.9 Fiji region 596.4 km
6.9 Fiji region 405.7 km
6.9 82 km NNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 26.0 km
6.9 76 km SE of Mawlaik, Myanmar 136.0 km
6.8 90 km NE of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 476.0 km
6.8 76 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 42.0 km
6.8 26 km W of Chauk, Myanmar 82.0 km
6.7 52 km SE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan 46.0 km
6.7 32 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador 16.0 km
6.7 104 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 27.6 km
6.7 151 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste 152.0 km
6.7 102 km WSW of Sola, Vanuatu 24.0 km
6.7 29 km W of Imph?l, India 55.0 km
6.6 203 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.6 164 km W of Ferndale, California 8.4 km
6.6 122 km N of Murghob, Tajikistan 17.0 km
6.6 5 km ESE of Preci, Italy 8.0 km
6.6 161 km NNE of Pamanukan, Indonesia 614.0 km
6.6 80 km W of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia 50.0 km
6.6 northern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.6 42 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan 212.0 km
6.5 227 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 13.0 km
6.5 79 km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 12.3 km
6.5 74 km NE of Amberley, New Zealand 9.0 km
6.5 14 km WNW of Reuleuet, Indonesia 13.0 km
6.5 92 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 10.0 km
6.4 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 20.0 km
6.4 88 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 29.0 km
6.4 25 km SE of Yujing, Taiwan 23.0 km
6.4 186 km NW of Iñapari, Peru 612.0 km
6.4 7 km NNW of Pocito, Argentina 108.0 km
6.4 118 km WNW of Neiafu, Tonga 202.0 km
6.4 92 km E of Kyzyl-Eshme, Kyrgyzstan 13.0 km
6.4 133 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 14.0 km
6.4 Fiji region 567.5 km
6.4 Taiwan region 246.4 km
6.4 89 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 16.0 km
6.4 216 km S of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia 30.0 km
6.3 western Indian-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.3 49 km NNE of Al Hoceïma, Morocco 12.0 km
6.3 36 km SE of Tamisan, Philippines 65.0 km
6.3 72 km SSE of Atka, Alaska 19.0 km
6.3 193 km NE of Maumere, Indonesia 526.0 km
6.3 58 km SSE of Dompu, Indonesia 79.0 km
6.3 178 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 8.4 km
6.3 21 km SE of Curicó, Chile 90.0 km
6.3 143 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 442.0 km
6.3 91 km NNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 354.0 km
6.3 84 km SSW of Isangel, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.3 Volcano Islands, Japan region 510.0 km
6.3 Banda Sea 429.6 km
6.3 125 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia 31.0 km
6.3 Kermadec Islands region 12.0 km
6.3 106 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico 10.0 km
6.3 33 km NNW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador 21.0 km
6.3 94 km W of Waingapu, Indonesia 28.0 km
6.3 37 km W of Ovalle, Chile 29.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands region 391.0 km
6.2 42 km E of Port Heiden, Alaska 11.4 km
6.2 135 km SSW of Colonia, Micronesia 19.0 km
6.2 22 km SW of Vilavila, Peru 12.0 km
6.2 90 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 2.1 km
6.2 6 km S of Kurayoshi, Japan 5.6 km
6.2 142 km ESE of Katsuura, Japan 10.0 km
6.2 5 km WNW of Accumoli, Italy 4.4 km
6.2 49 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina 270.0 km
6.2 98 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 111.0 km
6.2 South Sandwich Islands region 14.0 km
6.2 18 km WNW of Auki, Solomon Islands 30.4 km
6.2 119 km NE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea 6.0 km
6.2 21 km W of Muisne, Ecuador 14.0 km
6.2 2 km SSE of Kumamoto, Japan 9.0 km
6.2 74 km NW of Rumoi, Japan 238.8 km
6.1 Balleny Islands region 10.0 km
6.1 151 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 26.0 km
6.1 127 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga 10.0 km
6.1 Macquarie Island region 10.0 km
6.1 Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region 8.0 km
6.1 South Georgia Island region 12.0 km
6.1 78 km SSW of Blenheim, New Zealand 14.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 9.0 km
6.1 24 km ENE of Ishinomaki, Japan 42.4 km
6.1 2 km NNW of Visso, Italy 10.0 km
6.1 71 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 167.0 km
6.1 51 km N of Moyobamba, Peru 121.0 km
6.1 179 km NE of Opotiki, New Zealand 13.7 km
6.1 279 km S of Lembar, Indonesia 19.0 km
6.1 south of the Fiji Islands 112.8 km
6.1 54 km WNW of Diego de Almagro, Chile 72.0 km
6.1 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.1 Nicaragua 10.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 43.8 km
6.1 southern East Pacific Rise 13.0 km
6.1 110 km SSW of Champerico, Guatemala 22.4 km
6.1 111 km S of Banjar, Indonesia 29.0 km
6.1 western Indian-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.1 14 km WNW of Charagua, Bolivia 582.6 km
6.0 105 km WSW of Coquimbo, Chile 12.0 km
6.0 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 Mariana Islands region 22.4 km
6.0 52 km NNW of Jayapura, Indonesia 9.0 km
6.0 149 km N of Maumere, Indonesia 533.0 km
6.0 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.0 175 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 35.0 km
6.0 114 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.0 133 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 142.6 km
6.0 58 km SSE of Shihezi, China 17.6 km
6.0 42 km WNW of Talcahuano, Chile 20.0 km
6.0 88 km WSW of San Antonio, Chile 12.6 km
6.0 99 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 52.0 km
6.0 72 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.0 32 km ENE of Mutatá, Colombia 18.0 km
6.0 115 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga 8.0 km
6.0 170 km ENE of Miyako, Japan 10.0 km
6.0 7 km NE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 27.0 km
6.0 91 km SW of Isangel, Vanuatu 15.0 km
6.0 10 km N of Muisne, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.0 116 km WSW of Yulara, Australia 10.0 km
6.0 75 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 16.0 km
6.0 83 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 16.0 km
6.0 34 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.0 5 km ENE of Uto, Japan 8.0 km
6.0 15 km NW of Siocon, Philippines 17.0 km
6.0 151 km SE of Tobelo, Indonesia 9.0 km
6.0 32 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga 10.0 km
6.0 126 km ENE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda 26.0 km
6.0 75 km S of Atka, Alaska 17.0 km

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 2016? ▼
In 2016, the USGS catalog recorded 15,388 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 147 reached M6.0 or above.
What was the strongest earthquake in 2016? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2016 reached magnitude 7.9, near 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. There were 16 M7+ events during the year.
How does 2016 compare to other years? ▼
A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2016 recorded 15,388, 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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