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Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2018

14,495 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2018, including 133 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.2.

14,495
M4+ events
133
Significant M6+
M8.2
Strongest
101 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2018 logged 14,495 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 133 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.2.

14,495
M4+ events worldwide
133
major M6+ events
M8.2
strongest of the year
101 km
average hypocentral depth

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

Magnitude breakdown - 2018

How 2018's 14,495 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 - 133 events in 2018 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2018

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2018.

Jan

11

Feb

11

Mar

8

Apr

7

May

6

Jun

1

Jul

10

Aug

23

Sep

12

Oct

17

Nov

14

Dec

14

Significant earthquakes in 2018 (134)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2018, strongest impact first.

Mag Location Depth
8.2 2018 Fiji Earthquake 600.0 km
7.9 261 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska 14.1 km
7.9 45 km S of Levuka, Fiji 670.8 km
7.5 72 km N of Palu, Indonesia 20.0 km
7.5 166 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 10.0 km
7.5 32 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea 25.2 km
7.5 203 km NNE of Barra Patuca, Honduras 19.0 km
7.3 40 km ENE of Carúpano, Venezuela 146.8 km
7.3 187 km SE of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia 16.6 km
7.2 4 km S of Pinotepa de Don Luis, Mexico 22.0 km
7.1 South Sandwich Islands region 133.0 km
7.1 238 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 21.4 km
7.1 136 km W of Iñapari, Peru 630.0 km
7.1 1 km SE of Point MacKenzie, Alaska 46.7 km
7.1 37 km W of Atiquipa, Peru 39.0 km
7.0 96 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 60.2 km
7.0 119 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 39.0 km
6.9 Kermadec Islands region 115.0 km
6.9 18 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii 5.8 km
6.9 150 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 35.0 km
6.9 36 km NW of Labuan Lombok, Indonesia 34.0 km
6.9 20 km NNW of Labuan Lombok, Indonesia 21.0 km
6.8 187 km E of Levuka, Fiji 540.0 km
6.8 32 km SW of Lithakiá, Greece 14.0 km
6.8 210 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.8 103 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 22.9 km
6.8 38 km SE of Boyuibe, Bolivia 559.0 km
6.7 269 km WNW of Ozernovskiy, Russia 461.0 km
6.7 279 km E of Levuka, Fiji 550.0 km
6.7 120 km NW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen 10.0 km
6.7 62 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea 20.5 km
6.7 140 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 40.0 km
6.6 199 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 10.0 km
6.6 27 km ESE of Chitose, Japan 35.0 km
6.6 southwest of Africa 10.0 km
6.5 171 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia 17.0 km
6.5 154 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 20.0 km
6.5 south of the Fiji Islands 576.0 km
6.5 66 km NW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 68.0 km
6.5 78 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu 9.0 km
6.5 108 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 33.9 km
6.5 124 km N of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia 529.0 km
6.5 237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.5 223 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 South Sandwich Islands region 15.0 km
6.4 284 km ESE of Labasa, Fiji 415.6 km
6.4 211 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 55.0 km
6.4 89 km SW of Kaktovik, Alaska 15.8 km
6.4 33 km NNW of Labuan Lombok, Indonesia 14.0 km
6.4 72 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 167.0 km
6.4 91 km SW of Pangai, Tonga 113.0 km
6.4 226 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste 136.0 km
6.4 Banda Sea 169.0 km
6.4 18 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 17.0 km
6.3 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.3 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.3 171 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 12.0 km
6.3 240 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 12.0 km
6.3 Fiji region 575.8 km
6.3 97 km SW of Adak, Alaska 20.0 km
6.3 Drake Passage 10.0 km
6.3 160 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia 10.0 km
6.3 Volcano Islands, Japan region 20.0 km
6.3 19 km NNW of Labuan Lombok, Indonesia 16.0 km
6.3 99 km ENE of Misawa, Japan 31.0 km
6.3 100 km ESE of Arica, Chile 116.0 km
6.3 79 km NNE of Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.3 15 km SW of Sarpol-e Z?ah?b, Iran 18.0 km
6.3 North Atlantic Ocean 10.0 km
6.3 southeast of Easter Island 10.0 km
6.3 150 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 33.0 km
6.3 59 km SW of Mendi, Papua New Guinea 19.0 km
6.3 45 km W of Tari, Papua New Guinea 18.1 km
6.3 188 km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.2 136 km E of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 km
6.2 91 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 121.0 km
6.2 92 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia 14.0 km
6.2 7 km WNW of Manay, Philippines 10.0 km
6.2 8 km SE of Alausí, Ecuador 110.5 km
6.2 272 km W of Bandon, Oregon 10.0 km
6.2 259 km ESE of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia 11.2 km
6.2 115 km NE of Iquique, Chile 102.0 km
6.2 36 km NW of Ishqoshim, Tajikistan 116.0 km
6.2 56 km SW of Ovalle, Chile 66.0 km
6.2 37 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 193.7 km
6.1 161 km SE of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia 10.0 km
6.1 71 km SSW of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia 49.0 km
6.1 79 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga 35.0 km
6.1 142 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 19.0 km
6.1 136 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 41.6 km
6.1 57 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia 5.0 km
6.1 South Sandwich Islands region 25.0 km
6.1 south of the Fiji Islands 92.0 km
6.1 west of Macquarie Island 10.0 km
6.1 194 km WNW of Ambon, Indonesia 9.0 km
6.1 85 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador 22.0 km
6.1 19 km NNW of Golfito, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.1 93 km E of Ozernovskiy, Russia 45.0 km
6.1 27 km WSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 28.0 km
6.1 62 km E of Waitara, New Zealand 225.5 km
6.1 153 km SSW of Abepura, Indonesia 62.0 km
6.1 south of the Kermadec Islands 11.0 km
6.1 63 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea 16.0 km
6.1 64 km NNW of Pandan, Philippines 18.0 km
6.1 22 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 12.0 km
6.0 95 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu 42.0 km
6.0 298 km E of Dolinsk, Russia 433.0 km
6.0 99 km S of Waingapu, Indonesia 29.0 km
6.0 Southwest Indian Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 261 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 27.0 km
6.0 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 35.0 km
6.0 178 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 9.0 km
6.0 Easter Island region 10.0 km
6.0 southeast Indian Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 254 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna 10.0 km
6.0 10 km SSE of Sapad, Philippines 600.7 km
6.0 32 km SW of Jav?nr?d, Iran 10.0 km
6.0 214 km NNW of Kilmia, Yemen 10.0 km
6.0 73 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska 16.2 km
6.0 192 km NNW of Kilmia, Yemen 10.0 km
6.0 177 km NNE of Maumere, Indonesia 578.2 km
6.0 118 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 38.0 km
6.0 91 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 29.6 km
6.0 215 km E of Levuka, Fiji 556.9 km
6.0 36 km SE of Mountain, Colombia 10.0 km
6.0 87 km SE of King Cove, Alaska 31.0 km
6.0 49 km NE of Panji, Indonesia 9.0 km
6.0 66 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.0 Prince Edward Islands region 10.0 km
6.0 88 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia 34.0 km
6.0 40 km WSW of Pyu, Myanmar 9.0 km
6.0 154 km SE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
6.0 43 km ESE of Tarragona, Philippines 34.0 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 2018? ▼
In 2018, the USGS catalog recorded 14,495 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 133 reached M6.0 or above.
What was the strongest earthquake in 2018? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2018 reached magnitude 8.2, near 2018 Fiji Earthquake. There were 16 M7+ events during the year.
How does 2018 compare to other years? ▼
A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2018 recorded 14,495, with an average depth of 101 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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