Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2019

13,526 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2019, including 145 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.0.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

13,526
M4+ events: 145
Significant M6+: M8.0
Strongest: 91 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2019 logged 13,526 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 145 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.0.

13,526
M4+ events worldwide: 145
major M6+ events: M8.0
strongest of the year: 91 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Jun with 18 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

11,882
M5.0–5.9

1,499
M6.0–6.9

135
M7.0–7.9

9
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 145 events in 2019 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2019.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2019 (145)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2019, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.0	78 km NE of Navarro, Peru	122.6 km	May 26, 2019
7.6	48 km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	May 14, 2019
7.5	115 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador	145.0 km	Feb 22, 2019
7.3	Banda Sea	212.0 km	Jun 24, 2019
7.3	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	46.0 km	Jun 15, 2019
7.2	155 km SSE of Sofifi, Indonesia	19.0 km	Jul 14, 2019
7.1	141 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	33.0 km	Nov 14, 2019
7.1	32 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea	146.0 km	May 6, 2019
7.1	Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence	8.0 km	Jul 6, 2019
7.0	22 km NNE of Azángaro, Peru	267.0 km	Mar 1, 2019
6.9	152 km SW of Labuan, Indonesia	49.0 km	Aug 2, 2019
6.9	136 km WSW of Ternate, Indonesia	35.0 km	Jul 7, 2019
6.8	7 km S of Magsaysay, Philippines	18.0 km	Dec 15, 2019
6.8	96 km SW of San Antonio, Chile	25.0 km	Aug 1, 2019
6.8	Sulawesi, Indonesia	15.5 km	Apr 12, 2019
6.8	90 km W of Tarauacá, Brazil	570.4 km	Jan 5, 2019
6.7	70 km WSW of Constitución, Chile	11.0 km	Sep 29, 2019
6.7	Prince Edward Islands region	13.0 km	Jan 22, 2019
6.7	10 km SSW of Coquimbo, Chile	63.0 km	Jan 20, 2019
6.7	5 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	66.0 km	Feb 1, 2019
6.6	South Sandwich Islands region	16.0 km	Aug 27, 2019
6.6	136 km W of Neiafu, Tonga	10.0 km	Nov 4, 2019
6.6	Fiji region	591.0 km	Sep 1, 2019
6.6	63 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu	181.0 km	Jul 31, 2019
6.6	198 km W of Cable Beach, Australia	10.0 km	Jul 14, 2019
6.6	32 km S of La Libertad, El Salvador	57.9 km	May 30, 2019
6.6	94 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	35.0 km	Jan 15, 2019
6.6	Molucca Sea	43.2 km	Jan 6, 2019
6.6	10 km NE of Columbio, Philippines	15.0 km	Oct 29, 2019
6.5	Fiji region	577.0 km	Nov 8, 2019
6.5	2 km ENE of Bulatukan, Philippines	10.0 km	Oct 31, 2019
6.5	33 km NE of Ambon, Indonesia	12.3 km	Sep 25, 2019
6.5	South Sandwich Islands region	38.0 km	Apr 9, 2019
6.4	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	8.0 km	Apr 2, 2019
6.4	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	30.0 km	Jun 19, 2019
6.4	15 km WSW of Mamurras, Albania	22.0 km	Nov 26, 2019
6.4	61 km NNE of Isangel, Vanuatu	231.0 km	Oct 21, 2019
6.4	7 km ENE of Columbio, Philippines	16.1 km	Oct 16, 2019
6.4	108 km E of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia	10.0 km	Jun 25, 2019
6.4	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	410.0 km	Jun 28, 2019
6.4	Izu Islands, Japan region	422.0 km	Jun 4, 2019
6.4	31 km WSW of Tsuruoka, Japan	12.0 km	Jun 18, 2019
6.4	72 km W of Coquimbo, Chile	11.0 km	Jun 14, 2019
6.4	95 km N of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea	368.1 km	Feb 17, 2019
6.4	17 km ESE of Tutubigan, Philippines	56.0 km	Apr 23, 2019
6.4	South Sandwich Islands region	57.0 km	Apr 5, 2019
6.4	south of the Kermadec Islands	29.0 km	Mar 6, 2019
6.4	Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence	10.5 km	Jul 4, 2019
6.3	264 km NW of Ozernovskiy, Russia	496.0 km	Nov 20, 2019
6.3	east of the South Sandwich Islands	10.0 km	Nov 5, 2019
6.3	100 km E of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia	10.0 km	Jun 26, 2019
6.3	Kermadec Islands region	10.0 km	Jun 27, 2019
6.3	203 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	6.6 km	Dec 25, 2019
6.3	95 km SE of Adak, Alaska	20.0 km	Nov 24, 2019
6.3	125 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	15.0 km	Nov 20, 2019
6.3	north of Ascension Island	10.0 km	Oct 23, 2019
6.3	285 km W of Bandon, Oregon	10.0 km	Aug 29, 2019
6.3	61 km ENE of Namie, Japan	38.0 km	Aug 4, 2019
6.3	26 km NNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	42.0 km	Jul 15, 2019
6.3	138 km ESE of Shing?, Japan	367.0 km	Jul 27, 2019
6.3	244 km W of Abepura, Indonesia	10.0 km	Jun 19, 2019
6.3	Kermadec Islands region	21.0 km	Jun 16, 2019
6.3	164 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.3	196 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	20.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.3	Carlsberg Ridge	10.0 km	Apr 29, 2019
6.3	western Indian-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Apr 18, 2019
6.3	160 km WSW of Waingapu, Indonesia	24.0 km	Jan 22, 2019
6.3	197 km N of Likisá, Timor Leste	539.0 km	Apr 6, 2019
6.3	53 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu	119.0 km	Mar 20, 2019
6.3	16 km SSE of Nishinoomote, Japan	35.0 km	Jan 8, 2019
6.3	31 km SSE of Tarata, Bolivia	359.0 km	Mar 15, 2019
6.2	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	14.0 km	Jun 21, 2019
6.2	241 km SE of Tobi Village, Palau	5.0 km	Nov 23, 2019
6.2	147 km W of Neiafu, Tonga	10.0 km	Nov 11, 2019
6.2	43 km WNW of Sainyabuli, Laos	10.0 km	Nov 20, 2019
6.2	86 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines	73.0 km	Sep 29, 2019
6.2	250 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Jul 4, 2019
6.2	4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama	32.6 km	Jun 26, 2019
6.2	43 km ESE of Miyazaki, Japan	22.0 km	May 9, 2019
6.2	144 km NNE of Buala, Solomon Islands	27.0 km	May 3, 2019
6.2	116 km SE of Kieta, Papua New Guinea	355.0 km	Jan 26, 2019
6.2	Fiji region	588.0 km	Jan 26, 2019
6.2	northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Feb 14, 2019
6.2	164 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Jan 17, 2019
6.2	221 km E of Levuka, Fiji	578.2 km	Mar 10, 2019
6.2	31 km N of Santa Elena, Ecuador	18.0 km	Mar 31, 2019
6.2	108 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	41.0 km	Mar 30, 2019
6.2	266 km ESE of Ozernovskiy, Russia	9.0 km	Mar 28, 2019
6.1	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Dec 25, 2019
6.1	South Sandwich Islands region	8.0 km	Nov 2, 2019
6.1	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	12.0 km	Jun 17, 2019
6.1	82 km ENE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga	13.0 km	Jun 15, 2019
6.1	49 km SW of Jurm, Afghanistan	212.0 km	Dec 20, 2019
6.1	29 km SW of Illapel, Chile	53.0 km	Nov 4, 2019
6.1	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	34.0 km	Sep 27, 2019
6.1	30 km W of Villa La Angostura, Argentina	129.0 km	Sep 26, 2019
6.1	81 km NNE of Lasem, Indonesia	610.0 km	Sep 19, 2019
6.1	169 km NW of Naze, Japan	251.0 km	Jul 13, 2019
6.1	230 km W of Abepura, Indonesia	28.0 km	Jun 24, 2019
6.1	34 km ESE of Pondaguitan, Philippines	98.7 km	May 31, 2019
6.1	3 km WSW of San Francisco, Philippines	21.8 km	Apr 22, 2019
6.1	8 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan	20.0 km	Apr 18, 2019
6.1	146 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	45.0 km	Mar 24, 2019
6.1	3 km WSW of Versalles, Colombia	122.0 km	Mar 23, 2019
6.0	135 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia	23.0 km	Nov 14, 2019
6.0	Vanuatu	10.0 km	Nov 6, 2019
6.0	23 km ENE of Sola, Vanuatu	19.0 km	Nov 5, 2019
6.0	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Oct 1, 2019
6.0	Southwest Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Sep 24, 2019
6.0	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Aug 2, 2019
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 23, 2019
6.0	179 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea	495.2 km	Jul 11, 2019
6.0	108 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga	10.0 km	Jun 2, 2019
6.0	56 km SSE of Sola, Vanuatu	7.5 km	Dec 14, 2019
6.0	60 km NNE of Isangel, Vanuatu	266.0 km	Dec 4, 2019
6.0	16 km WNW of El Hoyo, Argentina	572.4 km	Dec 24, 2019
6.0	1 km NE of Lejanías, Colombia	11.0 km	Dec 24, 2019
6.0	127 km SW of Adak, Alaska	28.0 km	Dec 2, 2019
6.0	189 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 23, 2019
6.0	201 km W of Port McNeill, Canada	10.0 km	Dec 23, 2019
6.0	159 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Dec 6, 2019
6.0	29 km W of Arica, Chile	38.0 km	Dec 3, 2019
6.0	45 km WNW of Kíssamos, Greece	69.0 km	Nov 27, 2019
6.0	Santa Cruz Islands	37.0 km	Aug 20, 2019
6.0	67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico	10.0 km	Sep 24, 2019
6.0	61 km SW of Sola, Vanuatu	115.0 km	Aug 24, 2019
6.0	western Indian-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Aug 21, 2019
6.0	43 km N of Basco, Philippines	9.0 km	Jul 26, 2019
6.0	40 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu	91.0 km	Jul 1, 2019
6.0	132 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga	177.8 km	May 30, 2019
6.0	127 km WSW of Adak, Alaska	30.0 km	May 23, 2019
6.0	176 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	16.0 km	May 19, 2019
6.0	1 km W of Breñón, Panama	19.0 km	May 12, 2019
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	385.6 km	Apr 23, 2019
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	79.0 km	Apr 22, 2019
6.0	94 km WSW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	30.0 km	Apr 12, 2019
6.0	121 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	15.4 km	Apr 12, 2019
6.0	143 km NE of Miyako, Japan	18.0 km	Apr 11, 2019
6.0	40 km N of Santa Monica, Philippines	30.0 km	Mar 8, 2019
6.0	67 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu	38.7 km	Jan 18, 2019
6.0	142 km WSW of Waingapu, Indonesia	26.0 km	Jan 21, 2019
6.0	262 km NE of Port Mathurin, Mauritius	10.0 km	Apr 1, 2019
6.0	162 km ENE of Samarai, Papua New Guinea	9.0 km	Mar 10, 2019
6.0	Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands	144.3 km	Feb 12, 2019
6.0	170 km WSW of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia	20.0 km	Feb 2, 2019

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 2019? ▼

In 2019, the USGS catalog recorded 13,526 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 145 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2019? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2019 reached magnitude 8.0, near 78 km NE of Navarro, Peru. There were 9 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2019 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2019 recorded 13,526, with an average depth of 91 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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