Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2020

13,934 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2020, including 121 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M7.8.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

13,934
M4+ events: 121
Significant M6+: M7.8
Strongest: 91 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2020 logged 13,934 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 121 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 7.8.

13,934
M4+ events worldwide: 121
major M6+ events: M7.8
strongest of the year: 91 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Jan with 15 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

12,486
M5.0–5.9

1,327
M6.0–6.9

112
M7.0–7.9

9

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 121 events in 2020 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2020.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2020 (121)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2020, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.8	2020 Perryville, Alaska Earthquake	28.0 km	Jul 22, 2020
7.7	123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica	14.9 km	Jan 28, 2020
7.6	2020 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake	28.4 km	Oct 19, 2020
7.5	221 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia	57.8 km	Mar 25, 2020
7.4	9 km SE of Santa María Xadani, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 23, 2020
7.4	south of the Kermadec Islands	10.0 km	Jun 18, 2020
7.0	114 km NNW of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea	73.0 km	Jul 17, 2020
7.0	95 km ENE of Kuril’sk, Russia	143.0 km	Feb 13, 2020
7.0	13 km NNE of Néon Karlovásion, Greece	21.0 km	Oct 30, 2020
6.9	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Sep 18, 2020
6.9	122 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia	26.0 km	Aug 18, 2020
6.9	222 km SSE of Katabu, Indonesia	624.0 km	Aug 21, 2020
6.8	86 km NW of Vallenar, Chile	21.0 km	Sep 1, 2020
6.8	138 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia	22.0 km	Aug 18, 2020
6.8	48 km SW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile	112.0 km	Jun 3, 2020
6.8	Banda Sea	96.0 km	May 6, 2020
6.7	146 km WNW of Corral, Chile	10.0 km	Dec 27, 2020
6.7	13 km N of Do?anyol, Turkey	10.0 km	Jan 24, 2020
6.7	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Sep 6, 2020
6.6	13 km E of San Pedro, Philippines	10.0 km	Aug 18, 2020
6.6	Java Sea	533.8 km	Jul 6, 2020
6.6	130 km WNW of Naze, Japan	165.0 km	Jun 13, 2020
6.6	175 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	107.0 km	May 12, 2020
6.6	Bonin Islands, Japan region	453.0 km	Apr 18, 2020
6.5	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Aug 30, 2020
6.5	94 km NW of Vallenar, Chile	16.0 km	Sep 1, 2020
6.5	91 km S of Néa Anatolí, Greece	10.0 km	May 2, 2020
6.5	Stanley, Idaho	12.1 km	Mar 31, 2020
6.5	Monte Cristo Range, NV Earthquake	2.7 km	May 15, 2020
6.4	2 km WSW of Petrinja, Croatia	10.0 km	Dec 29, 2020
6.4	69 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu	181.9 km	Aug 5, 2020
6.4	39 km NE of Pangai, Tonga	28.0 km	Oct 1, 2020
6.4	11 km SW of Polloc, Philippines	483.0 km	Aug 1, 2020
6.4	South Sandwich Islands region	10.0 km	Jul 26, 2020
6.4	133 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia	112.9 km	Jun 4, 2020
6.4	Kermadec Islands region	11.0 km	Mar 14, 2020
6.4	Chukotskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia	10.0 km	Jan 9, 2020
6.4	4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico	6.0 km	Jan 7, 2020
6.4	46 km ESE of Nikolski, Alaska	23.0 km	Dec 1, 2020
6.4	88 km SSE of Sovetskaya Gavan’, Russia	589.0 km	Nov 30, 2020
6.4	21 km WNW of Esso, Russia	344.0 km	Sep 15, 2020
6.3	2 km ESE of Calatagan, Philippines	109.0 km	Dec 24, 2020
6.3	100 km ENE of Hachinohe, Japan	35.0 km	Dec 20, 2020
6.3	40 km ENE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea	106.0 km	Oct 8, 2020
6.3	17 km E of Talagutong, Philippines	120.0 km	Sep 6, 2020
6.3	40 km NW of Ovalle, Chile	30.0 km	Sep 6, 2020
6.3	78 km NW of Vallenar, Chile	16.2 km	Sep 1, 2020
6.3	Prince Edward Islands region	10.0 km	Aug 6, 2020
6.3	western Xizang	10.0 km	Jul 22, 2020
6.3	278 km SE of Hotan, China	10.0 km	Jun 25, 2020
6.3	31 km SE of ?funato, Japan	38.0 km	Apr 19, 2020
6.3	102 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Jan 27, 2020
6.3	14 km S of Sinabang, Indonesia	17.0 km	Jan 7, 2020
6.3	70 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina	189.0 km	Nov 30, 2020
6.2	141 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	22.0 km	Aug 25, 2020
6.2	Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands	622.0 km	Jun 13, 2020
6.2	82 km NNE of Tocopilla, Chile	51.0 km	Sep 11, 2020
6.2	104 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	10.0 km	Sep 6, 2020
6.2	257 km N of Fais, Micronesia	10.0 km	Jul 6, 2020
6.2	51 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	9.7 km	May 27, 2020
6.2	249 km S of Nusa Dua, Indonesia	20.7 km	Mar 18, 2020
6.2	113 km NNE of Bangkalan, Indonesia	592.4 km	Feb 5, 2020
6.2	84 km W of Adak, Alaska	10.0 km	Jan 23, 2020
6.2	83 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga	34.0 km	Nov 7, 2020
6.2	72 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	10.0 km	Sep 7, 2020
6.1	90 km SW of Angaur State, Palau	11.0 km	Dec 23, 2020
6.1	25 km S of Sarangani, Philippines	14.0 km	Dec 15, 2020
6.1	south of the Fiji Islands	454.0 km	Oct 23, 2020
6.1	199 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Aug 1, 2020
6.1	215 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea	471.2 km	May 7, 2020
6.1	Mid-Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Apr 12, 2020
6.1	central East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Mar 22, 2020
6.1	South Sandwich Islands region	93.0 km	Jan 20, 2020
6.1	100 km WNW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	74.0 km	Oct 1, 2020
6.1	south of Africa	10.0 km	Sep 26, 2020
6.1	58 km SE of ?funato, Japan	34.0 km	Sep 12, 2020
6.1	Chagos Archipelago region	10.0 km	Aug 31, 2020
6.1	239 km E of Port Blair, India	10.0 km	Jul 17, 2020
6.1	75 km SW of Sand Point, Alaska	35.1 km	Jul 28, 2020
6.1	101 km ESE of Sand Point, Alaska	16.5 km	Jul 22, 2020
6.1	141 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	12.0 km	Jul 18, 2020
6.1	19 km SW of Vilavila, Peru	186.0 km	May 31, 2020
6.1	173 km ESE of La Playa, Mexico	10.0 km	May 22, 2020
6.1	99 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	176.0 km	Mar 18, 2020
6.1	140 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	19.0 km	Apr 25, 2020
6.1	59 km NNE of Savannah Bight, Honduras	12.0 km	Apr 16, 2020
6.1	27 km SW of Burias, Philippines	59.0 km	Mar 26, 2020
6.1	240 km WSW of Adak, Alaska	17.0 km	Jan 26, 2020
6.1	127 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	34.0 km	Feb 9, 2020
6.1	55 km SE of East End, Cayman Islands	10.0 km	Jan 28, 2020
6.1	108 km SE of Gorontalo, Indonesia	121.7 km	Jan 19, 2020
6.1	27 km E of Yilan, Taiwan	71.0 km	Dec 10, 2020
6.1	115 km E of Iquique, Chile	105.0 km	Dec 6, 2020
6.1	100 km NW of Constitución, Chile	22.0 km	Nov 22, 2020
6.0	141 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	23.0 km	Aug 25, 2020
6.0	Fiji region	605.2 km	Jul 21, 2020
6.0	southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Jun 10, 2020
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	69.8 km	Jun 3, 2020
6.0	Southwest Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Mar 6, 2020
6.0	South Sandwich Islands region	16.0 km	Feb 8, 2020
6.0	75 km NNE of Calama, Chile	114.0 km	Dec 14, 2020
6.0	66 km NNE of Kilindoni, Tanzania	17.6 km	Aug 12, 2020
6.0	97 km SE of Gorontalo, Indonesia	109.0 km	Jun 23, 2020
6.0	27 km NNE of Siglufjörður, Iceland	10.0 km	Jun 21, 2020
6.0	111 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga	10.0 km	May 28, 2020
6.0	Kermadec Islands region	31.0 km	Apr 14, 2020
6.0	124 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia	42.0 km	Apr 5, 2020
6.0	171 km E of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Mar 17, 2020
6.0	273 km SW of Tual, Indonesia	54.0 km	Feb 26, 2020
6.0	37 km ESE of Özalp, Turkey	10.0 km	Feb 23, 2020
6.0	70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands	85.0 km	Jan 29, 2020
6.0	109 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines	19.0 km	Feb 6, 2020
6.0	104 km ENE of Kashgar, China	5.5 km	Jan 19, 2020
6.0	146 km W of Abepura, Indonesia	44.0 km	Jan 18, 2020
6.0	130 km ENE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea	117.0 km	Jan 7, 2020
6.0	Off the coast of Aisen, Chile	10.0 km	Nov 3, 2020
6.0	4 km SSW of Jacó, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Aug 24, 2020
6.0	Balleny Islands region	10.0 km	Dec 1, 2020
6.0	291 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga	417.0 km	Nov 11, 2020
6.0	222 km SSW of Padang, Indonesia	19.0 km	Nov 17, 2020
6.0	5 km S of Marihatag, Philippines	43.0 km	Nov 15, 2020

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 2020? ▼

In 2020, the USGS catalog recorded 13,934 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 121 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2020? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2020 reached magnitude 7.8, near 2020 Perryville, Alaska Earthquake. There were 9 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2020 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2020 recorded 13,934, 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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