PlainQuake

Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2023

16,178 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2023, including 147 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M7.8.

16,178
M4+ events
147
Significant M6+
M7.8
Strongest
86 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2023 logged 16,178 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 147 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 7.8.

16,178
M4+ events worldwide
147
major M6+ events
M7.8
strongest of the year
86 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Oct with 17 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

Magnitude breakdown - 2023

How 2023's 16,178 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 2023 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2023

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2023.

Jan

11

Feb

14

Mar

11

Apr

14

May

15

Jun

10

Jul

8

Aug

9

Sep

11

Oct

17

Nov

12

Dec

15

Significant earthquakes in 2023 (147)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2023, strongest impact first.

Mag Location Depth
7.8 Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence 10.0 km
7.7 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 18.1 km
7.6 19 km E of Gamut, Philippines 40.0 km
7.6 82 km WNW of Hihifo, Tonga 210.0 km
7.6 Pulau Pulau Tanimbar, Indonesia 105.0 km
7.5 Elbistan earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence 7.4 km
7.2 2023 Sand Point, Alaska Earthquake 25.0 km
7.2 274 km SW of Houma, Tonga 179.0 km
7.1 118 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu 48.0 km
7.1 Banda Sea 6.0 km
7.1 180 km NNE of Gili Air, Indonesia 500.0 km
7.1 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 27.3 km
7.1 171 km SSE of Teluk Dalam, Indonesia 34.0 km
7.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 46.8 km
7.0 Java, Indonesia 597.0 km
7.0 40 km ESE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 70.0 km
7.0 Kermadec Islands region 10.0 km
7.0 156 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia 29.7 km
7.0 23 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 29.0 km
6.9 34 km ENE of Aras-asan, Philippines 20.0 km
6.9 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 22.2 km
6.9 48 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea 52.0 km
6.9 132 km NW of Neiafu, Tonga 229.0 km
6.9 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 211.0 km
6.9 65 km WSW of Murghob, Tajikistan 9.0 km
6.8 Al Haouz, Morocco 19.0 km
6.8 Prince Edward Islands region 28.0 km
6.8 14 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador 68.0 km
6.8 29 km SW of Campo Gallo, Argentina 596.8 km
6.7 97 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.7 32 km SW of Kablalan, Philippines 52.0 km
6.7 Banda Sea 10.0 km
6.7 Banda Sea 10.0 km
6.7 54 km SE of Madang, Papua New Guinea 55.0 km
6.7 south of the Fiji Islands 580.0 km
6.7 14 km E of Nurda??, Turkey 9.8 km
6.6 47 km ENE of Hinatuan, Philippines 19.0 km
6.6 80 km WSW of Vallenar, Chile 34.0 km
6.6 south of the Kermadec Islands 79.0 km
6.6 19 km SE of Loncopué, Argentina 186.0 km
6.6 278 km NNE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda 14.0 km
6.6 south of the Fiji Islands 563.0 km
6.6 106 km NW of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 600.9 km
6.5 115 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia 31.0 km
6.5 44 km E of Wewak, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.5 185 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji 560.0 km
6.5 35 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 188.0 km
6.5 43 km S of Intipucá, El Salvador 70.8 km
6.5 45 km NE of Puerto Obaldía, Panama 13.0 km
6.5 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 10.0 km
6.5 23 km SSE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia 101.0 km
6.5 40 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan 192.0 km
6.5 83 km WSW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 17.0 km
6.4 47 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 35.0 km
6.4 78 km NNW of Adak, Alaska 174.0 km
6.4 65 km E of Sarangani, Philippines 113.0 km
6.4 96 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 13.0 km
6.4 Gulf of California 4.0 km
6.4 8 km SE of Canillá, Guatemala 252.0 km
6.4 86 km WSW of El Aguilar, Argentina 228.0 km
6.4 Santiago del Estero, Argentina 580.0 km
6.3 146 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia 33.0 km
6.3 63 km ENE of Barcelona, Philippines 46.4 km
6.3 34 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan 9.0 km
6.3 west of Macquarie Island 10.0 km
6.3 24 km NNW of Herāt, Afghanistan 8.0 km
6.3 25 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan 8.0 km
6.3 32 km NNE of Zindah Jān, Afghanistan 14.0 km
6.3 191 km N of Hirara, Japan 176.0 km
6.3 38 km SSW of Coquimbo, Chile 36.0 km
6.3 Offshore Chiapas, Mexico 34.0 km
6.3 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 14.8 km
6.3 30 km NNE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 40.0 km
6.3 73 km S of Boca Chica, Panama 16.0 km
6.3 105 km WSW of Constitución, Chile 26.0 km
6.3 118 km E of Madang, Papua New Guinea 213.0 km
6.3 172 km N of Tobelo, Indonesia 92.0 km
6.3 2 km NNW of Uzunba?, Turkey 16.0 km
6.3 Bonin Islands, Japan region 405.0 km
6.2 11 km E of Iray, Peru 93.0 km
6.2 174 km NW of Fangale’ounga, Tonga 248.0 km
6.2 69 km N of Namuac, Philippines 31.1 km
6.2 17 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 554.0 km
6.2 Santiago del Estero, Argentina 575.0 km
6.2 south of Tonga 9.0 km
6.2 96 km ESE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea 23.8 km
6.2 254 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga 16.0 km
6.2 Mindoro, Philippines 112.0 km
6.2 20 km WSW of Biratori, Japan 121.0 km
6.2 Banda Sea 158.0 km
6.2 49 km NE of Anamizu, Japan 10.0 km
6.2 Banda Sea 4.0 km
6.2 124 km E of Gigmoto, Philippines 10.0 km
6.2 Solomon Islands 79.0 km
6.2 33 km ENE of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 34.0 km
6.1 south of Africa 10.0 km
6.1 116 km SE of Adak, Alaska 20.0 km
6.1 41 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 36.1 km
6.1 South Indian Ocean 9.0 km
6.1 126 km WNW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.1 Banda Sea 10.0 km
6.1 20 km NE of Kupang, Indonesia 51.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.1 62 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu 125.0 km
6.1 Vanuatu 185.0 km
6.1 West Chile Rise 10.0 km
6.1 13 km E of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 137.0 km
6.1 10 km E of El Calvario, Colombia 10.0 km
6.1 Mariana Islands region 8.0 km
6.1 105 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga 42.0 km
6.1 241 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga 22.0 km
6.1 12 km SE of Narutō, Japan 42.0 km
6.1 290 km E of Vao, New Caledonia 10.0 km
6.1 55 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 82.3 km
6.1 77 km SW of Padangsidempuan, Indonesia 84.0 km
6.1 130 km SSW of Tual, Indonesia 39.7 km
6.1 9 km NNE of Miaga, Philippines 8.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 354.0 km
6.1 40 km WSW of Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe 162.0 km
6.1 40 km SE of Singkil, Indonesia 37.0 km
6.0 49 km NE of Barcelona, Philippines 9.0 km
6.0 58 km E of Marihatag, Philippines 13.0 km
6.0 91 km W of Tobelo, Indonesia 102.0 km
6.0 53 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu 68.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.0 61 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 253.0 km
6.0 Izu Islands, Japan region 10.0 km
6.0 38 km NNE of Ternate, Indonesia 151.0 km
6.0 101 km N of Palu, Indonesia 13.0 km
6.0 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 Prince Edward Islands region 10.0 km
6.0 665 km S of Suva, Fiji 523.0 km
6.0 south of Africa 8.0 km
6.0 261 km SSW of ‘Ohonua, Tonga 20.0 km
6.0 Tonga 222.0 km
6.0 West Chile Rise 10.0 km
6.0 south of the Fiji Islands 587.6 km
6.0 237 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada 7.0 km
6.0 Hokkaido, Japan region 37.0 km
6.0 Hokkaido, Japan region 55.0 km
6.0 12 km W of Çelikhan, Turkey 10.0 km
6.0 4 km NNE of Göksun, Turkey 8.5 km
6.0 1 km NW of Babag, Philippines 19.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 131.0 km
6.0 62 km SSE of Gorontalo, Indonesia 154.0 km
6.0 44 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan 203.0 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 2023? ▼
In 2023, the USGS catalog recorded 16,178 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 147 reached M6.0 or above.
What was the strongest earthquake in 2023? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2023 reached magnitude 7.8, near Pazarcik earthquake, Kahramanmaras earthquake sequence. There were 19 M7+ events during the year.
How does 2023 compare to other years? ▼
A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2023 recorded 16,178, with an average depth of 86 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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