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Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2023

In 2023, USGS catalogued 16,178 M4+ earthquakes worldwide, including 147 significant M6+ events.

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