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Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2024

14,132 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2024, including 99 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M7.5.

14,132
M4+ events
99
Significant M6+
M7.5
Strongest
93 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2024 logged 14,132 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 99 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 7.5.

14,132
M4+ events worldwide
99
major M6+ events
M7.5
strongest of the year
93 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Jan with 12 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

Magnitude breakdown - 2024

How 2024's 14,132 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 - 99 events in 2024 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2024

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2024.

Jan

12

Feb

4

Mar

8

Apr

12

May

8

Jun

7

Jul

9

Aug

10

Sep

8

Oct

7

Nov

5

Dec

9

Significant earthquakes in 2024 (99)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2024, strongest impact first.

Mag Location Depth
7.5 2024 Noto Peninsula, Japan Earthquake 10.0 km
7.4 41 km ESE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile 127.3 km
7.4 15 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 40.0 km
7.3 24 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 54.4 km
7.2 10 km WSW of Atiquipa, Peru 24.0 km
7.1 2024 Hyuganada Sea, Japan Earthquake 24.0 km
7.1 106 km WSW of Sangay, Philippines 639.5 km
7.0 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake 10.0 km
7.0 102 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia 29.0 km
7.0 128 km WNW of Aykol, China 13.0 km
6.9 75 km W of Pangai, Tonga 96.0 km
6.9 36 km ENE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 41.5 km
6.8 Kuril Islands 146.0 km
6.8 42 km SSW of Bartolomé Masó, Cuba 14.0 km
6.8 20 km E of Barcelona, Philippines 32.0 km
6.8 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 222.0 km
6.8 Macquarie Island region 23.2 km
6.7 93 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines 62.6 km
6.6 122 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 56.0 km
6.6 125 km SE of Neiafu, Tonga 10.0 km
6.6 south of Africa 4.0 km
6.6 70 km NW of Fangale’ounga, Tonga 137.0 km
6.6 123 km NW of Tarauacá, Brazil 607.0 km
6.5 271 km WNW of Port McNeill, Canada 3.8 km
6.5 151 km E of Dolinsk, Russia 402.2 km
6.5 Bonin Islands, Japan region 496.0 km
6.5 111 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 49.0 km
6.5 70 km W of Tarauacá, Brazil 621.1 km
6.4 56 km ESE of Molina, Chile 109.0 km
6.4 56 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 39.0 km
6.4 209 km WSW of Tofino, Canada 10.0 km
6.4 28 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico 61.9 km
6.4 150 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia 22.0 km
6.4 15 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan 13.9 km
6.4 Vanuatu region 10.0 km
6.4 110 km N of Paciran, Indonesia 9.5 km
6.4 148 km NW of Fangale’ounga, Tonga 209.0 km
6.4 45 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 204.0 km
6.3 104 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 19.0 km
6.3 108 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 18.0 km
6.3 239 km WNW of Cochrane, Chile 10.0 km
6.3 Mauritius - Reunion region 10.0 km
6.3 266 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 31.0 km
6.3 168 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 8.0 km
6.3 44 km E of Barcelona, Philippines 15.0 km
6.3 49 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 149.0 km
6.3 83 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 22.0 km
6.3 18 km W of Uwajima, Japan 32.0 km
6.3 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.3 39 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 31.0 km
6.2 146 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 40.0 km
6.2 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica 16.0 km
6.2 59 km NNE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea 7.0 km
6.2 6 km E of Jalapa, Guatemala 272.0 km
6.2 Bonin Islands, Japan region 546.0 km
6.2 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands region 16.0 km
6.2 Prince Edward Islands region 10.0 km
6.2 137 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 10.0 km
6.2 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.2 Southwest Indian Ridge 10.0 km
6.2 8 km SW of Anamizu, Japan 10.0 km
6.1 33 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu 47.0 km
6.1 126 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 10.0 km
6.1 38 km WNW of Hakui, Japan 8.0 km
6.1 156 km SSE of Koshima, Japan 8.0 km
6.1 260 km ESE of Baubau, Indonesia 576.0 km
6.1 56 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador 26.4 km
6.1 30 km SSE of Hualien City, Taiwan 14.0 km
6.1 99 km NE of Norsup, Vanuatu 4.0 km
6.1 34 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru 18.0 km
6.1 101 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu 19.2 km
6.1 154 km WSW of Fakfak, Indonesia 16.0 km
6.1 91 km S of Banjar, Indonesia 59.7 km
6.1 13 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan 10.0 km
6.1 29 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan 9.0 km
6.1 77 km E of Minami-Sōma, Japan 29.0 km
6.1 Macquarie Island region 10.0 km
6.1 Volcano Islands, Japan region 236.0 km
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 13.0 km
6.1 15 km W of Taxisco, Guatemala 90.0 km
6.1 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 184.0 km
6.0 Kuril Islands 207.0 km
6.0 267 km W of Bandon, Oregon 10.0 km
6.0 126 km N of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 509.0 km
6.0 19 km W of Doğanyol, Turkey 10.0 km
6.0 67 km SSW of Gorontalo, Indonesia 143.0 km
6.0 95 km NNW of Villa General Roca, Argentina 141.0 km
6.0 117 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia 26.0 km
6.0 65 km W of Pangai, Tonga 99.3 km
6.0 73 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga 9.0 km
6.0 168 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska 41.0 km
6.0 20 km NE of Yaguaraparo, Venezuela 77.0 km
6.0 10 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru 27.0 km
6.0 west of Macquarie Island 7.7 km
6.0 169 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska 28.0 km
6.0 68 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 44.0 km
6.0 103 km SE of Pondaguitan, Philippines 115.0 km
6.0 171 km NNE of Colonia, Micronesia 14.0 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 2024? ▼
In 2024, the USGS catalog recorded 14,132 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 99 reached M6.0 or above.
What was the strongest earthquake in 2024? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2024 reached magnitude 7.5, near 2024 Noto Peninsula, Japan Earthquake. There were 10 M7+ events during the year.
How does 2024 compare to other years? ▼
A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2024 recorded 14,132, with an average depth of 93 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.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.