Global Earthquake Activity, 2025
U.S. Geological Survey data, M4.5+ events · Year in review as of December 30
The year 2025 recorded 8,445 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater—an average of 23 per day. The seismic year was dominated by a historic sequence off the Kamchatka Peninsula, where a magnitude 8.8 mainshock on July 29 triggered over 700 aftershocks through August.
Of all recorded events, 143 reached magnitude 6 or higher, and 16 exceeded magnitude 7. The most destructive event was the M7.7 Mandalay earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, which produced the highest significance rating of the year.
Monthly earthquake counts
July's count of 1,322 was more than double the monthly average of 580
Ten largest earthquakes of 2025
| 8.8 | Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia | July 29 |
| 7.8 | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | Sept 18 |
| 7.7 | Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar)most destructive | March 28 |
| 7.6 | Aomori Prefecture, Japan | Dec 8 |
| 7.6 | Cayman Islands | Feb 8 |
| 7.6 | Drake Passage | Oct 10 |
| 7.5 | Drake Passage | Aug 22 |
| 7.4 | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | Sept 13 |
| 7.4 | Eastern Kamchatka, Russia | July 20 |
| 7.4 | Drake Passage | May 2 |
Seismic activity by region
| Region | Count | Max | M6+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 1,863 | 8.8 | 30 |
| Indonesia | 686 | 6.7 | 9 |
| Japan | 605 | 7.6 | 10 |
| Papua New Guinea | 467 | 6.9 | 7 |
| Philippines | 427 | 7.4 | 7 |
| Tonga | 274 | 7.0 | 4 |
| Fiji | 227 | 6.6 | 2 |
| Vanuatu | 189 | 6.4 | 1 |
| Chile | 183 | 6.4 | 3 |
| Alaska | 163 | 7.3 | 4 |
Russia's count is elevated by the Kamchatka sequence. The Ring of Fire nations—Russia, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines—account for 48% of all M4.5+ activity.
Magnitude distribution
The Gutenberg-Richter relationship holds: each magnitude step up is roughly 10× rarer
Depth distribution: most earthquakes occur in the upper 70 km of crust