Earthquakes in December 2024: 9,840 Recorded Worldwide

9,840 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in December 2024, an average of 317 per day.

That is up 158% on the 3,820 recorded in the preceding period. Short-term swings almost always reflect an aftershock sequence following one larger event rather than any global change.

The largest event of December 2024 was a magnitude 7.3 earthquake near Port-Vila, Vanuatu on 17 December, at a focal depth of 57 km. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1.3 million tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, December 2024 produced 9 in the magnitude -2 range, 660 in the magnitude -1 range, 2122 in the magnitude 0 range, 4163 in the magnitude 1 range, 1757 in the magnitude 2 range, 446 in the magnitude 3 range.

94% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 5% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

The busiest single day was 09 December 2024, with 570 recorded events.

Most active: the United States (8253), Puerto Rico (62), Indonesia (45), ኢትዮጵያ (37), Canada (31).