Earthquakes in May 2025: 7,783 Recorded Worldwide

7,783 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in May 2025, an average of 251 per day.

That is down 10% on the 8,666 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 May 2025 was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake near Ushuaia, Argentina on 02 May, at a focal depth of 48 km. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake radiates roughly 2.7 million tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, May 2025 produced 21 in the magnitude -2 range, 398 in the magnitude -1 range, 2082 in the magnitude 0 range, 3364 in the magnitude 1 range, 965 in the magnitude 2 range, 257 in the magnitude 3 range.

93% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 7% intermediate (70–300 km) and 1% 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 07 May 2025, with 356 recorded events.