Earthquakes in December 2025: 7,837 Recorded Worldwide

7,837 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in December 2025, an average of 253 per day.

That is essentially level with the 7,539 recorded in the preceding period — global seismicity is remarkably steady from one month to the next.

The largest event of December 2025 was a magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Misawa, Japan on 08 December, at a focal depth of 44 km. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3.8 million tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, December 2025 produced 22 in the magnitude -2 range, 210 in the magnitude -1 range, 1741 in the magnitude 0 range, 3185 in the magnitude 1 range, 1467 in the magnitude 2 range, 489 in the magnitude 3 range.

94% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 6% 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 December 2025, with 382 recorded events.

Most active: the United States (7003), Puerto Rico (172), Japan (80), Russia (71), Indonesia (59).