Earthquakes in January 2026: 8,848 Recorded Worldwide

8,848 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in January 2026, an average of 285 per day.

That is up 13% on the 7,837 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 January 2026 was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia on 10 January, at a focal depth of 76 km. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake radiates roughly 169,203 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, January 2026 produced 31 in the magnitude -2 range, 289 in the magnitude -1 range, 1942 in the magnitude 0 range, 3969 in the magnitude 1 range, 1559 in the magnitude 2 range, 407 in the magnitude 3 range.

93% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 7% 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 20 January 2026, with 605 recorded events.

Most active: the United States (7965), Puerto Rico (183), Russia (67), Indonesia (65), the Philippines (60).