Earthquakes in March 2026: 9,803 Recorded Worldwide

9,803 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in March 2026, an average of 316 per day.

That is up 22% on the 8,062 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 March 2026 was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake near Neiafu, Tonga on 24 March, at a focal depth of 229 km. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake radiates roughly 2.7 million tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, March 2026 produced 14 in the magnitude -2 range, 150 in the magnitude -1 range, 2073 in the magnitude 0 range, 4314 in the magnitude 1 range, 1981 in the magnitude 2 range, 496 in the magnitude 3 range.

91% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 8% 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 30 March 2026, with 425 recorded events.