Earthquakes in May 2026: 9,058 Recorded Worldwide

9,058 earthquakes were recorded worldwide in May 2026, an average of 292 per day.

That is down 9% on the 9,981 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 2026 was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Calama, Chile on 25 May, at a focal depth of 109 km. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake radiates roughly 337,605 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

By band, May 2026 produced 12 in the magnitude -2 range, 295 in the magnitude -1 range, 2041 in the magnitude 0 range, 4180 in the magnitude 1 range, 1551 in the magnitude 2 range, 364 in the magnitude 3 range.

93% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 6% 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 10 May 2026, with 627 recorded events.

Most active: the United States (8197), Puerto Rico (173), the U.S. Virgin Islands (60), Japan (57), Chile (56).