Earthquakes in China — January 2025

56 earthquakes were recorded in China during January 2025, an average of 1.8 per day.

56 reached magnitude 4 or above and 7 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 14 km.

The month's largest event in China was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near 拉萨, China on 07 January 2025 at 01:05 UTC. A magnitude 7.0 earthquake radiates roughly 476,879 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the China monthly average of 13 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 10 recorded the previous month.

98% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 2% 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.

By band, the catalogue holds 49 in the magnitude 4 range, 6 in the magnitude 5 range, 1 in the magnitude 7 range.

Activity peaked on 07 January, when 23 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M7.0 near 拉萨, China on 07 January at 10 km; M5.7 near 西宁, China on 08 January at 10 km; M5.2 near 拉萨, China on 06 January at 10 km.

That is 328% above the 13 events China averages per month across the 21 months on record.

This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in China in our entire catalogue.