Recent Magnitude 4 Earthquakes Worldwide
11078 earthquakes between magnitude 4.0 and 4.9 have been recorded worldwide since December 2024 — an average of 554 per month. The most recent are listed below.
Light earthquakes are widely felt near the epicentre and can rattle windows, dishes and hanging objects. Damage is uncommon and usually limited to cracked plaster or fallen loose items. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The average focal depth for events in this band is 89 km.
The countries recording the most earthquakes in this magnitude band are ኢትዮጵያ (104), 中国 (44), Chile (19), Indonesia (19), Argentina (17).
Events in this band make up 6.6% of every earthquake in the catalogue. A magnitude 4 releases about 32 times the energy of a magnitude 3, and about 1,000 times that of a magnitude 2.
68% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 25% intermediate (70–300 km) and 8% deep-focus (over 300 km). That proportion of deep-focus events is the signature of a subduction zone: only a cold slab descending into the mantle stays brittle enough to rupture at those depths.
The largest event in this band on record here is a magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Atka, Alaska on 01 December 2025, at a focal depth of 3 km.
86 earthquakes in this magnitude band carry a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information. The flag does not mean that a tsunami occurred.
Magnitude 4 earthquakes, newest first
100 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
Frequently asked questions
How often do magnitude 4 earthquakes happen?
Our catalogue contains 11078 earthquakes in the magnitude 4.0–4.9 band, an average of 554 per month. Globally, each step down the magnitude scale is roughly ten times more frequent than the step above it.
Where do most magnitude 4 earthquakes occur?
The countries recording the most events in this band are ኢትዮጵያ (104), 中国 (44), Chile (19), Indonesia (19), Argentina (17). Offshore events along subduction trenches and mid-ocean ridges are recorded under a regional name rather than a country.
How strong is a magnitude 4 earthquake?
Light earthquakes are widely felt near the epicentre and can rattle windows, dishes and hanging objects. Damage is uncommon and usually limited to cracked plaster or fallen loose items. A magnitude 4.0 earthquake radiates roughly 15 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Countries with magnitude 4 earthquakes
For what a magnitude 4 earthquake actually feels like and how the scale works, read the full explainer. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.