Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
No events have been recorded in Papua New Guinea in the past 30 days, of which 12 reached magnitude 4 or above, the point at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Papua New Guinea sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and the depth distribution below shows the subducting slab beneath it directly.
12 earthquakes have been recorded in Papua New Guinea in our catalogue, 0 of them in the past 30 days.
The average magnitude is 4.5 and the average focal depth 71 km. 12 events reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above.
The strongest earthquake recorded in Papua New Guinea in this period was a magnitude 5.0 event near Lae, Papua New Guinea on 13 January 2025, at a depth of 82 km. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake radiates roughly 477 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Locations recording the most events include Lae (3), Kimbe (3), Wewak (1), Kokopo (1), Vanimo Government Station (1).
50% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 50% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.
The deepest event on record here was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake at 153 km beneath Kimbe, Papua New Guinea on 30 December 2024.
By band, the catalogue holds 10 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range.
The busiest single day was 08 January 2025, with 2 recorded events.
No event in this record carries a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information.
All recorded earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
12 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | Vanimo Government Station, Papua New Guinea | 27.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 5.0 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 82.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 45.8 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.3 | Lae, Papua New Guinea | 35.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.3 | Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 110.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.2 | Madang, Papua New Guinea | 95.8 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 152.9 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.4 | Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 145.5 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.5 | Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 75.1 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 10.0 | Papua New Guinea | View details View | |
| 4.6 | Kanzarua, Papua New Guinea | 66.2 | Papua New Guinea | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have there been in Papua New Guinea?
12 earthquakes are recorded in Papua New Guinea in our catalogue, including 0 in the past 30 days and 12 of magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea?
The largest recorded here was a magnitude 5.0 event near Lae, Papua New Guinea on 13 January 2025.
Is Papua New Guinea at risk of earthquakes?
Earthquake hazard depends on proximity to active faults and plate boundaries rather than on national borders. The record for Papua New Guinea shows 12 events of magnitude 4 or above, which is the band at which shaking becomes widely noticeable. Consult your national seismic hazard agency for building-code and preparedness guidance.
Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea by month
Event counts for Papua New Guinea reflect seismic network density as well as genuine activity. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.