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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — January 2025

36 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2025, an average of 1.2 per day.

36 reached magnitude 4 or above and 13 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 61 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea on 24 January 2025 at 18:26 UTC. A magnitude 5.7 earthquake radiates roughly 5,351 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 25 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 17 recorded the previous month.

67% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 31% intermediate (70–300 km) and 3% 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.

By band, the catalogue holds 23 in the magnitude 4 range, 13 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 01 January, when 4 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.7 near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea on 24 January at 10 km; M5.5 near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on 21 January at 10 km; M5.4 near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on 03 January at 10 km.

That is 45% above the 25 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 22 months on record.

Events recorded36
StrongestM5.7
Average depth61 km
Magnitude 4+36
Magnitude 5+13

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, January 2025

36 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
5.7 Kavieng, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.5 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.4 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.4 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.3 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.3 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 374.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
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
5.0 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 22.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.0 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Lae, Papua New Guinea 196.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 85.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Vanimo, Papua New Guinea 25.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Rabaul, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Ambunti, Papua New Guinea 111.4 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Vanimo, Papua New Guinea 35.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 44.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Popondetta, Papua New Guinea 10.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Wabag, Papua New Guinea 122.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.5 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 158.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 207.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kainantu, Papua New Guinea 115.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Lae, Papua New Guinea 45.8 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 126.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Lae, Papua New Guinea 35.0 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

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in January 2025?

36 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during January 2025, of which 36 were magnitude 4 or above.

What was the biggest earthquake in Papua New Guinea in January 2025?

A magnitude 5.7 event near Kavieng, Papua New Guinea on 24 January 2025.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for January 2025 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.