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Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea — December 2025

26 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2025, an average of 0.8 per day.

26 reached magnitude 4 or above and 8 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 93 km.

The month's largest event in Papua New Guinea was a magnitude 6.5 earthquake near Goroka, Papua New Guinea on 22 December 2025 at 10:31 UTC. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Papua New Guinea monthly average of 26 events over the period we cover, and up from the 14 recorded the previous month.

58% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 35% 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.

By band, the catalogue holds 18 in the magnitude 4 range, 7 in the magnitude 5 range, 1 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 26 December, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.5 near Goroka, Papua New Guinea on 22 December at 110 km; M5.3 near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea on 21 December at 10 km; M5.3 near Panguna, Papua New Guinea on 10 December at 107 km.

That is close to the 26 events Papua New Guinea averages per month across the 21 months on record.

Events recorded26
StrongestM6.5
Average depth93 km
Magnitude 4+26
Magnitude 5+8

Largest earthquakes in Papua New Guinea, December 2025

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

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
6.5 Goroka, Papua New Guinea 110.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.3 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.3 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 107.1 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.2 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 196.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.2 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
5.1 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 88.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 55.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 25.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.9 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 168.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.8 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 139.5 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 62.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 409.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.7 Aitape, Papua New Guinea 35.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Wewak, Papua New Guinea 10.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 66.6 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Panguna, Papua New Guinea 35.0 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.6 Madang, Papua New Guinea 138.2 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Madang, Papua New Guinea 99.7 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.4 Kimbe, Papua New Guinea 392.3 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea 47.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.3 Ialibu, Papua New Guinea 29.9 Papua New Guinea View details View
4.0 Kandrian, Papua New Guinea 135.3 Papua New Guinea View details View

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea in December 2025?

26 earthquakes were recorded in Papua New Guinea during December 2025, of which 26 were magnitude 4 or above.

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

A magnitude 6.5 event near Goroka, Papua New Guinea on 22 December 2025.

Other months in Papua New Guinea

Magnitudes for December 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.