Seismic history
Major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and geological events in Papua New Guinea, 1900–2026, with sources and detailed information.
Total earthquakes
239
M5+
Strongest
M8.2
M7+ events
91
Tsunami events
27
| Date | Magnitude | Location | Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919-05-06 | 8.2 | 1919 Papua New Guinea Earthquake | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1971-07-26 | 8.1 | 1971 Bougainville Earthquake | 52 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2007-04-01 | 8.1 | 2007 Solomon Islands Earthquake | 24 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1906-09-14 | 8.0 | 1906 Papua New Guinea Earthquake | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2000-11-16 | 8.0 | 2000 New Ireland Earthquake | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1916-01-01 | 8.0 | 60 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2017-01-22 | 7.9 | 35 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 135 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2016-12-17 | 7.9 | 140 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 95 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1975-07-20 | 7.9 | 56 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 49 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1939-04-30 | 7.8 | 23 km SSE of Malango, Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1935-09-20 | 7.8 | New Guinea, Papua New Guinea | 30 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1920-02-02 | 7.8 | 74 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1995-08-16 | 7.7 | 155 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 30 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1946-09-29 | 7.7 | 152 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 50 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1906-10-02 | 7.6 | 38 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2022-09-10 | 7.6 | 70 km E of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 116 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2002-09-08 | 7.6 | 68 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | 13 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1983-03-18 | 7.6 | 157 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 89 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2005-09-09 | 7.6 | 135 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 90 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2019-05-14 | 7.6 | 48 km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 10 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1918-07-03 | 7.6 | 50 km N of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1938-05-12 | 7.5 | 48 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1972-08-17 | 7.5 | 199 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 14 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1990-12-30 | 7.5 | 104 km ENE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 179 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2015-05-05 | 7.5 | 131 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 55 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1963-02-26 | 7.5 | 49 km WSW of Wau, Papua New Guinea | 187 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2014-04-19 | 7.5 | 70 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 43 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2018-02-25 | 7.5 | 32 km SW of Tari, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 25 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1926-01-25 | 7.5 | 62 km SW of Malango, Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1945-12-28 | 7.5 | 32 km SSW of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 60 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1917-07-29 | 7.5 | 93 km SW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1947-05-06 | 7.4 | 92 km WSW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1905-01-13 | 7.4 | 177 km SW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1999-04-05 | 7.4 | 63 km W of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 150 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1987-10-16 | 7.4 | 54 km W of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea | 48 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1953-04-23 | 7.4 | 67 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1913-05-30 | 7.4 | 97 km SW of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1955-10-10 | 7.3 | 102 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 20 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2010-07-18 | 7.3 | New Britain region, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1968-02-12 | 7.3 | 166 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 26 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1985-07-03 | 7.3 | 62 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2013-07-07 | 7.3 | 190 km ENE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 386 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1936-04-19 | 7.3 | 61 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 20 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1967-12-25 | 7.3 | 192 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 53 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1907-05-07 | 7.3 | 49 km NNE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 30 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1944-05-25 | 7.3 | 195 km E of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1918-10-27 | 7.2 | 185 km NW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1949-10-19 | 7.2 | 155 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 60 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1902-01-24 | 7.2 | New Britain region, Papua New Guinea | - | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1901-05-25 | 7.2 | Solomon Islands | - | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1974-10-23 | 7.2 | 282 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 48 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1977-07-29 | 7.2 | 143 km W of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1997-12-22 | 7.2 | 117 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 179 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1995-08-16 | 7.2 | 139 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1996-04-29 | 7.2 | 58 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 44 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1991-10-14 | 7.2 | 155 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands | 23 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1992-05-15 | 7.2 | 61 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea | 58 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1986-06-24 | 7.2 | 44 km SSW of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 102 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1941-01-13 | 7.2 | New Britain region, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1943-12-23 | 7.2 | 205 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1906-08-26 | 7.1 | 132 km NNE of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1969-01-05 | 7.1 | 78 km W of Buala, Solomon Islands | 61 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1900-09-17 | 7.1 | Bismarck Sea | - | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1926-03-27 | 7.1 | 110 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1945-12-08 | 7.1 | New Britain region, Papua New Guinea | 55 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1976-06-25 | 7.1 | 214 km NW of Kiunga, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1999-05-16 | 7.1 | 51 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 74 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1989-12-07 | 7.1 | 59 km ESE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea | 104 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1984-05-30 | 7.1 | 94 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 174 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2014-04-11 | 7.1 | 56 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 61 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2015-05-07 | 7.1 | 143 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 10 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2011-12-14 | 7.1 | 25 km SSE of Wau, Papua New Guinea | 135 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2019-05-06 | 7.1 | 32 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 146 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1931-08-07 | 7.1 | 43 km SW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1909-04-27 | 7.1 | 65 km ENE of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1946-05-03 | 7.1 | 96 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1925-06-09 | 7.0 | 61 km W of Angoram, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1934-02-28 | 7.0 | 61 km ENE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1935-09-20 | 7.0 | 55 km NNW of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1905-03-04 | 7.0 | 152 km NW of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1959-08-17 | 7.0 | 67 km WNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 25 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2023-04-02 | 7.0 | 40 km ESE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 70 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2022-11-22 | 7.0 | 18 km SW of Malango, Solomon Islands🌊 | 14 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1912-09-01 | 7.0 | 204 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea | 425 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2001-10-31 | 7.0 | 40 km S of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 33 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1998-07-17 | 7.0 | 50 km WNW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | 10 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2000-10-29 | 7.0 | 191 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 50 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1988-07-23 | 7.0 | 247 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 17 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1987-10-12 | 7.0 | 163 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 25 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2020-07-17 | 7.0 | 114 km NNW of Popondetta, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 73 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 2018-10-10 | 7.0 | 119 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea🌊 | 39 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1920-05-07 | 7.0 | 147 km SSW of Gizo, Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1913-10-11 | 7.0 | 54 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1923-11-04 | 7.0 | 69 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1932-01-29 | 7.0 | 133 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1916-08-03 | 7.0 | 109 km SSE of Ialibu, Papua New Guinea | 35 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1952-12-06 | 7.0 | Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1964-08-13 | 7.0 | 160 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 388 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1939-02-03 | 7.0 | 44 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |
| 1907-12-15 | 7.0 | 73 km ENE of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea | 15 km | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |