Region · live catalogue
Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea
In the last 30 days, 38 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in Papua New Guinea; the largest was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake 82 km NE of Kiunga, Western Province, Papua New Guinea on 29 Oct 2026.
Data: GFZ, USGS · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 0
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 4
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 38
- M2.5+
Seismic record
In Papua New Guinea, the USGS catalogue lists 916 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or more since 1900 and 2,820 of magnitude 5 or more since 2000, about 105 a year. In the 12 months to 13 Oct 2026 it recorded 571 of magnitude 2.5 or more, all of them magnitude 4 or more.
The largest since 1900: M8.2 on 6 May 1919, 113 km NW of Buka, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The most recent of magnitude 5 or more: M5.1 on 13 Oct 2026, 121 km S of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.
Counts from the USGS ComCat catalogue (public domain), last compiled 13 Oct 2026. Outside the United States, ComCat is complete from about magnitude 4.5, so smaller local earthquakes may be missing from these counts but appear in the lists below. How these pages are built
Last 24 hours
No earthquakes recorded in Papua New Guinea in the last 24 hours.
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1mww | 90 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.2mww | 21 km WNW of Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 4.7mb | 121 km SW of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 4.6mb | 97 km NNW of Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies |
Largest in the last 30 days
| Mag | Location | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 5.7mb | 82 km NE of Kiunga, Western Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.4mww | 109 km SSW of Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.2mww | 21 km WNW of Popondetta, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.2mb | 63 km NNE of Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.1mww | 90 km W of Arawa, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.1mb | New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.1mww | 128 km SSE of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 5.0mb | Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | |
| 4.9mb | 66 km WSW of Buka, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea2 agencies | |
| 4.9mb | 30 km S of Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea |
Where they occurred
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Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in Papua New Guinea.
Loading the historical catalogue…
Questions
How many earthquakes happen in Papua New Guinea?
In the last 30 days, 38 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in Papua New Guinea, 4 of them in the last 7 days. In the last 24 hours, 0 earthquakes of any magnitude were recorded. Most small earthquakes are not felt.
What was the largest recent earthquake in Papua New Guinea?
The largest in the last 30 days was a magnitude 5.7 earthquake 82 km NE of Kiunga, Western Province, Papua New Guinea on 29 Oct 2026, at a depth of 10 km.
What is the largest earthquake recorded in Papua New Guinea since 1900?
According to the USGS catalogue, the largest was a magnitude 8.2 earthquake on 6 May 1919 (1919 Papua New Guinea Earthquake). Magnitudes of early 20th-century earthquakes are less certain than modern ones.
How deep are earthquakes in Papua New Guinea?
61% of the magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes recorded in Papua New Guinea in the last 30 days were shallower than 70 km. Shallow earthquakes generally cause stronger shaking at the surface than deep ones of the same magnitude.
Where can I get official earthquake information for Papua New Guinea?
For official information, warnings and safety advice, follow your national seismological agency and civil protection authority. This site compiles agency reports and is not a warning service.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. Scientists can estimate how likely strong shaking is in a region over years or decades, but no method predicts the time, place and size of a specific earthquake. Aftershocks are expected after large earthquakes and become less frequent over time.