Region · live catalogue
Earthquakes in South Africa
No earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in South Africa in the last 30 days.
Data: USGS, GFZ, INGV, JMA · updated · sources and licences
- 24 hours
- 0
- all magnitudes
- 7 days
- 0
- M2.5+
- 30 days
- 0
- M2.5+
Seismic record
In South Africa, the USGS catalogue lists 4 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or more since 1900 and 7 of magnitude 5 or more since 2000, about one every 4 years. In the 12 months to 13 Oct 2026 it recorded 2 of magnitude 2.5 or more, 1 of them magnitude 4 or more.
The largest since 1900: M6.8 on 31 Dec 1932, 120 km ESE of Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The most recent of magnitude 5 or more: M5.2 on 22 Dec 2024, 123 km N of Calvinia, Northern Cape, South Africa.
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 South Africa in the last 24 hours.
Earlier this week, magnitude 2.5 and above
None of magnitude 2.5 or greater earlier this week.
Largest in the last 30 days
None of magnitude 2.5 or greater in the last 30 days.
Where they occurred
Largest since 1900
Magnitude 6 and above in South Africa.
Loading the historical catalogue…
Questions
How many earthquakes happen in South Africa?
In the last 30 days, 0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater were recorded in South Africa, 0 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 is the largest earthquake recorded in South Africa since 1900?
According to the USGS catalogue, the largest was a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on 31 Dec 1932 (120 km ESE of Richards Bay, South Africa). Magnitudes of early 20th-century earthquakes are less certain than modern ones.
Where can I get official earthquake information for South Africa?
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.