Latest earthquakes near Papua New Guinea today

Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near the country Papua New Guinea, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Papua New Guinea? If an earthquake is happening right now near Papua New Guinea (also known as Papua Niugini), it will show up within minutes.

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List of latest earthquakes near Papua New Guinea.
Date and Time Magnitude Location
19 hours ago
(Apr 16 02:49 Bougainville)
M 5.2 73 km WSW
from Arawa
2 days ago
(Apr 14 18:17 Port Moresby)
M 4.5 177 km S
from Kokopo
2 days ago
(Apr 14 14:05 Port Moresby)
M 4.6 61 km S
from Kimbe
2 days ago
(Apr 14 05:52 Port Moresby)
M 4.6 174 km S
from Kimbe
2 days ago
(Apr 14 02:04 Port Moresby)
M 4.8 217 km S
from Kokopo
2 days ago
(Apr 13 23:59 Port Moresby)
M 5.0 205 km S
from Kokopo
3 days ago
(Apr 13 17:58 Port Moresby)
M 4.7 196 km ESE
from Kimbe
3 days ago
(Apr 13 13:48 Port Moresby)
M 5.5 47 km E
from Lae
3 days ago
(Apr 13 10:33 Port Moresby)
M 4.8 197 km ESE
from Kimbe
3 days ago
(Apr 12 22:52 Port Moresby)
M 4.6 169 km ESE
from Kimbe
4 days ago
(Apr 12 13:47 Port Moresby)
M 6.1 106 km ESE
from Kokopo
4 days ago
(Apr 12 08:24 Port Moresby)
M 5.0 95 km ESE
from Madang
4 days ago
(Apr 12 04:25 Port Moresby)
M 4.4 86 km SSE
from Kimbe
5 days ago
(Apr 11 13:38 Port Moresby)
M 5.2 183 km ESE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 20:54 Port Moresby)
M 4.7 96 km SE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 18:20 Port Moresby)
M 5.2 154 km ESE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 14:39 Port Moresby)
M 4.7 170 km ESE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 12:43 Port Moresby)
M 5.4 162 km ESE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 05:08 Port Moresby)
M 4.3 163 km SE
from Kimbe
6 days ago
(Apr 10 00:15 Port Moresby)
M 4.3 94 km SE
from Kimbe
7 days ago
(Apr 9 18:44 Port Moresby)
M 5.0 110 km ESE
from Kimbe
7 days ago
(Apr 9 18:29 Port Moresby)
M 5.0 171 km ESE
from Kimbe
7 days ago
(Apr 9 07:53 Bougainville)
M 4.6 200 km W
from Arawa
7 days ago
(Apr 9 04:33 Port Moresby)
M 4.5 180 km SSE
from Kokopo
7 days ago
(Apr 8 22:55 Port Moresby)
M 4.5 167 km ESE
from Kimbe

Map of Latest Earthquakes near Papua New Guinea

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Recent Papua New Guinea Earthquake News

These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Papua New Guinea. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Papua New Guinea and elsewhere.

Papua New Guinea Earthquake Statistics

Average Earthquakes:
755 Yearly
Within 300 km, Mag 4+, last 10 years
Latest Earthquake:
Mag 5.2
Apr 16, 2025 02:49

Average

A total of 7550 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Papua New Guinea in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 755 earthquakes per year, or 62 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Papua New Guinea roughly every 11 hours.

A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Papua New Guinea in 2015. A total of 1121 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Papua New Guinea that year. The strongest had a 7.5 magnitude.

Yearly Earthquakes within 300 km (186 mi) of Papua New Guinea with a magnitude of 4 or above.

Magnitude Distribution

The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Papua New Guinea in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Papua New Guinea during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.

Earthquakes by magnitude near Papua New Guinea (past 10 years).
Magnitude Earthquakes Percentage
Mag. 4 6439 85.28%
Mag. 5 1015 13.44%
Mag. 6 85 1.13%
Mag. 7 11 0.15%
Mag. 8 0 0.0%
Mag. 9 0 0.0%
Mag. 10 0 0.0%

Strongest earthquakes near Papua New Guinea

Strongest in 10 years:
Mag 7.9
On Dec 17, 2016 20:51.
Strongest since 1900:
Mag 8.2
On May 7, 1919 05:41.

The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Papua New Guinea occurred on Dec 17, 2016 20:51 local time (Pacific/Port_Moresby timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.9 and struck 140 kilometers (87 mi) east of Kokopo, at a depth of 95 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Papua New Guinea in the list below.

A longer time ago, a MAG-8.2 earthquake struck on May 7, 1919 05:41, 184 kilometers (114 mi) east of Kokopo. It is the strongest earthquake near Papua New Guinea in the past 125 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).

In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Papua New Guinea in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Papua New Guinea.

Last 10 yrs All magnitudes
2023 All mag
Historic M6+ since 1900
Custom
List of strongest earthquakes near Papua New Guinea.
Date and Time Magnitude Location
Dec 17, 2016 20:51
(Port Moresby)
M 7.9 140 km E
from Kokopo
Jan 22, 2017 15:30
(Bougainville)
M 7.9 44 km W
from Arawa
Sep 11, 2022 09:47
(Port Moresby)
M 7.6 72 km NW
from Lae
May 14, 2019 22:58
(Port Moresby)
M 7.6 49 km NE
from Kokopo
Feb 26, 2018 03:44
(Port Moresby)
M 7.5 100 km W
from Mendi
May 5, 2015 11:44
(Port Moresby)
M 7.5 132 km SSW
from Kokopo
May 7, 2019 07:19
(Port Moresby)
M 7.1 67 km WSW
from Lae
May 7, 2015 18:10
(Bougainville)
M 7.1 156 km SW
from Arawa
Apr 3, 2023 04:04
(Port Moresby)
M 7.0 100 km SSW
from Wewak
Jul 17, 2020 12:50
(Port Moresby)
M 7.0 195 km NNE
from Port Moresby

Map of Strongest Earthquakes near Papua New Guinea

Leaflet OpenStreetMap

Earthquakes by region of Papua New Guinea

Click the links below for earthquake reports for regions in Papua New Guinea.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Papua New Guinea.

When was the last earthquake in Papua New Guinea?

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Papua New Guinea on the night of April 16, 2025 at 02:49 local time (Pacific/Bougainville). The center of this earthquake was located 73km west-southwest of Arawa at a depth of 80km under water in the Solomon Sea. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Papua New Guinea in the past hours.

What was the strongest earthquake near Papua New Guinea?

A 8.2 magnitude earthquake hit near Papua New Guinea on the night of May 7, 1919 at 05:41 local time (Pacific/Port_Moresby). The center of this earthquake was located 184km east-southeast of Kokopo at a depth of 35km under water in the South Pacific Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Papua New Guinea since the year 1900.

How often do earthquakes occur near Papua New Guinea?

In the past 10 years, 7550 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Papua New Guinea. This averages to 755 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 12 hours.