Latest earthquakes near Vanuatu today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near the country Vanuatu, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Vanuatu? If an earthquake is happening right now near Vanuatu, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Vanuatu Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Vanuatu. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Vanuatu and elsewhere.
May 11, 2025 10:22PM
Significant M5.9 Earthquake hit near Port-Vila in Vanuatu on Sunday Evening.
May 7, 2025 04:45AM
Significant M5.5 Earthquake struck on Wednesday Night in the Coral Sea 272km from Port-Vila (Vanuatu).
Mar 28, 2025 12:20PM
On Friday Afternoon a Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck in the Coral Sea 167km from Port-Vila (Vanuatu).
Vanuatu Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 1979 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Vanuatu in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 197 earthquakes per year, or 16 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Vanuatu roughly every 1 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Vanuatu in 2020. A total of 289 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Vanuatu that year. The strongest had a 6.4 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Vanuatu in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 8 or above have occurred near Vanuatu 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.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 1663 | 84.03% |
| Mag. 5 | 278 | 14.05% |
| Mag. 6 | 36 | 1.82% |
| Mag. 7 | 2 | 0.1% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Vanuatu
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Vanuatu occurred on Dec 17, 2024 12:47 local time (Pacific/Efate timezone). It had a magnitude of 7.3 and struck 25 kilometers (16 mi) west of Port-Vila, at a depth of 54 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Vanuatu in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-8.1 earthquake struck on Sep 21, 1920 01:39, 250 kilometers (155 mi) west of Port-Vila. It is the strongest earthquake near Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu.
Earthquakes by region of Vanuatu
Click the links below for earthquake reports for regions in Vanuatu.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Vanuatu.
When was the last earthquake in Vanuatu?
A 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit near Vanuatu on the night of May 17, 2025 at 01:57 local time (Pacific/Efate). The center of this earthquake was located 5km west of Port-Vila at a depth of 66km under water in the Coral Sea. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Vanuatu in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Vanuatu?
A 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit near Vanuatu on the night of September 21, 1920 at 01:39 local time (Pacific/Efate). The center of this earthquake was located 250km south of Port-Vila at a depth of 25km under water in the Coral Sea. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Vanuatu since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Vanuatu?
In the past 10 years, 1979 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Vanuatu. This averages to 198 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 2 days.
