Global seismic records from 2015–2025 show 4,884,014 earthquakes, but most are too small to be felt: nearly 64% are below magnitude 2.0. Improved monitoring, not a real increase in earthquakes, explains the rising counts. Japan recorded 160,079 quakes this year. A magnitude 8.8 quake off Kamchatka on July 30, 2025, produced a tsunami, triggered volcanic eruptions and caused regional damage. Truly destructive quakes remain rare, averaging about 15 magnitude 7+ events per year.
Nearly 4.9 Million Quakes in a Decade — Most Passed Unnoticed, Sensors Say
Graph showing the number of M3, M4, and M5 earthquakes annually since 1980. Image: Volcano Data
A global map of seismic activity from 2015 through 2025 shows a near-constant flicker of tremors around the planet, with dense clusters aligning closely with tectonic plate boundaries. While the count is staggering, the vast majority of these events are too small to be felt.
Global Snapshot
Volcano Discovery data recorded 1,518 earthquakes in the past 24 hours and a total of 4,884,014 quakes over the last ten years. Despite these large numbers, most people report never having felt an earthquake — only occasional strong events make international headlines.
Why Most Quakes Go Unnoticed
Nearly 64% of recorded earthquakes are below magnitude 2.0, far too weak for humans to sense though readily detected by seismometers. Another 22% fall between magnitude 2.0 and 2.9, usually imperceptible to most people — often no more noticeable than the vibration from a heavy truck. These micro- and minor quakes account for the bulk of seismic records.
Global Seismic Activity Level
Detection — Not An Increase In Activity
It may appear that earthquakes have become more frequent, but the change is largely technological. Seismic networks have expanded and sensors are far more sensitive than in previous decades, logging many microquakes that would once have gone unrecorded. Overall seismicity has remained comparatively stable.
Regional Patterns And Monitoring
Seismic activity is unevenly distributed worldwide. For nine of the last ten years the United States logged more earthquakes than any other country — a result of both its extensive monitoring network and active plate boundaries in Alaska and the U.S. West. This year Japan led national counts with 160,079 recorded quakes; of those, 5,954 exceeded magnitude 3 and 149 reached magnitude 5, the approximate threshold at which light structural damage can begin to occur.
Major Events Remain Rare But Significant
Truly destructive earthquakes remain uncommon. On average, about 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7+ occur worldwide each year. Of the 50 largest earthquakes recorded since 1900, only one occurred in the past decade, underscoring that very large quakes are infrequent.
Graphical representation of the earthquakes in 2025. Image: Volcano Data
July 30, 2025 — Kamchatka Magnitude 8.8
On July 30, 2025, a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck roughly 71 kilometers offshore from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the Kuril–Kamchatka subduction zone. The event generated a tsunami and was followed by eruptions at seven nearby volcanoes. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, at least four people were injured; 55 homes and several buildings were damaged near Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky; at least 106 buildings were damaged on Sakhalin; and several port structures were destroyed by the tsunami. The wave also damaged the harbor at Crescent City, California.
This Kamchatka quake is the largest recorded globally since the 2011 Tōhoku disaster in Japan and ranks among the ten biggest events on record.
What This Means For The Public
Ten years of global seismic data make clear that earthquakes are far more frequent than most people imagine — but the vast majority pass silently beneath our feet. Improved monitoring helps scientists understand seismic patterns and risk, allowing better warnings and preparedness for the relatively rare events that can cause serious damage.
Sources: Volcano Discovery, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
