A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
.svg)     Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2012
| |||
| Strongest magnitude | 8.6 Mw  Indonesia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadliest | 6.4 Mw  Iran304 deaths | ||
| Total fatalities | 826 | ||
| Number by magnitude | |||
| 9.0+ | 0 | ||
| 8.0–8.9 | 2 | ||
| 7.0–7.9 | 15 | ||
| 6.0–6.9 | 129 | ||
| 5.0–5.9 | 1,412 | ||
← 2011 2013 → | |||
This is a list of earthquakes in 2012. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Two huge 8 magnitude earthquakes (8.6 and 8.2) struck Indonesia in April, but caused little damage, and no tsunami. The deadliest quake occurred in Iran, while other destructive tremors were observed in Philippines, China, or Afghanistan.
Compared to other years
| Magnitude Ranging Between | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8−9.9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 7−7.9 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 15 |
| 6−6.9 | 140 | 141 | 140 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 | 204 | 129 |
| 5−5.9 | 1203 | 1515 | 1693 | 1712 | 2074 | 1768 | 1896 | 1963 | 2271 | 1412 |
| Total | 1358 | 1672 | 1844 | 1865 | 2270 | 1948 | 2057 | 2136 | 2495 | 1558 |
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time. USGS's Website has more information.
For exact dates and live earthquakes please visit USGS's Global Earthquake Search Page and Real-time Earthquake Map or EMSC's Real-time Seismicity.
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 306 | 6.4 | Iran, East Azerbaijan
|
VIII (Severe) | 9.9 | August 11 |
| 2 | 139 | 7.4 |  Guatemala, Retalhuleu offshore
|
VII (Very strong) | 41.6 | November 7 |
| 3 | 113 | 6.7 |  Philippines, Central Visayas
|
VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | February 6 |
| 4 | 81 | 5.6 |  China, Yunnan
|
VI (Strong) | 9.9 | September 7 |
| 5 | 75 | 5.7 |  Afghanistan, Baghlan
|
V (Moderate) | 15.0 | June 11 |
| 6 | 38 | 6.8 |  Myanmar, Sagaing
|
VII (Very strong) | 9.8 | November 11 |
| 7 | 27 | 5.8 |  Italy, Emilia-Romagna
|
VIII (Severe) | 9.0 | May 29 |
| 8 | 10 | 8.6 | Indonesia, Aceh offshore
|
VII (Very strong) | 22.9 | April 11 |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Intensity | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.6 | 10 | Indonesia, Aceh offshore
|
VII (Very Strong) | 20.0 | April 11 |
| 2 | 8.2 | 0 | Indonesia, Aceh offshore
|
V (Moderate) | 25.1 | April 11 |
| 3 | 7.8 | 1[1] |  Canada, British Columbia
|
V (Moderate) | 14.0 | October 28 |
| 4 | 7.7 | 0 |  Russia, Sea of Okhotsk
|
V (Moderate) | 625.9 | August 14 |
| 5 | 7.6 | 1 | Philippines, Eastern Visayas offshore
|
VII (Very Strong) | 28.0 | August 31 |
| 5 | 7.6 | 2 |  Costa Rica, Guanacaste
|
X (Extreme) | 35.0 | September 5 |
| 7 | 7.4 | 2 |  Mexico, Oaxaca
|
VIII (Severe) | 20.0 | March 20 |
| 7 | 7.4 | 139 | Guatemala, Retalhuleu
|
VII (Very Strong) | 24.0 | November 7 |
| 9 | 7.3 | 0 |  El Salvador, Usulután offshore
|
II (Weak) | 28.0 | August 27 |
| 9 | 7.3 | 0 |  Colombia, Huila
|
V (Moderate) | 170.0 | September 30 |
| 9 | 7.3 | 3 |  Japan, Iwate offshore
|
V (Moderate) | 31.0 | December 07 |
| 12 | 7.2 | 0 | Indonesia, Aceh offshore
|
IV (Light) | 19.0 | January 11 |
| 13 | 7.1 | 0 |  Vanuatu, Shefa
|
V (Moderate) | 23.0 | February 2 |
| 13 | 7.1 | 1 |  Chile, Maule
|
VIII (Severe) | 40.7 | March 25 |
| 13 | 7.1 | 0 | Indonesia, Banda Sea offshore
|
V (Moderate) | 155.0 | December 10 |
| 16 | 7.0 | 0 | Mexico, Baja California offshore
|
VI (Strong) | 13.0 | April 12 |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
By month
January
| Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 5.5 Mw  Dominican Republic1 death |
| Total fatalities | 1 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 9.0+ | 0 |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 9 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 163 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[2] | Japan, Izu Islands offshore
|
6.8 | 365.3 | V | - | - | - |
| 5[3] | Dominican Republic, Peravia, 5 km (3.1 mi) north northwest of Baní
|
5.5 | 39.8 | V | One person died of a heart attack[4] and minor damage in Santo Domingo.[5] | 1 | - |
| 9[6] |  Solomon Islands, Temotu offshore, 70 km (43 mi) west of Lata
|
6.4 | 28.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 10[7] | Indonesia, Aceh offshore, 352 km (219 mi) west of Sinabang
|
7.2 | 19.0 | IV | Foreshock of the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes. | - | - |
| 15[8] |  Antarctica, South Shetland Islands offshore
|
6.6 | 8.0 | - | - | - | - |
| 19[9] | Iran, Razavi Khorasan, 9 km (5.6 mi) north northeasst of Nishapur
|
5.1 | 8.3 | VI | At least 238 people injured and minor damage in Razavi Khorasan province. | - | 238 |
| 21[10] | Mexico, Chiapas offshore, 46 km (29 mi) southwest of El Arenal
|
6.2 | 45.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 23[11] | Chile, Biobío, 24 km (15 mi) north northwest of Tomé
|
6.1 | 20.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 27[12] | Japan, Yamanashi, 9 km (5.6 mi) east northeast of Fujiyoshida
|
5.2 | 36.3 | IV | One person injured in Tokyo.[13] | - | 1 |
| 30[14] |  Peru, Ica, 6 km (3.7 mi) east southeast of Pampa de Tate
|
6.4 | 43.0 | VI | At least 119 people injured and several buildings damaged in Ica.[15] | - | 119 |
February
| Strongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw Vanuatu |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 6.7 Mw Philippines 113 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 113 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 11 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 174 |