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French Polynesia sits on stable Pacific seafloor away from plate boundaries, so local quakes are rare but distant Pacific events bring tsunami watches. This page pulls real records for French Polynesia: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for French Polynesia.
Earthquake risk in French Polynesia - FAQ
Is French Polynesia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 5 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 555 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in French Polynesia?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to French Polynesia in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does French Polynesia get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1848 (most recently 1848) within 555 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in French Polynesia?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.