What the record shows for Tonga
The strongest earthquake on record near Tonga is a magnitude 8.1 in 1919, centred 1919 Tonga Earthquake - 107 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 10,102 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Tonga - roughly 505 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 19 tsunamis within 389 km of Tonga between 1853 and 2025. The most significant was in 2022 near Tonga Islands, which killed around 6 people.
13 volcanoes are catalogued near Tonga, including Tofua, Kao, Fonuafo'ou, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, Lateiki, Unnamed and 7 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Popular
The Tonga Trench is one of the fastest-converging and most seismically active subduction zones on Earth.
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 Tonga.
Earthquake risk in Tonga - FAQ
Is Tonga at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 505 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.1 in 1919.
What was the biggest earthquake in Tonga?
The strongest earthquake on record near Tonga is M8.1, in 1919 (1919 Tonga Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Tonga get tsunamis?
Yes - 19 tsunamis since 1853 (most recently 2025) within 389 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 6 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Tonga?
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.