Earthquakes in Papua New Guinea are due to its location near the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are usually metal, timber and unreinforced brick masonry construction.

DateRegionMMIDeathsInjuriesCommentsRef2024-03-24East Sepik6.9 VII5 12 Severe damage2023-04-03East Sepik7.0 VII8"scores"Severe damage2022-09-11Morobe7.6 VIII2142Extensive damage2020-07-17Oro Province7.0 VII1Landslides and a dozen homes collapsed2019-05-14New Ireland7.6 MwVII1 No major damage or deaths reported.2019-05-06Morobe7.1 MwVIMinor damage in Lae2018-10-10New Britain7.0 VI1Moderate damage2018-04-07New Guinea6.3 MwVII4Aftershock2018-03-06New Guinea6.7 MwVII25Aftershock2018-03-04New Guinea6.0 MwVII11Aftershock2018-02-26New Guinea7.5 Mw160500+Heavy damage / Landslides 2017-01-22 Bougainville Island 7.9 Mw 5 17 Moderate damage / Tsunami (local) 2016-12-17New Ireland7.9 VIIPower was knocked out in some areas / tsunami2015-03-29New Britain7.5 VIISmall tsunami2005-06-04Morobe Province6.1 MwVI1Several Many buildings damaged or destroyed in Lae. 2002-09-09 Sandaun Province 7.6 Mw X 6 70 Tsunami (local) 2002-04-01 Morobe Province 5.3 IV 36 Deaths from a landslide 2002-01-10 Sandaun Province 6.7 Mw 1 200 homes destroyed at Aitape 2000-11-16 New Ireland 7.8 Mw VII Additional damage / doublet 2000-11-16 New Ireland 8.0 Mw VIII 2 Tsunami (local) / doublet 1998-07-17 Sandaun Province 7.0 Mw VIII 2,183–2,700 Thousands Destructive local tsunami () 1993-10-13 Morobe Province 6.9 Mw 60 200 Landslides 1993-08-20Hela6.2 MwVII5Damage in Tari 1989-03-11 Southern New Ireland 5.8 Mw V 1 Landslide 1987-02-09 Morobe Province 7.4 Ms VII 3 Landslide 1985-05-11 New Britain 7.2 Mw VIII 1 Landslides 1984-03-27 Karkar Island 6.5 Mw VIII 11 Many buildings destroyed 1971-07-26 PNG / Solomon Islands 8.1 Mw VI Tsunami (local) / doublet 1971-07-14 PNG / Solomon Islands 8.0 Mw 2 5 Tsunami (local) / doublet 1970-10-31 North coast 6.9 Mw VIII 5–18 20 tsunami 1968-10-23 North coast 7.5 Moderate damage 1968-02-12 New Ireland 7.8 VIII Minimal damage 1967-08-13 Bismarck Sea 6.4 Ms Severe damage / tsunami 1964-11-17 New Britain 7.6 Ms VIII Minimal damage / tsunami 1953-04-23 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.4 Mw Minimal damage / tsunami 1941-01-13 Bismarck Sea 7.4 Mw 4 Moderate damage / tsunami 1939-01-30 Bougainville Island 7.8 Ms 5 Many Moderate damage / tsunami 1938-05-12 7.5 Ms Minimal damage / tsunami 1937-05-28 New Britain VIII 507 Volcanic eruption / tsunami at Tavurvur 1933-12-12 Minimal damage / tsunami 1922-01-19 Bismarck Sea 7.5 Ms Minimal damage / tsunami 1920-02-02 New Britain 7.7 Ms Minimal damage / tsunami 1919-05-06 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.8 Mw Minimal damage / tsunami 1916-01-01 PNG / Solomon Islands 7.9 Mw Minimal damage / tsunami 1906-10-02 Bismarck Sea 7.2 Mw Limited damage / tsunami 1906-09-14 New Britain 8.0 Mw Minimal damage / tsunami 1900-09-10 Bismarck Sea 6.8 Ms Some Severe damage / tsunami 1873 Maclay Coast 8.0 Ms Some Moderate damage / tsunami 1857-04-17 Bismarck Sea 8.0 Ms Minimal damage / tsunami Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

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