How frequent are earthquakes in or near Bali, Indonesia?

Bali has a high level of seismic activity. Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 100 quakes on average per year in or near Bali, Indonesia. Bali has had at least 32 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 1 to 5 years.

How many earthquakes occur every year in or near Bali, Indonesia?

On average, Bali has about 62 quakes of magnitude 3 or higher per year (Mag 4+: 19.2 quakes per year, Mag 5+: 8 quakes per year).

Volcanoes, Eruptions and Earthquakes in Bali - Facts and Information

Volcanoes of Bali

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Bali

In historic times, at least 2 volcanoes have been active in Bali, including Agung and Batur volcanoes. A total of 29 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since 1804.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Bali since 1900.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths
2017 Nov 21 - 2019 Jun 13	Agung Summit crater	3	Bali, Indonesia
1999 Mar 15 - 2000 Jun 16 ±15 d.	Batur	1	Bali, Indonesia
1998 Jul 4 ±3 d.	Batur	1	Bali, Indonesia
1994 Aug 7 - Aug 14 or later	Batur Batur III	1	Bali, Indonesia
1974 Mar 12 - Apr 16 ±15 d.	Batur Batur III	2	Bali, Indonesia
1972 Jan 19 - Mar 16 ±15 d.	Batur Batur III	2	Bali, Indonesia
1971 Mar 11 - Aug 25 or later	Batur	1	Bali, Indonesia
1970 Jan 5 ±4 d. - Jan 15	Batur SW flank (1963 vent)	1	Bali, Indonesia
1968 Jan 23 - Feb 15	Batur SW flank (Batur III)	2	Bali, Indonesia
1966 Apr 28	Batur SW flank (west of 1965 vent)	1	Bali, Indonesia
1965 Aug 18 - Dec 16 ±15 d.	Batur SW flank (near Batur III)	1	Bali, Indonesia
1963 Sep 5 - 1964 May 10	Batur SW, W flanks (near Batur III, Butus)	2	Bali, Indonesia
1963 Feb 18 - 1964 Jan 27	Agung	5	Bali, Indonesia
1963 Sep 5 (eruption 1963 Sep 5 - 1964 May 10)	Batur	2	Bali, Indonesia	2	Info
1963 Sep 5: 2 reported killed, 3 villages partly destroyed, 18 houses destroyed, 1,600 ha arable land destroyed. VSI says there were no fatalities from this eruption. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1678 VSI (1993): Volc Surv Indonesia. 1993. Journal of volcanic activity in Indonesia, v 1 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1963 Mar 18 (eruption 1963 Feb 18 - 1964 Jan 27)	Agung	5	Bali, Indonesia	1,028	Info
1963 Mar 18: The Agung Volcano began erupting in February and continued for almost a year. The stage of paroxysm I, the first most destructive event, occurred on March 17. The paroxysm II was on May 16. 1963, March 17. Surjo gives: 820 killed, 59 injured by pyroclastic flows, 163 and 201 by pyroclastic fall, 165 and 36 by lahars. Bodies of about half victims never found. Perhaps 140 killed at Subagan village by lahar plus others swept to sea and killed crossing lahar fileds during rainy season. Also, 8 killed by landslides on Batur caldera rim. 1,148 represents most recent official figure, presumably including 120 pyroclastic flow fatalities on May 16. Perhaps 200 of the lahar deaths occurred after the eruption. Keesings suggests 1,584 killed in the March eruption and 106 in the May eruption. (reference #9675) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1926 Aug 2 - Sep 21	Batur SW flank below Batur III	2	Bali, Indonesia
1925 Jan 5 ±4 d.	Batur Batur II	2	Bali, Indonesia
1924 Mar	Batur Batur II	2	Bali, Indonesia
1923	Batur Batur II	2	Bali, Indonesia
1922 Aug 30	Batur	2	Bali, Indonesia
1921 Jan 29 - Apr 17	Batur SW flank (Batur II)	2	Bali, Indonesia
1905	Batur Batur I, Batur II, Batur III	2	Bali, Indonesia
1904	Batur West caldera floor (Gunung Anti)	2	Bali, Indonesia

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Bali FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Bali?

The last volcanic eruption in Bali was from Agung volcano during 2017 - 2019.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Bali?

The first historically documented eruption occurred 1804 from Batur volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Bali erupt?

Since 1804, Bali has seen at least 29 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 7.6 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Bali?

Bali is volcanically infrequently active: Since 1900, at least 2 volcanoes in Bali have been active.Since 1900, Bali has had 21 volcanic eruptions from 2 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 24 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Bali has been in eruption in one in 5.3 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Bali was Agung volcano. Its was active from 2017 until 2019 and ended 6 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Bali?

The largest eruption in Bali in historic times was from Agung volcano. It occurred during 1963 - 1964. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest earthquakes: Bali

There were 3 quakes of magnitude 2.0+ in or near Bali in the past 7 days.

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
Jul 25, 10:39 am (Universal Time)	2.2 92 km	32 km (20 mi) SW of Rinjani	Sumbawa Region, Indonesia	Info
Thursday, July 24, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jul 24, 05:02 pm (Universal Time)	2.2 108 km	37 km (23 mi) SW of Rinjani	Sumbawa Region, Indonesia	Info
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jul 23, 10:27 am (Universal Time)	2.2 79 km	50 km (31 mi) S of Ijen	Bali Region, Indonesia	Info

See Recent Quakes

Volcano List

Agung

(Stratovolcano 3142 m (10,308 ft))

Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia - Photo by Thomas Heuer

Mount Agung or Gunung Agung is a active volcano in Bali. This stratovolcano is the highest point on the island. It dominates the surrounding area influencing the climate. The clouds come from the west and Agung takes their water so that the west is lush and green and the east dry... [more info]

Batur

(Caldera 1717 m / 5,633 ft)

Batur is the most active volcano on the popular tourist island of Bali and one of Inondesia's more active ones. During the past centuries, Batur has had a number of small eruptions every few years. Thanks to the scenic beauty of the caldera with its lake and the cone of Batur, it... [more info]