What was erupting in the year...?
There were 64 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1974 from 60 different volcanoes; 27 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (19 September 2025). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Eruption Type | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilauea | United States | 1974 Dec 31 | 1974 Dec 31 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Karkar | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Dec 30 (?) | 1975 Jun 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba | Japan | 1974 Dec 24 | 1975 Nov 13 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1974 Nov 12 | 1974 Dec 12 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ritter Island | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Oct 17 | 1974 Oct 17 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 1974 Oct 10 | 1974 Dec 4 | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 1974 Sep 11 | 1975 Feb 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 1974 Sep 8 ± 10 days | Unknown | 2 | |
| Kick 'em Jenny | Grenada | 1974 Sep 5 | 1974 Sep 6 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1974 Sep 1 (on or before) | 1975 Jan 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Niigata-Yakeyama | Japan | 1974 Jul 28 | 1974 Jul 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Trident | United States | 1974 Jul 15 ± 45 days | Unknown | 3 | |
| Galeras | Colombia | 1974 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1983 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 1974 Jun 15 | 1974 Jul 17 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kuchinoerabujima | Japan | 1974 Jun 3 | 1974 Jun 3 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1974 Apr 8 | 1974 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Batur | Indonesia | 1974 Mar 12 | 1974 Apr 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1974 Mar 12 | 1974 Mar 24 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Chokaisan | Japan | 1974 Mar 1 | 1974 Apr 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Izu-Oshima | Japan | 1974 Feb 28 | 1974 Jun 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Dempo | Indonesia | 1974 Feb 26 | 1974 Oct 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Great Sitkin | United States | 1974 Feb 19 | 1974 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karkar | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Feb 14 | 1974 Aug 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Akutan | United States | 1974 Feb 11 (on or before) | Unknown | 2 | |
| Kuwae | Vanuatu | 1974 Feb 4 ± 4 days | 1974 Sep 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 1974 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Oct 7 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Concepcion | Nicaragua | 1973 Dec 24 | 1974 Jan 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba | Japan | 1973 Dec 18 | 1974 Feb 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Iliwerung | Indonesia | 1973 Dec 5 | 1974 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 1973 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Jul 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1973 Oct 31 | 1974 Oct 25 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Gaua | Vanuatu | 1973 Oct 9 | 1974 Jan 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Fukujin | United States | 1973 Sep 27 | 1974 Mar 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 1973 Sep 15 | 1974 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Iliboleng | Indonesia | 1973 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Apr 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Long Island | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Feb 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1973 Apr 15 ± 5 days | 1976 Oct 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nishinoshima | Japan | 1973 Apr 12 | 1974 May 5 ± 4 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Asosan | Japan | 1973 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1975 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Tongariro | New Zealand | 1972 Nov 22 | 1974 Aug 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (on or after) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1972 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1976 Apr 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Etna | Italy | 1971 Sep 19 | 1979 Mar 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1971 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1974 Dec 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 1970 May 11 | 1982 Oct 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1969 Feb 22 | 1974 Sep 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 1965 Oct 10 (?) | 1985 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1956 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1984 May 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 1927 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1977 Jan 10 | Lava Lake | 1 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.3; 26 Nov 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
