What was erupting in the year...?
There were 81 confirmed eruptions at some point during 2012 from 72 different volcanoes; 41 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 (30 December 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Cristobal | Nicaragua | 2012 Dec 26 | 2012 Dec 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Copahue | Chile-Argentina | 2012 Dec 22 | 2013 Dec 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tungurahua | Ecuador | 2012 Dec 14 | 2016 Mar 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ioto | Japan | 2012 Dec 1 | 2013 Apr 11 | Phreatic | 1 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 2012 Dec 1 | 2012 Dec 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Tolbachik | Russia | 2012 Nov 27 | 2013 Sep 5 ± 10 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Tongariro | New Zealand | 2012 Nov 21 | 2012 Nov 21 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Chirpoi | Russia | 2012 Nov 11 | 2016 Oct 18 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 2012 Nov 6 | 2012 Dec 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 2012 Oct 17 | 2012 Oct 17 | Phreatic | 1 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 2012 Oct 16 ± 2 days | 2013 Jan 6 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Paluweh | Indonesia | 2012 Oct 8 | 2013 Oct 31 ± 7 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Alaid | Russia | 2012 Oct 5 | 2012 Dec 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 2012 Sep 26 | 2012 Sep 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Gamalama | Indonesia | 2012 Sep 15 | 2012 Sep 17 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 2012 Sep 15 | 2013 Sep 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| San Cristobal | Nicaragua | 2012 Sep 8 | 2012 Sep 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Heard | Australia | 2012 Sep 5 ± 4 days | 2025 Dec 26 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 0 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 2012 Sep 1 (?) | 2013 Jan 28 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Soputan | Indonesia | 2012 Aug 26 | 2012 Sep 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Etorofu-Yakeyama [Grozny Group] | Japan - administered by Russia | 2012 Aug 16 | 2012 Aug 25 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 2012 Aug 7 | 2013 Oct 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tongariro | New Zealand | 2012 Aug 6 | 2012 Aug 7 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Monowai | New Zealand | 2012 Aug 3 | 2012 Aug 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Copahue | Chile-Argentina | 2012 Jul 17 | 2012 Jul 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Havre Seamount | New Zealand | 2012 Jul 17 | 2012 Jul 19 | Submarine | 1 |
| Pagan | United States | 2012 Jul 10 | 2012 Jul 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 2012 May 14 | 2013 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Galeras | Colombia | 2012 May 13 | 2014 Jan 30 ± 1 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Sirung | Indonesia | 2012 May 8 | 2012 May 12 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 2012 May 7 | 2012 May 31 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Witori | Papua New Guinea | 2012 May 3 | 2012 Jul 11 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 2012 Apr 30 | 2012 Jun 8 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 2012 Mar 1 ± 3 days | 2012 May 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 2012 Feb 22 | 2013 Jul 12 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 2012 Feb 19 | 2012 Apr 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kanaga | United States | 2012 Feb 18 | 2012 Feb 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 2012 Feb 12 | 2013 Jun 20 | Explosive / Effusive | – |
| Ioto | Japan | 2012 Feb 10 | 2012 Jul 9 | Phreatic | 1 |
| Turrialba | Costa Rica | 2012 Jan 12 | 2012 Jan 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lewotolok | Indonesia | 2012 Jan 2 | 2012 Jan 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Zubair Group | Yemen | 2011 Dec 18 | 2012 Jan 12 | Submarine | 2 |
| Tungurahua | Ecuador | 2011 Nov 27 | 2012 Sep 4 | Explosive / Effusive | – |
| Nyamulagira | DR Congo | 2011 Nov 6 | 2012 Mar 16 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Hierro | Spain | 2011 Oct 10 | 2012 Mar 5 | Submarine | 2 |
| Cleveland | United States | 2011 Jul 19 ± 7 days | 2015 Aug 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 2011 Jun 26 | 2012 May 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 2011 Jun 22 (in or before) | 2014 Jul 15 ± 10 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Nabro | Eritrea | 2011 Jun 13 | 2012 Jun 3 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 2011 Jun 6 | 2012 Sep 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Puyehue-Cordon Caulle | Chile | 2011 Jun 4 | 2012 Apr 21 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 5 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 2011 May 13 (on or before) | 2012 Jul 20 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kizimen | Russia | 2010 Nov 11 | 2013 Sep 13 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Krakatau | Indonesia | 2010 Oct 25 (?) | 2012 Sep 9 ± 1 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 2010 Aug 25 | 2013 Apr 27 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 2010 Aug 10 (?) | 2013 Dec 15 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 2009 Nov 22 | 2012 Apr 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 2009 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 2014 Oct 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Nevado del Huila | Colombia | 2008 Oct 26 (?) | 2012 Jan 14 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 2008 Jul 27 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 2008 May 23 | 2018 Dec 17 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ibu | Indonesia | 2008 Apr 5 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Batu Tara | Indonesia | 2007 Jan 17 (?) | 2015 Nov 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Soufriere Hills | United Kingdom | 2005 Apr 15 | 2013 Feb 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | 2005 Jan 9 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 2004 Oct 23 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tofua | Tonga | 2004 Mar 19 | 2014 Oct 18 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 2002 May 17 (?) | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 2002 Jan 4 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 2001 Nov 15 | 2016 Apr 1 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Saunders | United Kingdom | 2000 May 13 | 2013 Nov 16 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 2000 Feb 28 (in or before) | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 1999 Aug 15 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Dec 29 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.4; 30 Dec 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
