What volcanoes have had the longest eruptions?
There have been 105 confirmed eruptions with start dates in 1800 or later that have lasted at least 60 months (5 years or more), from 60 different volcanoes. Continuing eruptions account for 28. The number of Eruption Months is a count of the number of different months from the Start Date to the Stop Date, not taking any uncertainty into account. Eruption Years is the number of full years in eruption calculated from the month total. This does not consider any eruptive pauses shorter than three months; for consistency in the Volcanoes of the World database, renewed eruptions after inactivity lasting more than three months results in the designation of a new eruption. Eruptions are listed below sorted with the longest at the top.
Not on this list because there is no clear start date, is Yasur in Vanuatu. It was observed to be erupting by Captain Cook in 1774, and has been in constant activity since then. However, research (tephra stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating) has shown that the same style of activity may have begun around 1270 CE and persisted now for over 750 years.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Months | Eruption Years | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1228 | 102 | 1922 Jun 22 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 3 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1094 | 91 | 1933 Aug 13 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1088 | 91 | 1934 Feb 2 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 919 | 77 | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | 3 |
| Aira | Japan | 730 | 61 | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 687 | 57 | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 0 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 622 | 52 | 1972 Dec 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 598 | 50 | 1927 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1977 Jan 10 | 1 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 509 | 42 | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 499 | 42 | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 428 | 36 | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | 3 |
| Vesuvius | Italy | 369 | 31 | 1913 Jul 5 | 1944 Apr 4 | 3 |
| Vesuvius | Italy | 364 | 30 | 1875 Dec 18 | 1906 Apr 22 | 4 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 332 | 28 | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 330 | 28 | 1956 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1984 May 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 308 | 26 | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 302 | 25 | 1999 Aug 15 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 4 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 296 | 25 | 2000 Feb 28 (in or before) | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 284 | 24 | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | 3 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 276 | 23 | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (in or after) ± 182 days | 2 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 273 | 23 | 2002 Jan 4 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 3 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 268 | 22 | 2002 May 17 (?) | 2024 Sep 13 (continuing) | 2 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 240 | 20 | 2004 Oct 23 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | 237 | 20 | 2005 Jan 9 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 234 | 20 | 1965 Oct 10 (?) | 1985 Apr 16 (?) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Ibu | Indonesia | 198 | 17 | 2008 Apr 5 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 1 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 195 | 16 | 2008 Jul 27 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 173 | 14 | 1950 Jul 23 | 1964 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 173 | 14 | 2001 Nov 15 | 2016 Apr 1 | 3 |
| Etna | Italy | 164 | 14 | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | 2 |
| Colima | Mexico | 163 | 14 | 1997 Nov 22 | 2011 Jun 21 | 3 |
| Saunders | United Kingdom | 162 | 14 | 2000 May 13 | 2013 Nov 16 | 0 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 156 | 13 | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 2 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 149 | 12 | 1972 Oct 6 | 1985 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 149 | 12 | 1970 May 11 | 1982 Oct 11 | 3 |
| Heard | Australia | 145 | 12 | 2012 Sep 5 ± 4 days | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 0 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 142 | 12 | 1994 Sep 18 | 2006 Jul 16 (?) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 129 | 11 | 1992 Jan 20 | 2002 Oct 19 (?) | 2 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 128 | 11 | 1983 Jan 1 | 1993 Sep 24 | 2 |
| Tofua | Tonga | 127 | 11 | 2004 Mar 19 | 2014 Oct 18 | 1 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 127 | 11 | 2008 May 23 | 2018 Dec 17 | 2 |
| Vesuvius | Italy | 122 | 10 | 1824 Jul 2 | 1834 Sep 2 | 3 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 122 | 10 | 1990 Jan 4 (?) | 2000 Mar 1 | 3 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 119 | 10 | 2014 Nov 18 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Villarrica | Chile | 118 | 10 | 2014 Dec 2 ± 7 days | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 3 |
| Tungurahua | Ecuador | 117 | 10 | 1999 Oct 5 | 2009 Jul 8 ± 7 days | 3 |
| Saunders | United Kingdom | 117 | 10 | 2014 Nov 12 | 2024 Aug 12 (continuing) | 1 |
| Tungurahua | Ecuador | 117 | 10 | 1916 Mar 3 | 1925 Dec 1 ± 30 days | 4 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 110 | 9 | 1996 Jun 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2005 Aug 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Izalco | El Salvador | 109 | 9 | 1948 Nov 4 | 1957 Dec 1 ± 30 days | 3 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 108 | 9 | 2015 Oct 3 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 1 |
| Michoacan-Guanajuato | Mexico | 108 | 9 | 1943 Feb 20 | 1952 Feb 25 | 4 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 108 | 9 | 1898 Dec 29 | 1907 Dec 31 ± 365 days | 1 |
| Galeras | Colombia | 108 | 9 | 1974 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1983 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 1 |
| Tofua | Tonga | 107 | 9 | 2015 Oct 2 | 2024 Sep 28 (continuing) | 0 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 108 | 9 | 2015 Oct 22 (?) | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Batu Tara | Indonesia | 106 | 9 | 2007 Jan 17 (?) | 2015 Nov 26 | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 105 | 9 | 2013 Sep 3 | 2022 Jun 17 | 3 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 101 | 8 | 1986 Feb 1 (?) | 1994 Jul 28 | 3 |
| Vesuvius | Italy | 101 | 8 | 1841 Sep 20 | 1850 Feb 16 | 2 |
| Sabancaya | Peru | 100 | 8 | 1990 May 28 | 1998 Sep 16 (?) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Soufriere Hills | United Kingdom | 99 | 8 | 1995 Jul 18 | 2003 Oct 8 | 3 |
| Lascar | Chile | 98 | 8 | 1959 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1968 Jan 31 (in or after) | 2 |
| Sabancaya | Peru | 95 | 8 | 2016 Nov 6 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 3 |
| Soufriere Hills | United Kingdom | 94 | 8 | 2005 Apr 15 | 2013 Feb 5 | 3 |
| Popocatepetl | Mexico | 92 | 8 | 1996 Mar 5 | 2003 Nov 22 (?) | 3 |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 91 | 8 | 1987 Jan 15 | 1994 Aug 12 (in or after) | 2 |
| Aira | Japan | 91 | 8 | 2017 Mar 25 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 90 | 8 | 2017 Apr 9 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 0 |
| Etna | Italy | 90 | 8 | 1971 Sep 19 | 1979 Mar 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 88 | 7 | 2017 Jun 6 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 4 |
| Etna | Italy | 86 | 7 | 1994 Jun 17 | 2001 Aug 9 | 3 |
| Colima | Mexico | 84 | 7 | 1963 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1970 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 81 | 7 | 2016 Jan 8 | 2022 Oct 17 | 2 |
| NW Rota-1 | United States | 80 | 7 | 2003 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 2010 Mar 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 0 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 80 | 7 | 1960 Mar 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 1966 Nov 28 ± 30 days | 3 |
| St. Helens | United States | 79 | 7 | 1980 Mar 27 | 1986 Oct 28 ± 3 days | 5 |
| Nyamulagira | DR Congo | 78 | 7 | 2018 Apr 18 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 0 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 77 | 6 | 2018 May 10 ± 10 days | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 4 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 75 | 6 | 1990 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1996 Jul 14 | 2 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 74 | 6 | 2015 Jun 7 ± 1 days | 2021 Aug 13 | 1 |
| Vesuvius | Italy | 72 | 6 | 1855 Dec 19 | 1861 Dec 31 | 3 |
| Montagu Island | United Kingdom | 71 | 6 | 2001 Oct 1 ± 20 days | 2007 Sep 20 | 1 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 70 | 6 | 1985 Sep 11 | 1991 Jul 13 | 3 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 69 | 6 | 1953 Mar 2 | 1958 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Rabaul | Papua New Guinea | 70 | 6 | 1995 Nov 28 | 2001 Sep 5 ± 4 days | 2 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 69 | 6 | 1952 Mar 23 | 1957 Dec 25 | 2 |
| Tinakula | Solomon Islands | 69 | 6 | 2018 Dec 8 (in or before) | 2024 Sep 7 (continuing) | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 67 | 6 | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | 1988 Dec 31 (in or after) | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 67 | 6 | 1969 Feb 22 | 1974 Sep 19 | 0 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 67 | 6 | 2019 Mar 26 | 2024 Oct 17 (continuing) | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 66 | 6 | 1935 Jul 7 | 1941 Jan 27 (?) | 3 |
| Lamington | Papua New Guinea | 66 | 6 | 1951 Jan 17 | 1956 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 4 |
| Etna | Italy | 65 | 5 | 1966 Jan 10 | 1971 Jun 12 | 2 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 65 | 5 | 1944 Nov 5 | 1950 Apr 6 | 2 |
| Asamayama | Japan | 65 | 5 | 1909 Jan 29 | 1914 Jun 24 | 1 |
| Soputan | Indonesia | 64 | 5 | 1991 May 22 | 1996 Sep 29 (in or after) | 2 |
| Kadovar | Papua New Guinea | 64 | 5 | 2018 Jan 5 | 2023 May 14 | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 62 | 5 | 1959 Oct 17 | 1964 Dec 31 | 3 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 62 | 5 | 2004 Oct 24 | 2009 Dec 12 (?) | 4 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 61 | 5 | 1976 Dec 18 | 1982 Jan 29 | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 61 | 5 | 1990 Jan 10 | 1995 Feb 16 ± 15 days | 3 |
| Ebeko | Russia | 61 | 5 | 2016 Oct 20 | 2021 Nov 9 | 2 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 60 | 5 | 1965 Mar 9 | 1970 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 3 |
| Southern EPR at 8°S | Undersea Features | 60 | 5 | 1964 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 1969 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 0 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.2.4; 21 Oct 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2024.5.2
