An active volcano is a volcano that is currently erupting, or has the potential to erupt in the future. Conventionally it is applied to any that have erupted during the Holocene (the current geologic epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago). A volcano that is not currently erupting but could erupt in the future is also known as a dormant volcano. Volcanoes that will not erupt again, or are thought to never erupt again, are known as extinct volcanoes.
Overview There are 1,650 potentially active volcanoes around the world, 500 of which have erupted in historical time. Many active volcanoes are located along the Pacific Rim, also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. An estimated 500 million people live near active volcanoes.
Historical time (or recorded history) is another timeframe for active. The span of recorded history differs from region to region. In China and the Mediterranean, it reaches back nearly 3,000 years, but in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada, it reaches back less than 300 years, and in Hawaii and New Zealand it is only around 200 years. The incomplete Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World, published in parts between 1951 and 1975 by the International Association of Volcanology, uses this definition, by which there are more than 500 active volcanoes. , the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program recognizes 560 volcanoes with confirmed historical eruptions.
Countries with the most Holocene volcanoes, according to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program ():
United States: 165 Japan: 122 Russia: 117 Indonesia 117 Chile: 91
Countries with the most volcanoes active since 1960 ():
Indonesia: 55 Japan: 40 US: 39 (mostly volcanic areas in and around Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington State and Pacific territories) Russia: 27 Chile: 19 Papua New Guinea: 13 Ecuador: 12
As of 2025, the following are considered Earth's most active volcanoes: Kīlauea, the famous Hawaiian volcano, was in nearly continuous, effusive eruption (in which lava steadily flows onto the ground) between 1983 through 2018, and had the longest-observed lava lake. Mount Etna and nearby Stromboli, two Mediterranean volcanoes. Piton de la Fournaise, in Réunion, erupts frequently enough to be a tourist attraction.
Other highly active volcanoes include:
Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the largest active volcano in the world. Its summit is more than above sea level, and above its base in the sea floor. Mount Nyiragongo and its neighbor, Nyamuragira, are Africa's most active volcanoes. Erta Ale, in the Afar Triangle, has maintained a lava lake since at least 1906. Mount Erebus, in Antarctica, has maintained a lava lake since at least 1972. Mount Merapi Whakaari / White Island, has been in a continuous state of releasing volcanic gas since before European observation in 1769. Ol Doinyo Lengai Mount Ibu, a stratovolcano in Indonesia. Constant volcanic eruptions since 2012. Ambrym Barren Island (Andaman Islands) Sangay Arenal Volcano Pacaya Klyuchevskaya Sopka Sheveluch Semeru
Holocene volcanoes with large populations within :
Michoacan-Guanajuato volcano in Mexico and Tatun Volcanic Group in Taiwan both have more than 5 million people living within of the volcano. Campi Flegrei in Italy and Ilopango in El Salvador both have populations of over 2 million people living within of the volcanoes. Hainan Volcanic Field in China, San Pablo Volcanic Field in the Philippines, Ghegham Volcanic Ridge in Armenia, Dieng Volcanic Complex, in Indonesia, and Auckland Volcanic Field in New Zealand all have over 1 million people living within of each volcano.
By country
Argentina
Argentina is part of the Andes Mountains volcanic belt along the western South American Pacific coast. These volcanoes are a result of subduction, where the Nazca Plate is subducting below the South American Plate. The following list are active/dormant volcanoes in Argentina:
Aracar, a Stratovolcano Arizaro volcanic field, a volcanic field Cerro Bayo, a stratovolcano Cerro Blanco (volcano), a caldera Cerro de los Chenques, a volcanic field Cerro El Cóndor, a stratovolcano Cerro Escorial, a stratovolcano Cerro Torta, a lava dome Cerro Tuzgle, a stratovolcano Cerro Volcánico, a stratovolcano Copahue, a stratovolcano Corrida de Cori, a stratovolcano Cueros de Purulla, a lava dome Falso Azufre, a stratovolcano Huanquihue Group, a group of stratovolcanoes Infiernillo (volcanic field), a volcanic field Lanín, a stratovolcano Lastarria, a stratovolcano Llullaillaco, a stratovolcano Los Gemelos-El Saladillo, a volcano field Maipo (volcano). a stratovolcano Negro de Chorrillos, a volcano field Pali-Aike volcanic field, a volcano field Pasto Ventura, a volcano field Payún Matrú, a shield volcano Peinado, a stratovolcano Planchón-Peteroa, a stratovolcano Puesto Cortaderas, a maar volcano San Jerónimo volcano, a volcano field Socompa, a stratovolcano Tipas, a stratovolcano Tromen, a stratovolcano Viedma, a stratovolcano
Bolivia Cerro Chascon-Runtu Jarita complex, a lava dome Irruputuncu, a stratovolcano Jayu Quta (Ladislao Cabrera), a maar volcano Jorcada, a stratovolcano Michincha, a stratovolcano Nuevo Mundo volcano, a stratovolcano Olca, a stratovolcano Pampa Luxsar, a volcano field Parinacota (volcano), a stratovolcano Paruma, a stratovolcano Patilla Pata, a stratovolcano Pumiri, a stratovolcano Nevado Sajama, a stratovolcano Tata Sabaya, a stratovolcano Tocorpuri, a stratovolcano Uturuncu, a startovolcano
Chile
Acotango, a stratovolcano Aguilera, a stratovolcano Purico complex, a complex volcano Antillanca Group, a volcano field Antuco (volcano), a stratovolcano Apacheta-Aguilucho volcanic complex, a volcano field Arintica, a stratovolcano Aucanquilcha, a stratovolcano Monte Burney, a stratovolcano Caburgua-Huelemolle, a stratovolcano Calabozos, a caldera Calbuco (volcano), a stratovolcano Cerro Arenales, a stratovolcano Callaqui, a stratovolcano Carrán-Los Venados, a maar volcano Cerro Ascotan, a stratovolcano Cerro Azul (Chile volcano), a stratovolcano Cerro del Azufre, a stratovolcano Toconce (volcano), a stratovolcano Cerro Tujle, a volcano field Chaitén (volcano), a stratovolcano Colachi, a stratovolcano Corcovado Volcano, a stratovolcano Cordón de Puntas Negras, a stratovolcano Cordón del Azufre, a stratovolcano Descabezado Grande, a stratovolcano Falso Azufre, a stratovolcano Fueguino, a volcano field Guayaques, a rhyolite lava dome Hornopirén (volcano), a stratovolcano Huequi, a stratovolcano Isluga, a stratovolcano Laguna del Maule (volcano), a volcano field Lanín, a stratovolcano Lascar (volcano), a stratovolcano Licancabur, a stratovolcano Nevado de Longaví, a stratovolcano Lonquimay (volcano), a stratovolcano Llaima, a stratovolcano Cerro Macá, a stratovolcano Melimoyu, a stratovolcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, a stratovolcano Mentolat, a caldera Michinmahuida, a stratovolcano Mocho-Choshuenco, a stratovolcano Hudson Volcano, a stratovolcano Nevados de Chillán, a group of stratovolcanoes Ojos del Salado, a complex volcano Olca-Paruma, a volcanic complex Osorno (volcano), a stratovolcano Pali-Aike volcanic field. a volcano field Palomo, a stratovolcano Parinacota (volcano), a stratovolcano Puntiagudo-Cordón Cenizos, a stratovolcano Purico complex, a volcano field Volcán Putana, a stratovolcano Puyuhuapi (volcanic group), a volcano field Quetrupillán, a stratovolcano Reclus (volcano), a stratovolcano Resago, a cinder cone Sairecabur, a stratovolcano San José (volcano), a stratovolcano San Pedro (Chile volcano), a stratovolcano San Pedro de Tatara, a stratovolcano Sierra Nevada (stratovolcano), a stratovolcano Socompa, a stratovolcano Sollipulli, a caldera Taapaca, a stratovolcano Tinguiririca Volcano, a stratovolcano Tolhuaca (volcano), a stratovolcano Tupungatito, a stratovolcano Villarrica (volcano), a stratovolcano Guallatiri, a stratovolcano Yanteles, a stratovolcano Yate (volcano), a stratovolcano
Colombia Azufral, a stratovolcano Cerro Bravo, a stratovolcano Cerro Machín, a stratovolcano Cerro Negro de Mayasquer, a stratovolcano Cumbal Volcano, a stratovolcano Doña Juana, a stratovolcano Galeras, a stratovolcano Nevado del Huila, a stratovolcano Nevado del Tolima, a stratovolcano Nevado del Ruiz, a stratovolcano Petacas, a lava dome Puracé, a stratovolcano Romeral (volcano), a stratovolcano Nevado de Santa Isabel, a shield volcano Sotará (volcano), a stratovolcano
Costa Rica
Rincón de la Vieja, a stratovolcano Arenal, a stratovolcano Poás, a stratovolcano Irazu, a stratovolcano Turrialba, a stratovolcano
Ecuador Antisana, a stratovolcano Atacazo, a stratovolcano Cayambe (volcano), a complex volcano Chacana, a caldera Chiles (volcano), a stratovolcano Chimborazo, a stratovolcano Corazón (volcano), a stratovolcano Cotacachi Volcano, a stratovolcano Cotopaxi, a stratovolcano Cuicocha, a caldera Mojanda, a stratovolcano Aliso (volcano), a stratovolcano Pichincha (volcano), a stratovolcano Pilavo, a shield volcano Pululahua, a stratovolcano Quilotoa, a caldera Reventador, a stratovolcano Sangay, a stratovolcano Sincholagua Volcano, a stratovolcano Soche, a stratovolcano Sumaco, a stratovolcano Licto volcanic field, a volcano field Tungurahua, a stratovolcano Yanaurcu (Ecuador), a lava dome
The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) La Cumbre (Galápagos Islands). a shield volcano Volcán Wolf, a shield volcano Sierra Negra (Galápagos), a shield volcano Cerro Azul (Ecuador volcano), a shield volcano Alcedo Volcano, a shiled volcano Marchena Island, a shield volcano Pinta Island, a shield volcano Santiago Island (Galápagos), a shield volcano Volcán Darwin, a shield volcano Volcán Ecuador, a shield volcano
Greece Santorini caldera, a caldera Milos, a stratovolcano Methana, a lava dome Nisyros, a caldera Sousaki volcano, a stratovolcano
El Salvador Cordillera de Apaneca, a volcanic ridge Apastepeque Volcanic Field, a volcanic field Chingo, a stratovolcano Cerro Cinotepeque, a volcano field Chinameca (volcano), a stratovolcano Coatepeque Caldera, a caldera Guazapa (volcano), a stratovolcano Lake Ilopango, a caldera Izalco (volcano), a stratovolcano San Diego volcanic field, a volcanic field San Miguel (volcano), a stratovolcano, last erupted in 2022. San Salvador (volcano), a stratovolcano San Vicente (volcano), a stratovolcano Santa Ana Volcano, a stratovolcano Taburete, a stratovolcano Tecapa, a stratovolcano Usulután (volcano), a stratovolcano
Ethiopia
Hayli Gubbi, a shield volcano
Guatemala Source: Acatenango, a stratovolcano Atitlán, a stratovolcano Fuego, a stratovolcano Pacaya, a volcanic complex Santa María, a stratovolcano Tacaná, a stratovolcano
Honduras Tiger Island, a stratovolcano Isla Zacate Grande, a stratovolcano Lake Yojoa, a volcano field Utila, a shield volcano in the Caribbean Sea.
Iceland Source:
Askja, a stratovolcano Bardarbunga, a stratovolcano Brennisteinsfjoll, crater rows Eldvörp–Svartsengi, fissure vents Eldey, fissure vent Esjufjoll, stratovolcano Eyjafjallajokull, stratovolcano Fagradalsfjall, fissure vents. Short and frequent eruptions between 2021 and 2023. Fremrinamar, stratovolcano Grimsnes, volcanic field Grimsvotn, caldera Heidarspordar, fissure vent Hekla, stratovolcano Helgrindur, volcanic field Hengill, crater rows Hofsjokull, fissure vent Hromundartindur, stratovolcano Katla, fissure vent Kolbeinsey Ridge, fissure vent Krafla, caldera Krysuvik-Trolladyngja, crater rows Kverkfjoll, stratovolcano Ljosufjoll, volcanic field Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull, fissure vent Oraefajokull, stratovolcano Prestahnukur, fissure vent Reykjanes, crater rows Snaefell, stratovolcano Snaefellsjokull, stratovolcano Theistareykir, shield volcano Thordarhyrna, stratovolcano Tindfjallajokull, stratovolcano Tjornes fracture zone, fissure vent Torfajokull, stratovolcano Tungnafellsjokull, stratovolcano Vestmannaeyjar, fissure vents
Indonesia Source:
Sumatera Island