Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Argentina
Argentina has catalogued 4,405 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 17th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.
Argentina ranks 17th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 210 M4+ events a year alongside 117 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1912 to 2025, peaking in 1977.
- 4,405
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 117
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~210
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Argentina is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,405 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 117 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- 1977
- busiest year (7 major events)
- 271 km
- average recorded event depth
- 28%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Fiji sits immediately above at 4,530 events and India sits immediately below at 4,099.
USGS event tape strip
Event tape ARGENTINA · Argentina M4+ · 17th/187
Argentina · 4,405 M4+ · max M7.7 · 117 M6+
- RANK 4,405
- MAX 17th/187
- M6 M7.7
- DEPTH 117
- PHOTO near Fiji
- BUSY 28% shallow
Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →
Observed impact record
What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Argentina
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 60 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.2. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 60
- Average observed MMI
- 5.2
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 24 / 4
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where Argentina sits in the catalog
Rank 17th of 187 tracked countries (91th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Fiji sits immediately above at 4,530 events and India sits immediately below at 4,099.
Argentina's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
4,405 Top 9% higher than 91% of 187 countries
Each bar is a 500-wide band; taller bars hold more countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Argentina by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2013 1
2013: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014 1
2014: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2015 2
2015: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2016 2
2016: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2017 1
2017: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2019 2
2019: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2020 1
2020: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2021
2021: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2022 2
2022: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2023
2023: 7 major (M6+) events
7
- 2024 1
2024: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025 1
2025: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Argentina's most active year for major earthquakes was 1977 (7 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
How Argentina earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0.0% | +29.3% |
| 2024 | 1 | -85.7% | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 7 | +250.0% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2 | -33.3% | -8.9% |
Argentina's M4+ activity fell more than the global average in 2025: 0.0% locally vs +29.3% globally.
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ = magnitude 4.0 or greater. YoY = year-on-year change. Global column uses the worldwide total from the same catalog.
42 of 4,405 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 117 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Argentina.
M7.0-7.9
14
12.0%
M6.0-6.9
103
88.0%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 117 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 271 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
33
28.2% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
46
39.3% of events
Deep (>300 km)
38
32.5% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Argentina
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | 123 km W of Río Grande, Argentina | 10.0 km | Dec 17, 1949 |
| 7.4 | San Juan, Argentina | 13.0 km | Nov 23, 1977 |
| 7.3 | 27 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 558.0 km | Jun 23, 1991 |
| 7.3 | 31 km SE of Villa Atamisqui, Argentina | 620.0 km | Dec 7, 1912 |
| 7.2 | 75 km N of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 225.0 km | May 12, 2000 |
| 7.2 | 13 km ENE of Trevelin, Argentina | 15.0 km | Mar 2, 1919 |
| 7.2 | 21 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina | 588.7 km | Dec 8, 1962 |
| 7.1 | 44 km WNW of Quimilí, Argentina | 610.0 km | Aug 14, 1950 |
| 7.1 | 48 km NNW of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 600.0 km | Jun 21, 1916 |
| 7.0 | 32 km NW of Fiambalá, Argentina | 15.0 km | Aug 3, 1920 |
Significant earthquake record (117 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Argentina since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 | 289 km SSE of Ushuaia, Argentina | 8.0 km | May 2, 2025 |
| 6.0 | 95 km NNW of Villa General Roca, Argentina | 141.0 km | Sep 21, 2024 |
| 6.0 | 61 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 253.0 km | Oct 10, 2023 |
| 6.2 | 17 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 554.0 km | Aug 23, 2023 |
| 6.2 | Santiago del Estero, Argentina | 575.0 km | Aug 5, 2023 |
| 6.6 | 19 km SE of Loncopué, Argentina | 186.0 km | Jul 17, 2023 |
| 6.4 | 86 km WSW of El Aguilar, Argentina | 228.0 km | Mar 22, 2023 |
| 6.4 | Santiago del Estero, Argentina | 580.0 km | Jan 24, 2023 |
| 6.8 | 29 km SW of Campo Gallo, Argentina | 596.8 km | Jan 20, 2023 |
| 6.8 | 86 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 220.0 km | May 10, 2022 |
| 6.0 | 58 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 251.0 km | Feb 22, 2022 |
| 6.2 | 86 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 205.0 km | Sep 13, 2021 |
| 6.4 | 26 km SW of Pocito, Argentina | 20.8 km | Jan 19, 2021 |
| 6.1 | 32 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 217.0 km | Jan 10, 2021 |
| 6.3 | 70 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 189.0 km | Nov 30, 2020 |
| 6.0 | 16 km WNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 572.4 km | Dec 24, 2019 |
| 6.1 | 30 km W of Villa La Angostura, Argentina | 129.0 km | Sep 26, 2019 |
| 6.4 | 52 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 222.0 km | Feb 18, 2017 |
| 6.4 | 7 km NNW of Pocito, Argentina | 108.0 km | Nov 20, 2016 |
| 6.2 | 49 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina | 270.0 km | Aug 4, 2016 |
| 6.7 | 103 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina | 223.0 km | Feb 11, 2015 |
| 6.3 | 63 km W of Villa General Roca, Argentina | 172.0 km | Feb 2, 2015 |
| 6.2 | 56 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 224.0 km | Sep 24, 2014 |
| 6.1 | 32 km E of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 575.2 km | Feb 22, 2013 |
| 6.7 | 35 km ESE of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 586.9 km | May 28, 2012 |
| 6.1 | 37 km SSE of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 553.9 km | Mar 5, 2012 |
| 6.7 | 20 km WNW of Añatuya, Argentina | 578.9 km | Sep 2, 2011 |
| 7.0 | 26 km NNE of El Hoyo, Argentina | 576.8 km | Jan 1, 2011 |
| 6.3 | 5 km NE of Campo Quijano, Argentina | 10.0 km | Feb 27, 2010 |
| 6.0 | 40 km WSW of Villa Basilio Nievas, Argentina | 39.8 km | Feb 27, 2010 |
| 6.2 | 100 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 220.4 km | Nov 14, 2009 |
| 6.3 | 32 km N of El Hoyo, Argentina | 569.6 km | Sep 3, 2008 |
| 6.0 | Jujuy, Argentina | 246.4 km | Nov 18, 2007 |
| 6.4 | 19 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina | 289.5 km | Jul 21, 2007 |
| 6.8 | 48 km S of Taco Pozo, Argentina | 572.0 km | Nov 13, 2006 |
| 6.0 | 19 km NNE of El Hoyo, Argentina | 598.3 km | Sep 22, 2006 |
| 6.2 | 108 km E of Caucete, Argentina | 137.0 km | Sep 17, 2006 |
| 6.0 | 70 km WSW of Vinchina, Argentina | 114.0 km | Sep 12, 2006 |
| 6.6 | 74 km WSW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 184.0 km | Aug 25, 2006 |
| 6.1 | 69 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 196.2 km | Jun 2, 2005 |
| 6.4 | 59 km ESE of Apolinario Saravia, Argentina | 570.1 km | Mar 21, 2005 |
| 6.9 | 67 km ENE of Joaquín V. González, Argentina | 579.1 km | Mar 21, 2005 |
| 6.1 | 36 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 568.7 km | Nov 12, 2004 |
| 6.4 | 12 km SSW of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina | 22.3 km | Sep 7, 2004 |
| 6.3 | 29 km SE of Calingasta, Argentina | 119.6 km | Sep 24, 2002 |
| 6.0 | 39 km S of Arauco, Argentina | 22.2 km | May 28, 2002 |
| 7.2 | 75 km N of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 225.0 km | May 12, 2000 |
| 6.1 | 13 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina | 609.8 km | Apr 23, 2000 |
| 7.0 | 22 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina | 608.5 km | Apr 23, 2000 |
| 6.0 | 39 km WSW of Loncopué, Argentina | 138.4 km | Dec 14, 1998 |
| 6.1 | 68 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 256.1 km | Jul 20, 1997 |
| 6.0 | 94 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 235.0 km | Dec 7, 1994 |
| 6.0 | 10 km ENE of Aluminé, Argentina | 161.8 km | Oct 20, 1994 |
| 6.5 | 46 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 563.6 km | Aug 19, 1994 |
| 6.9 | 18 km NW of Colonia Dora, Argentina | 600.5 km | May 10, 1994 |
| 6.9 | 44 km SSE of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 561.5 km | Apr 29, 1994 |
| 6.0 | 47 km NW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 272.0 km | Oct 19, 1993 |
| 6.3 | 30 km SE of Calingasta, Argentina | 112.7 km | Jun 8, 1993 |
| 7.0 | 87 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 221.0 km | May 24, 1993 |
| 6.2 | 97 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina | 221.0 km | May 24, 1993 |
| 7.3 | 27 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 558.0 km | Jun 23, 1991 |
| 6.5 | 86 km E of General Enrique Mosconi, Argentina | 569.0 km | Feb 28, 1989 |
| 6.1 | 84 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 193.6 km | Dec 24, 1988 |
| 6.0 | 32 km SE of General Mosconi, Argentina | 538.1 km | Nov 6, 1987 |
| 6.4 | 8 km SSE of Colonia Dora, Argentina | 604.5 km | Oct 27, 1987 |
| 6.7 | 88 km WNW of El Aguilar, Argentina | 199.0 km | Sep 1, 1987 |
| 7.0 | 52 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 248.7 km | Apr 1, 1987 |
| 6.5 | 23 km WSW of Colonia Dora, Argentina | 596.0 km | Oct 31, 1985 |
| 6.4 | 30 km SSE of Londres, Argentina | 151.4 km | Jun 10, 1985 |
| 6.2 | 3 km N of San Martín, Argentina | 5.0 km | Jan 26, 1985 |
| 6.2 | 54 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 192.0 km | Oct 20, 1984 |
| 6.0 | 48 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 272.1 km | Jan 1, 1984 |
| 6.9 | 38 km SE of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 601.9 km | Dec 21, 1983 |
| 6.3 | 67 km E of Caucete, Argentina | 23.0 km | Nov 24, 1977 |
| 6.0 | 65 km ENE of Caucete, Argentina | 33.0 km | Nov 24, 1977 |
| 6.0 | 77 km SE of San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina | 33.0 km | Nov 23, 1977 |
| 7.4 | San Juan, Argentina | 13.0 km | Nov 23, 1977 |
| 6.1 | 45 km E of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 614.0 km | Oct 22, 1977 |
| 6.0 | 70 km ESE of Apolinario Saravia, Argentina | 549.0 km | Feb 4, 1977 |
| 6.3 | 185 km NW of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentina | 33.0 km | Jan 17, 1977 |
| 6.5 | 218 km S of Ushuaia, Argentina | 14.0 km | Dec 29, 1975 |
| 6.2 | 92 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 166.0 km | Aug 10, 1975 |
| 6.1 | 51 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina | 229.0 km | Feb 1, 1973 |
| 6.0 | 62 km NNE of San Martín, Argentina | 21.2 km | Sep 26, 1972 |
| 6.0 | 26 km SW of Lago Puelo, Argentina | 156.9 km | May 8, 1971 |
| 6.9 | 99 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 189.0 km | Feb 21, 1971 |
| 6.8 | 191 km E of Tolhuin, Argentina | 10.0 km | Jun 15, 1970 |
| 6.0 | 86 km NW of San José de Jáchal, Argentina | 116.7 km | Mar 15, 1970 |
| 6.7 | 39 km NNE of Suncho Corral, Argentina | 580.4 km | Sep 9, 1967 |
| 6.2 | 34 km S of El Hoyo, Argentina | 590.9 km | Jan 17, 1967 |
| 6.3 | 57 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina | 578.0 km | Dec 20, 1966 |
| 6.1 | 34 km SSE of Nueve de Julio, Argentina | 113.0 km | Nov 10, 1966 |
| 6.3 | 41 km S of El Hoyo, Argentina | 582.7 km | Dec 9, 1964 |
| 7.2 | 21 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina | 588.7 km | Dec 8, 1962 |
| 6.4 | 10 km SW of El Hoyo, Argentina | 573.0 km | Sep 29, 1962 |
| 6.6 | 47 km ENE of Humahuaca, Argentina | 25.0 km | May 12, 1959 |
| 6.1 | 40 km SW of El Calafate, Argentina | 15.0 km | Apr 8, 1959 |
| 6.1 | 32 km W of Villa La Angostura, Argentina | 15.0 km | Jul 28, 1955 |
| 6.8 | 8 km W of Nueve de Julio, Argentina | 25.0 km | Jun 11, 1952 |
| 7.1 | 44 km WNW of Quimilí, Argentina | 610.0 km | Aug 14, 1950 |
Showing the first 100 of 117 significant events.
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Argentina-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Argentina-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-26.