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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Argentina

Argentina has catalogued 4,379 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 209 M4+ events a year alongside 116 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1912 to 2025, peaking in 1977.

4,379
M4+ events (since 2005)
116
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.7
Strongest
~209
M4+ per year

The verdict

Argentina is among the more seismically active places worldwide, with 4,379 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 116 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

1977
busiest year (7 major events)
272 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 4,498 events and India sits immediately below at 4,086.

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 4,498 events and India sits immediately below at 4,086.

  • Fiji - next more active (4,498 M4+)
  • India - next less active (4,086 M4+)

Argentina's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

4,379 Top 9% higher than 91% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). This entry sits in this band. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Argentina 0 5,000+ every tracked country, bucketed by value

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

How Argentina compares to its nearest peers

Argentina ranks in the 91th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Argentina vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 21 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes 05,00010,00015,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Argentina vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Russia 12,525 M8.8
Tonga 10,847 M7.6
Mexico 8,356 M8.2
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9
Greece 4,606 M7.0
Peru 4,598 M8.0
Fiji 4,498 M7.9
Argentina (this page) 4,379 M7.0
India 4,086 M7.5
Iran 3,554 M7.7
Afghanistan 3,478 M7.5
Timor Leste 3,416 M7.3
Taiwan 2,531 M7.4
Turkey 2,249 M7.8
Guatemala 1,951 M7.4
New Caledonia 1,917 M7.5
Colombia 1,721 M7.3
Tajikistan 1,583 M7.2

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Argentina by year

Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year

Value

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.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%1%
Share of Argentina's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

42 of 4,379 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 116 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Argentina.

How the 116 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 87.9%

M7.0-7.9

14

12.1%

M6.0-6.9

102

87.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 116 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 272 km.

Argentina28.4%38.8%32.8%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Argentina's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

33

28.4% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

45

38.8% of events

Deep (>300 km)

38

32.8% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Argentina

The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag Location Depth
7.7 123 km W of Río Grande, Argentina 10.0 km
7.4 San Juan, Argentina 13.0 km
7.3 27 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 558.0 km
7.3 31 km SE of Villa Atamisqui, Argentina 620.0 km
7.2 75 km N of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 225.0 km
7.2 13 km ENE of Trevelin, Argentina 15.0 km
7.2 21 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina 588.7 km
7.1 44 km WNW of Quimilí, Argentina 610.0 km
7.1 48 km NNW of Suncho Corral, Argentina 600.0 km
7.0 32 km NW of Fiambalá, Argentina 15.0 km

Significant earthquake record (116 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Argentina since 1900, most recent first.

Mag Location Depth
6.4 289 km SSE of Ushuaia, Argentina 8.0 km
6.0 95 km NNW of Villa General Roca, Argentina 141.0 km
6.0 61 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 253.0 km
6.2 17 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 554.0 km
6.2 Santiago del Estero, Argentina 575.0 km
6.6 19 km SE of Loncopué, Argentina 186.0 km
6.4 86 km WSW of El Aguilar, Argentina 228.0 km
6.4 Santiago del Estero, Argentina 580.0 km
6.8 29 km SW of Campo Gallo, Argentina 596.8 km
6.8 86 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 220.0 km
6.0 58 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina 251.0 km
6.2 86 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 205.0 km
6.4 26 km SW of Pocito, Argentina 20.8 km
6.1 32 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 217.0 km
6.3 70 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 189.0 km
6.0 16 km WNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 572.4 km
6.1 30 km W of Villa La Angostura, Argentina 129.0 km
6.4 52 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 222.0 km
6.4 7 km NNW of Pocito, Argentina 108.0 km
6.2 49 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina 270.0 km
6.7 103 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina 223.0 km
6.3 63 km W of Villa General Roca, Argentina 172.0 km
6.2 56 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 224.0 km
6.1 32 km E of Suncho Corral, Argentina 575.2 km
6.7 35 km ESE of Suncho Corral, Argentina 586.9 km
6.1 37 km SSE of Suncho Corral, Argentina 553.9 km
6.7 20 km WNW of Añatuya, Argentina 578.9 km
7.0 26 km NNE of El Hoyo, Argentina 576.8 km
6.3 5 km NE of Campo Quijano, Argentina 10.0 km
6.0 40 km WSW of Villa Basilio Nievas, Argentina 39.8 km
6.2 100 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 220.4 km
6.3 32 km N of El Hoyo, Argentina 569.6 km
6.0 Jujuy, Argentina 246.4 km
6.4 19 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina 289.5 km
6.8 48 km S of Taco Pozo, Argentina 572.0 km
6.0 19 km NNE of El Hoyo, Argentina 598.3 km
6.2 108 km E of Caucete, Argentina 137.0 km
6.0 70 km WSW of Vinchina, Argentina 114.0 km
6.6 74 km WSW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 184.0 km
6.1 69 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 196.2 km
6.4 59 km ESE of Apolinario Saravia, Argentina 570.1 km
6.9 67 km ENE of Joaquín V. González, Argentina 579.1 km
6.1 36 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 568.7 km
6.4 12 km SSW of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina 22.3 km
6.3 29 km SE of Calingasta, Argentina 119.6 km
6.0 39 km S of Arauco, Argentina 22.2 km
7.2 75 km N of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 225.0 km
6.1 13 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina 609.8 km
7.0 22 km NW of Añatuya, Argentina 608.5 km
6.0 39 km WSW of Loncopué, Argentina 138.4 km
6.1 68 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 256.1 km
6.0 94 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 235.0 km
6.0 10 km ENE of Aluminé, Argentina 161.8 km
6.5 46 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 563.6 km
6.9 18 km NW of Colonia Dora, Argentina 600.5 km
6.9 44 km SSE of Suncho Corral, Argentina 561.5 km
6.0 47 km NW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 272.0 km
6.3 30 km SE of Calingasta, Argentina 112.7 km
7.0 87 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina 221.0 km
6.2 97 km W of El Aguilar, Argentina 221.0 km
7.3 27 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina 558.0 km
6.5 86 km E of General Enrique Mosconi, Argentina 569.0 km
6.1 84 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 193.6 km
6.0 32 km SE of General Mosconi, Argentina 538.1 km
6.4 8 km SSE of Colonia Dora, Argentina 604.5 km
6.7 88 km WNW of El Aguilar, Argentina 199.0 km
7.0 52 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina 248.7 km
6.5 23 km WSW of Colonia Dora, Argentina 596.0 km
6.4 30 km SSE of Londres, Argentina 151.4 km
6.2 3 km N of San Martín, Argentina 5.0 km
6.2 54 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 192.0 km
6.0 48 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina 272.1 km
6.9 38 km SE of Suncho Corral, Argentina 601.9 km
6.3 67 km E of Caucete, Argentina 23.0 km
6.0 65 km ENE of Caucete, Argentina 33.0 km
6.0 77 km SE of San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina 33.0 km
7.4 San Juan, Argentina 13.0 km
6.1 45 km E of Suncho Corral, Argentina 614.0 km
6.0 70 km ESE of Apolinario Saravia, Argentina 549.0 km
6.3 185 km NW of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentina 33.0 km
6.5 218 km S of Ushuaia, Argentina 14.0 km
6.2 92 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina 166.0 km
6.1 51 km W of Abra Pampa, Argentina 229.0 km
6.0 62 km NNE of San Martín, Argentina 21.2 km
6.0 26 km SW of Lago Puelo, Argentina 156.9 km
6.9 99 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina 189.0 km
6.8 191 km E of Tolhuin, Argentina 10.0 km
6.0 86 km NW of San José de Jáchal, Argentina 116.7 km
6.7 39 km NNE of Suncho Corral, Argentina 580.4 km
6.2 34 km S of El Hoyo, Argentina 590.9 km
6.3 57 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina 578.0 km
6.1 34 km SSE of Nueve de Julio, Argentina 113.0 km
6.3 41 km S of El Hoyo, Argentina 582.7 km
7.2 21 km SSE of Taco Pozo, Argentina 588.7 km
6.4 10 km SW of El Hoyo, Argentina 573.0 km
6.6 47 km ENE of Humahuaca, Argentina 25.0 km
6.1 40 km SW of El Calafate, Argentina 15.0 km
6.1 32 km W of Villa La Angostura, Argentina 15.0 km
6.8 8 km W of Nueve de Julio, Argentina 25.0 km
7.1 44 km WNW of Quimilí, Argentina 610.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 116 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

A Argentina-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.

Sri Lanka

2 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Venezuela

531 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

French Polynesia

8 M4+ events · strongest M4.8

M4.8

Kiribati

6 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Peru

4,598 M4+ events · strongest M8.0

M8.0

Republic of the Congo

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.2

M4.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

A second Argentina-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.

Antigua and Barbuda

129 M4+ events

M6.6

Malaysia

37 M4+ events

M7.1

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events

M7.4

Colombia

1,721 M4+ events

M7.3

Wallis and Futuna

807 M4+ events

M6.7

Cyprus

97 M4+ events

M6.6

Understand the data

Fiji

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

India

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Argentina? ▼
The USGS catalog records 4,379 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Argentina since 2005, an average of about 209 per year. Separately, 116 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Argentina? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Argentina measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Argentina? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Argentina ranks 17th of 187 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1977, with 7.
How deep are earthquakes in Argentina? ▼
Across the 116 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 272 km. 28% were shallow (under 70 km), where surface shaking is strongest at a given magnitude.
Where does this data come from? ▼
Every figure is derived from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward (the period of consistent global completeness); the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900. Nothing is modelled or estimated.

About Argentina's figures

4,379 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.4 · 116 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 17, 2026. Computed from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). See the methodology and USGS ComCat.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is informational only, not an emergency service or engineering advice. See our full disclaimer.

What Argentina's numbers mean

Argentina ranks 17th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 209 M4+ earthquakes strike Argentina per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1977 was the busiest year on record with 7 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 28% of Argentina's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
  • The strongest catalogued event reached M7.7. Compare against neighboring or similarly-ranked countries before drawing conclusions from magnitude alone. Compare strongest earthquakes

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 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 2026-07-19.