Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Bolivia

Bolivia ranks 37th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

832
M4+ events (since 2005): 33
Major M6+ (since 1900): M8.2
Strongest: ~40
M4+ per year

The verdict

Bolivia has logged 832 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 33 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.2.

#37
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 832
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M8.2
strongest earthquake on record: 33
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

1998

1
1999

1
2001

2
2003

1
2004

1
2008

1
2011

1
2015

1
2016

1
2017

1
2018

1
2019

1

What this shows Bolivia's most active year for major earthquakes was 1957 (3 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 33 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Bolivia.

M8+

3.0%

M7.0-7.9

15.2%

M6.0-6.9

81.8%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 33 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 257 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

24.2% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

45.5% of events

Deep (>300 km)

30.3% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Bolivia

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.2	55 km NNW of Reyes, Bolivia	631.3 km	Jun 9, 1994
7.7	51 km W of Atocha, Bolivia	232.5 km	Nov 29, 1957
7.3	136 km WSW of Challapata, Bolivia	160.0 km	Jun 6, 1915
7.2	78 km SW of Colchani, Bolivia	120.0 km	Oct 4, 1910
7.1	16 km NW of Villazón, Bolivia	276.2 km	Jan 23, 1997
7.0	69 km NW of Camargo, Bolivia	255.0 km	May 17, 1909
6.8	38 km SE of Boyuibe, Bolivia	559.0 km	Apr 2, 2018
6.6	62 km SSW of Trinidad, Bolivia	549.9 km	Nov 22, 2011
6.6	25 km NNW of Mizque, Bolivia	24.0 km	May 22, 1998
6.6	68 km SSE of Challapata, Bolivia	266.0 km	Oct 10, 1990

Significant earthquake record (33 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.3	31 km SSE of Tarata, Bolivia	359.0 km	Mar 15, 2019
6.8	38 km SE of Boyuibe, Bolivia	559.0 km	Apr 2, 2018
6.5	41 km E of Padilla, Bolivia	596.0 km	Feb 21, 2017
6.1	14 km WNW of Charagua, Bolivia	582.6 km	Jan 14, 2016
6.4	94 km SW of Curahuara de Carangas, Bolivia	130.0 km	Mar 23, 2015
6.6	62 km SSW of Trinidad, Bolivia	549.9 km	Nov 22, 2011
6.2	62 km NNE of Camargo, Bolivia	352.7 km	Oct 12, 2008
6.1	38 km NNE of Tupiza, Bolivia	289.8 km	Mar 17, 2004
6.0	56 km N of Camargo, Bolivia	345.3 km	Jul 27, 2003
6.2	41 km NNE of Colomi, Bolivia	33.0 km	Jul 4, 2001
6.1	53 km W of Potosí, Bolivia	273.9 km	Jun 29, 2001
6.4	70 km SW of Uyuni, Bolivia	218.0 km	Sep 15, 1999
6.6	25 km NNW of Mizque, Bolivia	24.0 km	May 22, 1998
7.1	16 km NW of Villazón, Bolivia	276.2 km	Jan 23, 1997
8.2	55 km NNW of Reyes, Bolivia	631.3 km	Jun 9, 1994
6.6	68 km SSE of Challapata, Bolivia	266.0 km	Oct 10, 1990
6.1	131 km SW of Colchani, Bolivia	139.5 km	Nov 1, 1989
6.2	12 km WNW of Villazón, Bolivia	279.3 km	Jul 28, 1988
6.5	32 km NE of Oruro, Bolivia	285.2 km	Feb 6, 1988
6.3	65 km W of Challapata, Bolivia	243.1 km	Mar 15, 1986
6.0	141 km SSW of Curahuara de Carangas, Bolivia	109.8 km	May 18, 1985
6.1	4 km NNE of Yacuiba, Bolivia	529.0 km	Oct 25, 1973
6.3	13 km ENE of Yacuiba, Bolivia	533.6 km	Aug 23, 1968
6.1	11 km N of Comarapa, Bolivia	15.0 km	Dec 28, 1957
7.7	51 km W of Atocha, Bolivia	232.5 km	Nov 29, 1957
6.3	45 km W of Abapó, Bolivia	15.0 km	Aug 26, 1957
6.3	36 km W of Mapiri, Bolivia	35.0 km	Aug 23, 1956
6.4	5 km WNW of Mapiri, Bolivia	20.0 km	Feb 24, 1947
6.1	93 km WSW of Colchani, Bolivia	15.0 km	Dec 23, 1934
6.1	40 km SSE of Vallegrande, Bolivia	15.0 km	Aug 13, 1920
7.3	136 km WSW of Challapata, Bolivia	160.0 km	Jun 6, 1915
7.2	78 km SW of Colchani, Bolivia	120.0 km	Oct 4, 1910
7.0	69 km NW of Camargo, Bolivia	255.0 km	May 17, 1909

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Bolivia.

India region

835 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Wallis and Futuna

805 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Costa Rica

715 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

Panama

704 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Nepal

694 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Iceland

982 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

Earthquake preparedness

Before, during and after a quake.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Bolivia? ▼

The USGS catalog records 832 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Bolivia since 2005, an average of about 40 per year. Separately, 33 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Bolivia? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Bolivia measured magnitude 8.2. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Bolivia? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Bolivia ranks 37th of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1957, with 3.

How deep are earthquakes in Bolivia? ▼

Across the 33 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 257 km. 24% 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 this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

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