Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Colombia

Colombia ranks 27th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly 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

1,718
M4+ events (since 2005): 69
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.3
Strongest: ~82
M4+ per year

The verdict

Colombia has logged 1,718 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 69 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.3.

#27
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 1,718
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.3
strongest earthquake on record: 69
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

2003

1
2004

1
2006

1
2007

3
2012

1
2013

2
2015

1
2016

1
2018

1
2019

2
2023

1
2025

1

What this shows Colombia's most active year for major earthquakes was 1991 (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 69 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Colombia.

M7.0-7.9

10.1%

M6.0-6.9

89.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 69 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 50 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

79.7% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

18.8% of events

Deep (>300 km)

1.4% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Colombia

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.3	11 km WNW of San Agustín, Colombia	170.0 km	Sep 30, 2012
7.3	130 km W of Puerto Nariño, Colombia	540.0 km	Dec 18, 1921
7.2	32 km SSW of Pizarro, Colombia	15.0 km	Nov 15, 2004
7.2	11 km NNW of Murindó, Colombia	10.0 km	Oct 18, 1992
7.2	33 km NNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia	21.3 km	Nov 19, 1991
7.0	5 km SE of Castilla La Nueva, Colombia	15.0 km	Aug 31, 1917
7.0	41 km SE of Baraya, Colombia	35.0 km	Feb 9, 1967
6.9	2 km NNE of Yacuanquer, Colombia	145.0 km	Feb 9, 2013
6.8	39 km WNW of Timbiquí, Colombia	15.0 km	Sep 10, 2007
6.8	24 km SW of Roncesvalles, Colombia	198.7 km	Sep 2, 1997

Significant earthquake record (69 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.3	15 km NE of Paratebueno, Colombia	9.0 km	Jun 8, 2025
6.1	10 km E of El Calvario, Colombia	10.0 km	Aug 17, 2023
6.0	1 km NE of Lejanías, Colombia	11.0 km	Dec 24, 2019
6.1	3 km WSW of Versalles, Colombia	122.0 km	Mar 23, 2019
6.0	36 km SE of Mountain, Colombia	10.0 km	Nov 25, 2018
6.0	32 km ENE of Mutatá, Colombia	18.0 km	Sep 14, 2016
6.2	2 km NNW of Cepitá, Colombia	155.0 km	Mar 10, 2015
6.7	101 km WSW of Bahía Solano, Colombia	12.0 km	Aug 13, 2013
6.9	2 km NNE of Yacuanquer, Colombia	145.0 km	Feb 9, 2013
7.3	11 km WNW of San Agustín, Colombia	170.0 km	Sep 30, 2012
6.8	39 km WNW of Timbiquí, Colombia	15.0 km	Sep 10, 2007
6.2	130 km WNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia	7.0 km	Mar 18, 2007
6.0	133 km WNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia	10.0 km	Mar 17, 2007
6.2	26 km S of Juradó, Colombia	14.0 km	Jan 23, 2006
7.2	32 km SSW of Pizarro, Colombia	15.0 km	Nov 15, 2004
6.0	44 km W of Pizarro, Colombia	33.0 km	Nov 5, 2003
6.5	10 km SW of Juradó, Colombia	17.0 km	Nov 8, 2000
6.4	22 km WSW of Roncesvalles, Colombia	177.5 km	Dec 11, 1997
6.8	24 km SW of Roncesvalles, Colombia	198.7 km	Sep 2, 1997
6.3	33 km WSW of Riosucio, Colombia	14.0 km	Nov 4, 1996
6.2	84 km WNW of Salahonda, Colombia	10.0 km	Apr 27, 1996
6.6	7 km WSW of Neira, Colombia	119.6 km	Aug 19, 1995
6.4	24 km NW of Darien, Colombia	73.5 km	Feb 8, 1995
6.5	16 km ESE of Páez, Colombia	17.3 km	Jan 19, 1995
6.2	206 km WSW of Bahía Solano, Colombia	33.0 km	Sep 27, 1994
6.1	17 km ENE of Murindó, Colombia	13.6 km	Sep 13, 1994
6.8	23 km E of Toribío, Colombia	12.1 km	Jun 6, 1994
6.1	24 km NNW of Puerto Rondón, Colombia	20.3 km	Jul 22, 1993
7.2	11 km NNW of Murindó, Colombia	10.0 km	Oct 18, 1992
6.7	15 km S of Murindó, Colombia	14.3 km	Oct 17, 1992
7.2	33 km NNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia	21.3 km	Nov 19, 1991
6.2	133 km WNW of Salahonda, Colombia	23.7 km	Apr 24, 1991
6.3	44 km WSW of Juradó, Colombia	32.9 km	Apr 4, 1991
6.1	7 km N of Salento, Colombia	144.6 km	Nov 23, 1990
6.0	179 km WSW of Bahía Solano, Colombia	10.0 km	Jan 13, 1987
6.4	4 km N of El Cairo, Colombia	108.0 km	Nov 23, 1979
6.4	18 km ENE of Mutatá, Colombia	33.0 km	Aug 31, 1977
6.5	12 km N of Juradó, Colombia	36.0 km	Jan 25, 1975
6.3	60 km N of Puerto Colombia, Colombia	10.0 km	Nov 9, 1974
6.5	86 km W of Pizarro, Colombia	50.0 km	Apr 24, 1973
6.2	3 km ENE of Filandia, Colombia	158.0 km	Apr 3, 1973
6.6	19 km N of Bahía Solano, Colombia	10.0 km	Sep 27, 1970
6.5	9 km NW of Bahía Solano, Colombia	9.4 km	Sep 26, 1970
6.8	6 km NNW of Aratoca, Colombia	161.2 km	Jul 29, 1967
7.0	41 km SE of Baraya, Colombia	35.0 km	Feb 9, 1967
6.5	25 km ESE of Tadó, Colombia	64.0 km	Jul 30, 1962
6.3	38 km SE of Juradó, Colombia	15.0 km	Sep 19, 1960
6.1	8 km NW of Dagua, Colombia	52.3 km	May 24, 1957
6.6	15 km S of Cubará, Colombia	25.0 km	Apr 21, 1957
6.5	18 km E of Cubará, Colombia	28.2 km	Apr 19, 1952
6.1	11 km WSW of Nuquí, Colombia	15.0 km	Dec 6, 1951
6.4	110 km SW of Juradó, Colombia	15.0 km	Mar 17, 1945
6.3	6 km SSE of Palmito, Colombia	15.0 km	Dec 26, 1942
6.3	84 km WNW of Mosquera, Colombia	25.0 km	Dec 24, 1935
6.1	12 km WNW of Santuario, Colombia	15.0 km	Sep 18, 1935
6.0	135 km E of Mountain, Colombia	15.0 km	Feb 1, 1930
6.7	76 km SSW of San Andrés, Colombia	25.0 km	Mar 17, 1926
6.1	167 km WNW of Mosquera, Colombia	15.0 km	Oct 18, 1924
6.4	14 km NNE of Juradó, Colombia	20.0 km	Jul 6, 1924
6.4	14 km S of Gachalá, Colombia	15.0 km	Dec 22, 1923
7.3	130 km W of Puerto Nariño, Colombia	540.0 km	Dec 18, 1921
6.3	88 km E of Uribia, Colombia	15.0 km	Nov 13, 1921
6.3	47 km NNE of Timbiquí, Colombia	35.0 km	Jan 30, 1920
7.0	5 km SE of Castilla La Nueva, Colombia	15.0 km	Aug 31, 1917
6.4	8 km SSW of Cubarral, Colombia	15.0 km	Aug 30, 1917
6.5	148 km W of Pizarro, Colombia	15.0 km	Apr 20, 1914
6.2	97 km E of San Andrés, Colombia	15.0 km	Jul 25, 1913
6.4	43 km E of El Bagre, Colombia	70.0 km	Apr 10, 1911
6.5	37 km SSW of La Tola, Colombia	35.0 km	Jun 5, 1907

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Colombia.

Tajikistan

1,578 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

New Caledonia

1,913 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

El Salvador

1,498 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Guatemala

1,948 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Nicaragua

1,413 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Pakistan

1,261 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

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 Colombia? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,718 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Colombia since 2005, an average of about 82 per year. Separately, 69 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Colombia? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Colombia measured magnitude 7.3. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Colombia? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Colombia ranks 27th of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1991, with 3.

How deep are earthquakes in Colombia? ▼

Across the 69 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 50 km. 80% 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.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.