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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has catalogued 717 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 37th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.6.

Costa Rica ranks 37th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country, averaging about 34 M4+ events a year alongside 67 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1904 to 2024, peaking in 1924.

717
M4+ events (since 2005)
67
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.6
Strongest
~34
M4+ per year

The verdict

Costa Rica is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 717 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 67 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.6.

1924
busiest year (6 major events)
27 km
average recorded event depth
97%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Wallis and Futuna sits immediately above at 807 events and Panama sits immediately below at 704.

Where Costa Rica sits in the catalog

Rank 37th of 187 tracked countries (80th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Wallis and Futuna sits immediately above at 807 events and Panama sits immediately below at 704.

Costa Rica's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

717 Top 20% higher than 80% of 187 countries

0–500: 143 countries (76%). Below this entry. 500–1,000: 11 countries (6%). This entry sits in this band. 1,000–1,500: 5 countries (3%). Above this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Above this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Above this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Above this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). Above this entry. Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica compares to its nearest peers

Costa Rica ranks in the 80th 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).

Costa Rica 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 05001,0001,5002,000 M5.5M6M6.5M7M7.5M8 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Costa Rica vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Tajikistan 1,583 M7.2
El Salvador 1,501 M7.3
Nicaragua 1,416 M6.6
Pakistan 1,262 M7.7
Myanmar 1,136 M7.7
Ecuador 1,130 M7.8
Canada 1,026 M7.8
Iceland 982 M6.3
Bolivia 832 M6.8
Wallis and Futuna 807 M6.7
Costa Rica (this page) 717 M7.6
Panama 704 M6.7
Nepal 694 M7.8
Micronesia 672 M6.6
Kyrgyzstan 625 M6.7
Italy 609 M6.6
Ethiopia 574 M5.9
Venezuela 531 M7.5
Dominican Republic 489 M5.8
Svalbard and Jan Mayen 434 M6.8
Portugal 423 M6.3

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Costa Rica by year

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

Value

What this shows Costa Rica's most active year for major earthquakes was 1924 (6 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 Costa Rica's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

7 of 717 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 67 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Costa Rica.

How the 67 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 85.1%

M7.0-7.9

10

14.9%

M6.0-6.9

57

85.1%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 67 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 27 km.

Costa Rica97%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Costa Rica's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

65

97.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

2

3.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Costa Rica

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

Mag Location Depth
7.6 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica 35.0 km
7.6 34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica 10.0 km
7.6 4 km WNW of Atenas, Costa Rica 25.0 km
7.5 70 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica 20.0 km
7.3 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica 22.2 km
7.3 53 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica 10.0 km
7.3 204 km WSW of Sámara, Costa Rica 15.0 km
7.1 6 km WNW of Siquirres, Costa Rica 15.0 km
7.1 12 km N of Golfito, Costa Rica 37.0 km
7.0 19 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica 56.0 km

Significant earthquake record (67 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.2 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica 16.0 km
6.0 4 km SSW of Jacó, Costa Rica 20.0 km
6.1 19 km NNW of Golfito, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.5 18 km W of Parrita, Costa Rica 19.4 km
7.6 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.0 12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica 18.0 km
6.1 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica 14.0 km
6.4 17 km SSE of Tejar, Costa Rica 16.0 km
6.2 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica 10.0 km
6.4 55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.4 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica 33.0 km
6.9 42 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica 20.0 km
6.2 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica 32.5 km
6.6 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica 78.9 km
6.2 16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica 12.7 km
7.6 34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica 10.0 km
6.3 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica 33.3 km
6.2 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica 196.5 km
6.0 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica 17.3 km
6.4 8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 22.7 km
7.3 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica 22.2 km
6.4 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica 26.6 km
6.0 31 km N of San Vito, Costa Rica 22.5 km
6.2 42 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica 47.9 km
6.5 17 km S of Pejibaye, Costa Rica 33.0 km
7.1 12 km N of Golfito, Costa Rica 37.0 km
6.4 4 km ESE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 40.0 km
7.0 19 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica 56.0 km
6.2 15 km SE of Quepos, Costa Rica 46.0 km
6.5 26 km NNW of La Fortuna, Costa Rica 33.0 km
6.2 24 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica 29.2 km
6.0 20 km SSW of Golfito, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.3 7 km W of Canoas, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.4 188 km SW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.3 138 km SW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.7 49 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.4 6 km NNW of Nandayure, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.1 12 km WNW of Sardinal, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.3 9 km NW of San Isidro, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.9 112 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.0 10 km S of San José, Costa Rica 15.0 km
7.5 70 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica 20.0 km
6.7 8 km SW of Parrita, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.1 10 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.0 5 km SSE of Tejar, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.1 18 km SSE of Paquera, Costa Rica 35.0 km
6.8 13 km W of Jacó, Costa Rica 25.0 km
7.6 4 km WNW of Atenas, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.0 6 km WNW of Tucurrique, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.1 80 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.4 14 km SE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica 20.0 km
6.1 37 km ENE of Pital, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.2 5 km S of Liberia, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.0 144 km NE of Limón, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.2 28 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.0 35 km ENE of Pital, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.2 33 km WSW of Jacó, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.1 8 km S of San Ignacio, Costa Rica 25.0 km
6.3 13 km NNW of Puntarenas, Costa Rica 20.0 km
6.5 68 km W of Sámara, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.7 12 km ESE of Jacó, Costa Rica 25.0 km
7.1 6 km WNW of Siquirres, Costa Rica 15.0 km
7.3 204 km WSW of Sámara, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.2 115 km W of Santa Cruz, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.1 1 km WNW of Orosí, Costa Rica 15.0 km
6.7 18 km WSW of Nicoya, Costa Rica 20.0 km
7.3 53 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica 10.0 km

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Djibouti

260 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Somalia

332 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Malaysia

37 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Mozambique

59 M4+ events · strongest M5.6

M5.6

Tuvalu

2 M4+ events · strongest M4.8

M4.8

Republic of the Congo

1 M4+ events · strongest M4.2

M4.2

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Honduras

269 M4+ events

M7.5

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

El Salvador

1,501 M4+ events

M7.3

New Caledonia

1,917 M4+ events

M7.5

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events

M7.8

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Understand the data

Wallis and Futuna

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Panama

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Costa Rica? ▼
The USGS catalog records 717 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Costa Rica since 2005, an average of about 34 per year. Separately, 67 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Costa Rica? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Costa Rica measured magnitude 7.6. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Costa Rica? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Costa Rica ranks 37th of 187 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1924, with 6.
How deep are earthquakes in Costa Rica? ▼
Across the 67 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 27 km. 97% 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 Costa Rica's figures

717 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.6 · average M4.5 · 67 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 7, 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 Costa Rica's numbers mean

Costa Rica ranks 37th of 187 countries tracked - a moderately seismically active country.

  • About 34 M4+ earthquakes strike Costa Rica per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1924 was the busiest year on record with 6 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 97% of Costa Rica'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 M7.6. 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.