Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Costa Rica

Costa Rica ranks 39th 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

715
M4+ events (since 2005): 67
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.6
Strongest: ~34
M4+ per year

The verdict

Costa Rica has logged 715 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 67 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.6.

#39
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 715
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.6
strongest earthquake on record: 67
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.

1996

1
1999

1
2000

1
2002

1
2004

2
2009

1
2010

1
2012

1
2017

1
2018

1
2020

1
2024

1

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.

Magnitude distribution of major events

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

M7.0-7.9

14.9%

M6.0-6.9

85.1%

Depth of major earthquakes

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

Shallow (<70 km)

97.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

3.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Costa Rica

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.6	11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Sep 5, 2012
7.6	34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica	10.0 km	Apr 22, 1991
7.6	4 km WNW of Atenas, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Dec 21, 1939
7.5	70 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Dec 5, 1941
7.3	7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica	22.2 km	Mar 25, 1990
7.3	53 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica	10.0 km	Dec 20, 1904
7.3	204 km WSW of Sámara, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Feb 27, 1916
7.1	6 km WNW of Siquirres, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Apr 24, 1916
7.1	12 km N of Golfito, Costa Rica	37.0 km	Apr 3, 1983
7.0	19 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica	56.0 km	Aug 23, 1978

Significant earthquake record (67 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.2	40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica	16.0 km	Oct 12, 2024
6.0	4 km SSW of Jacó, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Aug 24, 2020
6.1	19 km NNW of Golfito, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Aug 17, 2018
6.5	18 km W of Parrita, Costa Rica	19.4 km	Nov 13, 2017
7.6	11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Sep 5, 2012
6.0	12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica	18.0 km	Jun 1, 2010
6.1	10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica	14.0 km	Jan 8, 2009
6.4	17 km SSE of Tejar, Costa Rica	16.0 km	Nov 20, 2004
6.2	49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica	10.0 km	Apr 29, 2004
6.4	55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Jun 16, 2002
6.4	55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica	33.0 km	Jul 21, 2000
6.9	42 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Aug 20, 1999
6.2	13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica	32.5 km	Sep 4, 1996
6.6	5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica	78.9 km	Mar 7, 1992
6.2	16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica	12.7 km	Apr 24, 1991
7.6	34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica	10.0 km	Apr 22, 1991
6.3	15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica	33.3 km	Mar 16, 1991
6.2	13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica	196.5 km	Mar 1, 1991
6.0	2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica	17.3 km	Dec 22, 1990
6.4	8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	22.7 km	Apr 28, 1990
7.3	7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica	22.2 km	Mar 25, 1990
6.4	11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica	26.6 km	Mar 25, 1990
6.0	31 km N of San Vito, Costa Rica	22.5 km	Mar 11, 1988
6.2	42 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica	47.9 km	Oct 4, 1987
6.5	17 km S of Pejibaye, Costa Rica	33.0 km	Jul 3, 1983
7.1	12 km N of Golfito, Costa Rica	37.0 km	Apr 3, 1983
6.4	4 km ESE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	40.0 km	Aug 24, 1979
7.0	19 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica	56.0 km	Aug 23, 1978
6.2	15 km SE of Quepos, Costa Rica	46.0 km	Feb 28, 1974
6.5	26 km NNW of La Fortuna, Costa Rica	33.0 km	Apr 14, 1973
6.2	24 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica	29.2 km	Oct 3, 1967
6.0	20 km SSW of Golfito, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Jul 9, 1963
6.3	7 km W of Canoas, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Dec 6, 1960
6.4	188 km SW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Jun 6, 1958
6.3	138 km SW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Apr 15, 1958
6.7	49 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Sep 9, 1952
6.4	6 km NNW of Nandayure, Costa Rica	35.0 km	May 13, 1952
6.1	12 km WNW of Sardinal, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Nov 13, 1949
6.3	9 km NW of San Isidro, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Nov 19, 1948
6.9	112 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Dec 6, 1941
6.0	10 km S of San José, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Dec 6, 1941
7.5	70 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Dec 5, 1941
6.7	8 km SW of Parrita, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Oct 27, 1940
6.1	10 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Oct 5, 1940
6.0	5 km SSE of Tejar, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Oct 2, 1940
6.1	18 km SSE of Paquera, Costa Rica	35.0 km	Dec 23, 1939
6.8	13 km W of Jacó, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Dec 22, 1939
7.6	4 km WNW of Atenas, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Dec 21, 1939
6.0	6 km WNW of Tucurrique, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Jun 18, 1939
6.1	80 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Jun 24, 1937
6.4	14 km SE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Mar 9, 1937
6.1	37 km ENE of Pital, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Nov 26, 1936
6.2	5 km S of Liberia, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Aug 1, 1935
6.0	144 km NE of Limón, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Oct 19, 1926
6.2	28 km WSW of Golfito, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Jan 26, 1925
6.0	35 km ENE of Pital, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Mar 25, 1924
6.2	33 km WSW of Jacó, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Mar 25, 1924
6.1	8 km S of San Ignacio, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Mar 24, 1924
6.3	13 km NNW of Puntarenas, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Mar 11, 1924
6.5	68 km W of Sámara, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Mar 4, 1924
6.7	12 km ESE of Jacó, Costa Rica	25.0 km	Mar 4, 1924
7.1	6 km WNW of Siquirres, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Apr 24, 1916
7.3	204 km WSW of Sámara, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Feb 27, 1916
6.2	115 km W of Santa Cruz, Costa Rica	15.0 km	Oct 23, 1913
6.1	1 km WNW of Orosí, Costa Rica	15.0 km	May 5, 1910
6.7	18 km WSW of Nicoya, Costa Rica	20.0 km	Jan 20, 1905
7.3	53 km SSE of Quepos, Costa Rica	10.0 km	Dec 20, 1904

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Costa Rica.

Panama

704 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Nepal

694 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Micronesia

671 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Wallis and Futuna

805 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Kyrgyzstan

624 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Italy

608 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

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 Costa Rica? ▼

The USGS catalog records 715 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 39th of 215 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 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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