Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Ecuador

Ecuador ranks 32nd 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

1,069
M4+ events (since 2005): 92
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.8
Strongest: ~51
M4+ per year

The verdict

Ecuador has logged 1,069 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 92 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

#32
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 1,069
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.8
strongest earthquake on record: 92
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.6 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

1998

1
1999

2
2000

1
2005

5
2007

1
2011

1
2016

7
2017

2
2018

1
2019

2
2023

1
2025

1

What this shows Ecuador's most active year for major earthquakes was 1942 (12 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 92 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Ecuador.

M7.0-7.9

8.7%

M6.0-6.9

91.3%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 92 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 39 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

84.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

15.2% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Ecuador

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.8	27 km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador	20.6 km	Apr 16, 2016
7.8	12 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador	20.0 km	May 14, 1942
7.7	56 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador	24.0 km	Dec 12, 1979
7.5	115 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador	145.0 km	Feb 22, 2019
7.4	98 km ESE of Sucúa, Ecuador	113.3 km	Jul 27, 1971
7.2	3 km E of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	33.0 km	Aug 4, 1998
7.2	29 km SSE of Pimampiro, Ecuador	10.0 km	Mar 6, 1987
7.0	45 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador	24.4 km	Oct 3, 1995
7.0	7 km NNE of Tosagua, Ecuador	20.0 km	Jan 16, 1956
6.9	24 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador	29.9 km	May 18, 2016

Significant earthquake record (92 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.3	19 km NE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	18.0 km	Apr 25, 2025
6.8	14 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador	68.0 km	Mar 18, 2023
6.2	31 km N of Santa Elena, Ecuador	18.0 km	Mar 31, 2019
7.5	115 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador	145.0 km	Feb 22, 2019
6.2	8 km SE of Alausí, Ecuador	110.5 km	Sep 7, 2018
6.1	18 km NE of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	17.0 km	Dec 3, 2017
6.0	35 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	13.0 km	Jun 30, 2017
6.3	33 km NNW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador	21.0 km	Jul 11, 2016
6.9	24 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador	29.9 km	May 18, 2016
6.7	32 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador	16.0 km	May 18, 2016
6.0	34 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	10.0 km	Apr 22, 2016
6.0	10 km N of Muisne, Ecuador	10.0 km	Apr 20, 2016
6.2	21 km W of Muisne, Ecuador	14.0 km	Apr 20, 2016
7.8	27 km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador	20.6 km	Apr 16, 2016
6.0	87 km NW of Salinas, Ecuador	26.6 km	Nov 17, 2011
6.8	30 km E of Macas, Ecuador	122.9 km	Nov 16, 2007
6.1	54 km SE of Tena, Ecuador	192.9 km	Dec 23, 2005
6.2	51 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 28, 2005
6.1	90 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 28, 2005
6.1	23 km W of Jipijapa, Ecuador	16.9 km	Jan 24, 2005
6.0	21 km WSW of Montecristi, Ecuador	10.0 km	Jan 21, 2005
6.4	45 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	22.9 km	Sep 28, 2000
6.3	43 km SE of Tena, Ecuador	196.4 km	Aug 28, 1999
6.0	21 km ENE of Palora, Ecuador	172.6 km	Apr 26, 1999
7.2	3 km E of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	33.0 km	Aug 4, 1998
6.3	24 km NNW of Salinas, Ecuador	33.0 km	Aug 5, 1996
6.0	9 km SSW of Pujilí, Ecuador	33.0 km	Mar 28, 1996
6.5	50 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador	16.7 km	Oct 3, 1995
7.0	45 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador	24.4 km	Oct 3, 1995
6.6	34 km SW of Pedernales, Ecuador	14.2 km	Sep 2, 1990
6.3	19 km NNE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	15.1 km	Jun 25, 1989
6.2	15 km ENE of Puyo, Ecuador	170.2 km	Sep 15, 1988
6.0	36 km WSW of Tena, Ecuador	10.0 km	Sep 22, 1987
6.4	26 km W of Tena, Ecuador	10.0 km	Sep 22, 1987
6.0	24 km E of Cayambe, Ecuador	8.5 km	Mar 6, 1987
7.2	29 km SSE of Pimampiro, Ecuador	10.0 km	Mar 6, 1987
6.4	49 km SE of Pimampiro, Ecuador	14.1 km	Mar 6, 1987
6.6	21 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador	54.9 km	Nov 22, 1983
6.6	122 km SSE of Boca Suno, Ecuador	195.0 km	Nov 18, 1982
6.1	25 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador	70.0 km	Aug 26, 1982
6.4	37 km NNE of Salinas, Ecuador	33.0 km	May 6, 1981
7.7	56 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador	24.0 km	Dec 12, 1979
6.7	25 km SW of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	9.0 km	Apr 9, 1976
7.4	98 km ESE of Sucúa, Ecuador	113.3 km	Jul 27, 1971
6.7	37 km E of Palora, Ecuador	171.2 km	May 17, 1971
6.0	7 km WNW of Quito, Ecuador	118.9 km	Mar 2, 1967
6.5	58 km E of Puyo, Ecuador	185.9 km	Sep 17, 1965
6.2	10 km SW of Tosagua, Ecuador	25.0 km	May 19, 1964
6.2	98 km E of Gualaquiza, Ecuador	25.0 km	Nov 3, 1963
6.6	55 km ENE of Macas, Ecuador	20.0 km	May 10, 1963
6.6	119 km E of Macas, Ecuador	142.1 km	Jul 28, 1961
6.2	80 km ENE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador	45.8 km	May 25, 1958
6.1	9 km SE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	25.0 km	Apr 15, 1958
6.8	30 km SE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	25.0 km	Apr 14, 1958
6.3	28 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador	25.0 km	Feb 1, 1958
6.3	48 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador	25.0 km	Feb 1, 1958
6.9	51 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador	15.0 km	Feb 1, 1958
6.8	24 km NNE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	27.5 km	Jan 19, 1958
6.3	32 km N of Salinas, Ecuador	15.0 km	Aug 26, 1957
7.0	7 km NNE of Tosagua, Ecuador	20.0 km	Jan 16, 1956
6.0	14 km W of Cotacachi, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 20, 1955
6.5	42 km SE of Cayambe, Ecuador	15.0 km	May 11, 1955
6.3	Galapagos Islands, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jun 4, 1954
6.2	40 km NW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	20.0 km	Apr 1, 1953
6.1	56 km NW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador	10.0 km	Apr 1, 1953
6.5	22 km NE of Baños, Ecuador	15.0 km	Aug 5, 1949
6.6	61 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador	15.0 km	Mar 29, 1946
6.6	45 km ESE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	20.0 km	Oct 23, 1944
6.2	19 km SSW of Lomas de Sargentillo, Ecuador	58.7 km	Jan 30, 1943
6.4	129 km WNW of Manta, Ecuador	15.0 km	Nov 19, 1942
6.5	113 km WNW of Manta, Ecuador	15.0 km	Nov 19, 1942
6.4	68 km W of Pedernales, Ecuador	15.0 km	Nov 12, 1942
6.6	29 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 12, 1942
6.3	23 km NW of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 8, 1942
6.2	27 km NW of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 7, 1942
6.1	49 km W of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 4, 1942
6.2	70 km W of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jun 16, 1942
6.3	128 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jun 12, 1942
6.4	27 km WSW of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	May 17, 1942
6.3	6 km SSW of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	May 15, 1942
7.8	12 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador	20.0 km	May 14, 1942
6.0	219 km N of Puerto Ayora, Ecuador	15.0 km	Aug 26, 1940
6.3	74 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador	15.0 km	Feb 8, 1938
6.3	27 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador	15.0 km	Feb 8, 1938
6.8	46 km SW of Paján, Ecuador	15.0 km	Oct 2, 1933
6.2	33 km W of Ambato, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jul 22, 1924
6.3	28 km WNW of El Ángel, Ecuador	10.0 km	Dec 14, 1923
6.2	26 km SE of Santa Elena, Ecuador	15.0 km	Mar 29, 1917
6.8	13 km N of Muisne, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jun 30, 1916
6.5	197 km NW of Manta, Ecuador	15.0 km	Nov 18, 1914
6.8	287 km N of Puerto Villamil, Ecuador	10.0 km	Feb 26, 1909
6.6	67 km NNW of Esmeraldas, Ecuador	15.0 km	Jun 1, 1907

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Ecuador.

Canada

1,014 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Myanmar

983 M4+ events · strongest M6.9

M6.9

Iceland

982 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Pakistan

1,261 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

India region

835 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Bolivia

832 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

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 Ecuador? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,069 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Ecuador since 2005, an average of about 51 per year. Separately, 92 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Ecuador? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Ecuador measured magnitude 7.8. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.6 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Ecuador? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Ecuador ranks 32nd of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1942, with 12.

How deep are earthquakes in Ecuador? ▼

Across the 92 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 39 km. 85% 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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