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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Ecuador

Ecuador has catalogued 1,130 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 32nd of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.8.

Ecuador ranks 32nd of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 54 M4+ events a year alongside 93 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1907 to 2025, peaking in 1942.

1,130
M4+ events (since 2005)
93
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.8
Strongest
~54
M4+ per year

The verdict

Ecuador is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,130 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 93 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.8.

1942
busiest year (12 major events)
39 km
average recorded event depth
85%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.6 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Myanmar sits immediately above at 1,136 events and Canada sits immediately below at 1,026.

Where Ecuador sits in the catalog

Rank 32nd of 187 tracked countries (83th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Myanmar sits immediately above at 1,136 events and Canada sits immediately below at 1,026.

  • Myanmar - next more active (1,136 M4+)
  • Canada - next less active (1,026 M4+)

Ecuador's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

1,130 Top 17% higher than 83% of 187 countries

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

Ecuador ranks in the 83th 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).

Ecuador 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 5001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000 M6M6.5M7M7.5M8 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Ecuador vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 21 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Taiwan 2,531 M7.4
Turkey 2,249 M7.8
Guatemala 1,951 M7.4
New Caledonia 1,917 M7.5
Colombia 1,721 M7.3
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 (this page) 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 717 M7.6
Panama 704 M6.7
Nepal 694 M7.8
Micronesia 672 M6.6
Kyrgyzstan 625 M6.7
Italy 609 M6.6

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Ecuador by year

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

Value

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.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2005–present
0%100%1.9%
Share of Ecuador's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

21 of 1,130 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 93 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Ecuador.

How the 93 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 91.4%

M7.0-7.9

8

8.6%

M6.0-6.9

85

91.4%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 93 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 39 km.

Ecuador84.9%15.1%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Ecuador's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

79

84.9% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

14

15.1% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Ecuador

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

Mag Location Depth
7.8 27 km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador 20.6 km
7.8 12 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador 20.0 km
7.7 56 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador 24.0 km
7.5 115 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador 145.0 km
7.4 98 km ESE of Sucúa, Ecuador 113.3 km
7.2 3 km E of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 33.0 km
7.2 29 km SSE of Pimampiro, Ecuador 10.0 km
7.0 45 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador 24.4 km
7.0 7 km NNE of Tosagua, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.9 24 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador 29.9 km

Significant earthquake record (93 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.3 19 km NE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 18.0 km
6.8 14 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador 68.0 km
6.2 31 km N of Santa Elena, Ecuador 18.0 km
7.5 115 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador 145.0 km
6.2 8 km SE of Alausí, Ecuador 110.5 km
6.1 18 km NE of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 17.0 km
6.0 35 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 13.0 km
6.3 33 km NNW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador 21.0 km
6.9 24 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Ecuador 29.9 km
6.7 32 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador 16.0 km
6.0 34 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.0 10 km N of Muisne, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.2 21 km W of Muisne, Ecuador 14.0 km
7.8 27 km SSE of Muisne, Ecuador 20.6 km
6.0 87 km NW of Salinas, Ecuador 26.6 km
6.8 30 km E of Macas, Ecuador 122.9 km
6.1 54 km SE of Tena, Ecuador 192.9 km
6.2 51 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.1 90 km WSW of Manta, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.1 23 km W of Jipijapa, Ecuador 16.9 km
6.0 21 km WSW of Montecristi, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.4 45 km NNW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 22.9 km
6.3 43 km SE of Tena, Ecuador 196.4 km
6.0 21 km ENE of Palora, Ecuador 172.6 km
7.2 3 km E of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 33.0 km
6.3 24 km NNW of Salinas, Ecuador 33.0 km
6.0 9 km SSW of Pujilí, Ecuador 33.0 km
6.5 50 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador 16.7 km
7.0 45 km SE of Sucúa, Ecuador 24.4 km
6.6 34 km SW of Pedernales, Ecuador 14.2 km
6.3 19 km NNE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 15.1 km
6.2 15 km ENE of Puyo, Ecuador 170.2 km
6.0 36 km WSW of Tena, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.4 26 km W of Tena, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.0 24 km E of Cayambe, Ecuador 8.5 km
7.2 29 km SSE of Pimampiro, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.4 49 km SE of Pimampiro, Ecuador 14.1 km
6.6 21 km SE of Muisne, Ecuador 54.9 km
6.6 122 km SSE of Boca Suno, Ecuador 195.0 km
6.1 25 km NNW of Baláo, Ecuador 70.0 km
6.4 37 km NNE of Salinas, Ecuador 33.0 km
7.7 56 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador 24.0 km
6.7 25 km SW of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 9.0 km
7.4 98 km ESE of Sucúa, Ecuador 113.3 km
6.7 37 km E of Palora, Ecuador 171.2 km
6.0 7 km WNW of Quito, Ecuador 118.9 km
6.5 58 km E of Puyo, Ecuador 185.9 km
6.2 10 km SW of Tosagua, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.2 98 km E of Gualaquiza, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.6 55 km ENE of Macas, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.6 119 km E of Macas, Ecuador 142.1 km
6.2 80 km ENE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador 45.8 km
6.1 9 km SE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.8 30 km SE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.3 28 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.3 48 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador 25.0 km
6.9 51 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.8 24 km NNE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 27.5 km
6.3 32 km N of Salinas, Ecuador 15.0 km
7.0 7 km NNE of Tosagua, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.0 14 km W of Cotacachi, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.5 42 km SE of Cayambe, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 Galapagos Islands, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.2 40 km NW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.1 56 km NW of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.5 22 km NE of Baños, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.2 Galapagos Islands, Ecuador region 15.0 km
6.6 61 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.6 45 km ESE of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.2 19 km SSW of Lomas de Sargentillo, Ecuador 58.7 km
6.4 129 km WNW of Manta, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.5 113 km WNW of Manta, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.4 68 km W of Pedernales, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.6 29 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 23 km NW of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.2 27 km NW of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.1 49 km W of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.2 70 km W of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 128 km ESE of Palora, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.4 27 km WSW of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 6 km SSW of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
7.8 12 km SE of Pedernales, Ecuador 20.0 km
6.0 219 km N of Puerto Ayora, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 74 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 27 km WSW of Jipijapa, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.8 46 km SW of Paján, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.2 33 km W of Ambato, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.3 28 km WNW of El Ángel, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.2 26 km SE of Santa Elena, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.8 13 km N of Muisne, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.5 197 km NW of Manta, Ecuador 15.0 km
6.8 287 km N of Puerto Villamil, Ecuador 10.0 km
6.6 67 km NNW of Esmeraldas, Ecuador 15.0 km

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Timor Leste

3,416 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

New Zealand

7,523 M4+ events · strongest M8.1

M8.1

Djibouti

260 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

South Sudan

7 M4+ events · strongest M4.8

M4.8

Martinique

83 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Portugal

423 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Solomon Islands

6,129 M4+ events

M7.8

Nepal

694 M4+ events

M7.8

Jamaica

39 M4+ events

M7.7

Vanuatu

7,572 M4+ events

M7.8

Afghanistan

3,478 M4+ events

M7.5

New Zealand

7,523 M4+ events

M8.1

Understand the data

Myanmar

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Canada

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Ecuador? ▼
The USGS catalog records 1,130 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Ecuador since 2005, an average of about 54 per year. Separately, 93 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 187 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 93 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 Ecuador's figures

1,130 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.8 · average M4.6 · 93 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 9, 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 Ecuador's numbers mean

Ecuador ranks 32nd of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.

  • About 54 M4+ earthquakes strike Ecuador per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1942 was the busiest year on record with 12 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 85% of Ecuador'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 M7.8. 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.