Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in El Salvador
El Salvador has catalogued 1,509 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 28th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.
El Salvador ranks 28th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 72 M4+ events a year alongside 40 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1913 to 2025, peaking in 2001.
- 1,509
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 40
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~72
- M4+ per year
The verdict
El Salvador is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,509 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 40 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- 2001
- busiest year (3 major events)
- 40 km
- average recorded event depth
- 88%
- 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 Tajikistan sits immediately above at 1,594 events and Nicaragua sits immediately below at 1,423.
USGS ComCat event tape
Event tape EL-SALVADOR · El Salvador M4+ · 28th/187
El Salvador · 1,509 M4+ · max M7.7 · 40 M6+
- BAND 1,509
- STRIP 28th/187
- BOOK M7.7
- RANK 40
- MAX near Tajikistan
- M6 88% shallow
Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →
Observed impact record
What ComCat observed after earthquakes in El Salvador
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 30 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.4. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 30
- Average observed MMI
- 5.4
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 10 / 3
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where El Salvador sits in the catalog
Rank 28th of 187 tracked countries (85th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Tajikistan sits immediately above at 1,594 events and Nicaragua sits immediately below at 1,423.
- Tajikistan - next more active (1,594 M4+)
- Nicaragua - next less active (1,423 M4+)
El Salvador's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
1,509 Top 15% higher than 85% of 187 countries
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
Major (M6+) earthquakes in El Salvador by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2001
2001: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2004
2004: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2012 1
2012: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014 1
2014: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2016 1
2016: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2017 1
2017: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2018 1
2018: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2019 1
2019: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2021 1
2021: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2023 1
2023: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2024 1
2024: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025
2025: 2 major (M6+) events
2
What this shows El Salvador's most active year for major earthquakes was 2001 (3 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
How El Salvador earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | +100.0% | +29.3% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0.0% | -12.6% |
El Salvador's M4+ activity rose faster than the global average in 2025: +100.0% locally vs +29.3% globally, a 70.7-point gap.
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ = magnitude 4.0 or greater. YoY = year-on-year change. Global column uses the worldwide total from the same catalog.
11 of 1,509 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 40 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for El Salvador.
M7.0-7.9
7
17.5%
M6.0-6.9
33
82.5%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 40 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 40 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
35
87.5% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
5
12.5% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in El Salvador
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | 28 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 60.0 km | Jan 13, 2001 |
| 7.7 | 12 km NW of Chalatenango, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Sep 7, 1915 |
| 7.3 | 74 km S of Intipucá, El Salvador | 40.0 km | Oct 14, 2014 |
| 7.3 | 126 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 28.0 km | Aug 27, 2012 |
| 7.3 | 18 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 73.0 km | Jun 19, 1982 |
| 7.1 | 113 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 20.0 km | Feb 8, 1926 |
| 7.1 | 12 km S of Conchagua, El Salvador | 15.0 km | May 21, 1932 |
| 6.9 | 156 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 10.0 km | Nov 24, 2016 |
| 6.7 | 8 km S of San Juan Opico, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Jun 8, 1917 |
| 6.7 | 128 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Feb 15, 1926 |
Significant earthquake record (40 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in El Salvador since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 88 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 17.0 km | Aug 23, 2025 |
| 6.2 | 56 km SSE of La Libertad, El Salvador | 46.0 km | Jan 5, 2025 |
| 6.1 | 56 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 26.4 km | Aug 28, 2024 |
| 6.5 | 43 km S of Intipucá, El Salvador | 70.8 km | Jul 19, 2023 |
| 6.0 | 55 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 22.0 km | May 12, 2021 |
| 6.6 | 32 km S of La Libertad, El Salvador | 57.9 km | May 30, 2019 |
| 6.1 | 85 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 22.0 km | Oct 28, 2018 |
| 6.2 | 78 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 16.0 km | May 12, 2017 |
| 6.9 | 156 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 10.0 km | Nov 24, 2016 |
| 7.3 | 74 km S of Intipucá, El Salvador | 40.0 km | Oct 14, 2014 |
| 7.3 | 126 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 28.0 km | Aug 27, 2012 |
| 6.0 | 12 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 62.3 km | Dec 13, 2004 |
| 6.3 | 34 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 40.6 km | Nov 20, 2004 |
| 6.1 | 24 km S of Zacatecoluca, El Salvador | 65.3 km | Feb 28, 2001 |
| 6.6 | 5 km S of Cojutepeque, El Salvador | 10.0 km | Feb 13, 2001 |
| 7.7 | 28 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 60.0 km | Jan 13, 2001 |
| 6.1 | 11 km WSW of Sensuntepeque, El Salvador | 182.1 km | Dec 18, 1997 |
| 6.5 | 13 km NNE of San Sebastián, El Salvador | 176.4 km | Nov 9, 1997 |
| 6.0 | 22 km SW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 75.0 km | May 23, 1992 |
| 7.3 | 18 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 73.0 km | Jun 19, 1982 |
| 6.0 | 3 km SE of San Marcos, El Salvador | 14.2 km | May 3, 1965 |
| 6.0 | 19 km W of Jiquilisco, El Salvador | 65.0 km | Apr 12, 1961 |
| 6.1 | 57 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 50.0 km | Apr 26, 1955 |
| 6.2 | Near Jucuapa, El Salvador | 10.0 km | May 6, 1951 |
| 6.0 | 41 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador | 55.0 km | Apr 2, 1951 |
| 6.2 | 121 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 25.0 km | Oct 7, 1945 |
| 6.3 | 102 km S of La Libertad, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Sep 1, 1938 |
| 6.2 | 1 km WNW of Berlín, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Dec 20, 1936 |
| 7.1 | 12 km S of Conchagua, El Salvador | 15.0 km | May 21, 1932 |
| 6.2 | 103 km SSW of La Libertad, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Feb 15, 1929 |
| 6.7 | 128 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Feb 15, 1926 |
| 7.1 | 113 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 20.0 km | Feb 8, 1926 |
| 6.3 | 24 km SSE of Intipucá, El Salvador | 35.0 km | Oct 5, 1925 |
| 6.7 | 108 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 20.0 km | May 1, 1924 |
| 6.7 | 100 km SSW of Intipucá, El Salvador | 20.0 km | Jun 29, 1919 |
| 6.2 | 8 km WNW of Jujutla, El Salvador | 35.0 km | Apr 28, 1919 |
| 6.4 | 10 km WNW of San Francisco Menéndez, El Salvador | 35.0 km | Oct 19, 1918 |
| 6.7 | 8 km S of San Juan Opico, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Jun 8, 1917 |
| 7.7 | 12 km NW of Chalatenango, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Sep 7, 1915 |
| 6.4 | 177 km SSW of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador | 15.0 km | Jan 15, 1913 |
Other countries in this catalog sample
A El Salvador-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second El Salvador-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.