Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Guatemala

Guatemala ranks 25th 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

1,948
M4+ events (since 2005): 77
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.7
Strongest: ~93
M4+ per year

The verdict

Guatemala has logged 1,948 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 77 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

#25
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 1,948
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.7
strongest earthquake on record: 77
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

2006

1
2007

1
2008

1
2009

1
2012

2
2013

1
2014

1
2016

1
2017

2
2022

1
2023

1
2024

2

What this shows Guatemala's most active year for major earthquakes was 1929 (3 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 77 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Guatemala.

M7.0-7.9

9.1%

M6.0-6.9

90.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 77 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 50 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

87.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

13.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Guatemala

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.7	26 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	35.0 km	Aug 6, 1942
7.5	7 km N of Los Amates, Guatemala	5.0 km	Feb 4, 1976
7.5	Near Quetzaltenango, Guatemala	0.0 km	Apr 19, 1902
7.4	33 km S of Champerico, Guatemala	24.0 km	Nov 7, 2012
7.2	1 km NNW of Champerico, Guatemala	65.3 km	Oct 23, 1950
7.1	32 km NE of Chajul, Guatemala	15.0 km	Feb 4, 1921
7.0	25 km S of Champerico, Guatemala	67.1 km	Dec 2, 1983
7.0	31 km SE of Champerico, Guatemala	35.0 km	Apr 17, 1919
6.9	2 km SSW of San Pablo, Guatemala	93.0 km	Jun 14, 2017
6.8	17 km NE of Champerico, Guatemala	45.0 km	Dec 5, 1939

Significant earthquake record (77 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.2	6 km E of Jalapa, Guatemala	272.0 km	Jul 21, 2024
6.1	15 km W of Taxisco, Guatemala	90.0 km	Jan 27, 2024
6.4	8 km SE of Canillá, Guatemala	252.0 km	May 17, 2023
6.2	12 km WSW of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	60.0 km	Feb 16, 2022
6.8	28 km SW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	38.1 km	Jun 22, 2017
6.9	2 km SSW of San Pablo, Guatemala	93.0 km	Jun 14, 2017
6.1	110 km SSW of Champerico, Guatemala	22.4 km	Apr 15, 2016
6.1	61 km SSW of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	32.0 km	Dec 7, 2014
6.2	3 km NW of Fraijanes, Guatemala	189.0 km	Mar 25, 2013
6.5	32 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala	20.0 km	Nov 11, 2012
7.4	33 km S of Champerico, Guatemala	24.0 km	Nov 7, 2012
6.3	5 km S of San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala	108.0 km	May 3, 2009
6.1	42 km SSE of Iztapa, Guatemala	33.0 km	Apr 15, 2008
6.7	43 km SSE of Iztapa, Guatemala	23.0 km	Jun 13, 2007
6.0	19 km WSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	61.2 km	Dec 3, 2006
6.1	10 km NE of San Bartolo, Guatemala	197.4 km	Mar 17, 2005
6.0	5 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	100.0 km	Aug 25, 2003
6.5	33 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala	24.0 km	Jan 21, 2003
6.0	40 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	33.0 km	Nov 9, 2002
6.3	6 km ESE of Puerto San José, Guatemala	33.0 km	Jun 6, 1999
6.1	9 km SSW of Champerico, Guatemala	39.2 km	May 8, 1999
6.3	28 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala	33.0 km	May 10, 1998
6.1	9 km SSW of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala	62.8 km	Mar 3, 1998
6.6	10 km SSW of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala	33.0 km	Jan 10, 1998
6.1	28 km SSW of Pasaco, Guatemala	59.3 km	Dec 22, 1997
6.0	33 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala	80.5 km	Dec 4, 1997
6.0	3 km E of Pajapita, Guatemala	100.1 km	Apr 10, 1994
6.0	27 km S of Taxisco, Guatemala	68.2 km	Sep 12, 1993
6.0	50 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala	67.1 km	Sep 28, 1992
6.2	4 km SE of Patzún, Guatemala	5.0 km	Sep 18, 1991
6.6	20 km S of Taxisco, Guatemala	68.5 km	Nov 3, 1988
7.0	25 km S of Champerico, Guatemala	67.1 km	Dec 2, 1983
6.5	18 km W of Champerico, Guatemala	64.8 km	Apr 6, 1982
6.4	19 km NNE of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala	22.0 km	Aug 9, 1980
6.6	17 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala	65.0 km	Oct 27, 1979
6.8	12 km SSW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	58.0 km	Oct 27, 1979
7.5	7 km N of Los Amates, Guatemala	5.0 km	Feb 4, 1976
6.1	20 km SSE of Champerico, Guatemala	39.0 km	Dec 31, 1974
6.1	8 km SW of La Gomera, Guatemala	60.0 km	Jan 22, 1972
6.0	119 km SSW of Champerico, Guatemala	25.0 km	Aug 20, 1971
6.0	9 km NE of La Gomera, Guatemala	65.0 km	Apr 21, 1969
6.6	5 km NNW of Champerico, Guatemala	64.7 km	Dec 10, 1966
6.2	14 km WSW of Retalhuleu, Guatemala	65.0 km	Aug 18, 1966
6.4	23 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala	44.1 km	Sep 3, 1955
6.7	31 km SSW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	44.8 km	Aug 28, 1955
6.1	7 km S of Guazacapán, Guatemala	66.0 km	Oct 21, 1954
6.8	95 km SSW of Champerico, Guatemala	25.0 km	Nov 17, 1953
6.2	26 km ESE of Champerico, Guatemala	65.0 km	Oct 23, 1950
7.2	1 km NNW of Champerico, Guatemala	65.3 km	Oct 23, 1950
6.0	58 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	35.0 km	Apr 15, 1950
6.1	7 km S of Santa Bárbara, Guatemala	44.1 km	Jul 16, 1948
6.3	13 km SE of Río Bravo, Guatemala	41.4 km	Jul 16, 1948
6.1	12 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	15.0 km	Aug 8, 1942
7.7	26 km SSW of La Gomera, Guatemala	35.0 km	Aug 6, 1942
6.4	35 km S of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	15.0 km	Mar 1, 1942
6.8	29 km SSW of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	35.0 km	Jul 27, 1940
6.8	17 km NE of Champerico, Guatemala	45.0 km	Dec 5, 1939
6.2	107 km SSW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jan 20, 1939
6.4	6 km SW of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala	15.0 km	Sep 15, 1937
6.5	21 km SE of Iztapa, Guatemala	45.0 km	Nov 22, 1936
6.8	20 km SE of Iztapa, Guatemala	45.0 km	Nov 19, 1936
6.3	127 km SSW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	15.0 km	Sep 26, 1931
6.8	8 km NNW of Moyuta, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jul 14, 1930
6.2	6 km W of Santa María Ixhuatán, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jul 7, 1930
6.4	53 km S of Iztapa, Guatemala	35.0 km	Mar 21, 1929
6.2	5 km ESE of Iztapa, Guatemala	15.0 km	Mar 19, 1929
6.0	116 km SSW of Nueva Concepción, Guatemala	30.0 km	Jan 31, 1929
6.2	7 km NW of Jacaltenango, Guatemala	15.0 km	May 9, 1927
7.1	32 km NE of Chajul, Guatemala	15.0 km	Feb 4, 1921
6.0	168 km SSW of Puerto San José, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jul 17, 1919
7.0	31 km SE of Champerico, Guatemala	35.0 km	Apr 17, 1919
6.4	1 km ESE of Morazán, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jan 25, 1918
6.2	11 km ESE of El Chol, Guatemala	10.0 km	Jan 4, 1918
6.7	11 km S of Los Amates, Guatemala	15.0 km	Jun 12, 1912
6.5	25 km S of Taxisco, Guatemala	10.0 km	Sep 23, 1907
7.5	Near Quetzaltenango, Guatemala	0.0 km	Apr 19, 1902
6.3	Near Quetzaltenango, Guatemala	0.0 km	Jan 18, 1902

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Guatemala.

New Caledonia

1,913 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

Colombia

1,718 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Turkey

2,247 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Tajikistan

1,578 M4+ events · strongest M7.2

M7.2

El Salvador

1,498 M4+ events · strongest M7.3

M7.3

Nicaragua

1,413 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 Guatemala? ▼

The USGS catalog records 1,948 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Guatemala since 2005, an average of about 93 per year. Separately, 77 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Guatemala? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Guatemala measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.4 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Guatemala? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Guatemala ranks 25th of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1929, with 3.

How deep are earthquakes in Guatemala? ▼

Across the 77 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 50 km. 87% 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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