Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Guatemala
Guatemala has catalogued 1,951 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 24th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.
Guatemala ranks 24th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 93 M4+ events a year alongside 77 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1902 to 2024, peaking in 1929.
- 1,951
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 77
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~93
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Guatemala is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,951 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 77 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- 1929
- busiest year (3 major events)
- 50 km
- average recorded event depth
- 87%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Turkey sits immediately above at 2,249 events and New Caledonia sits immediately below at 1,917.
Where Guatemala sits in the catalog
Rank 24th of 187 tracked countries (87th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Turkey sits immediately above at 2,249 events and New Caledonia sits immediately below at 1,917.
- Turkey - next more active (2,249 M4+)
- New Caledonia - next less active (1,917 M4+)
Guatemala's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
1,951 Top 13% higher than 87% 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
How Guatemala compares to its nearest peers
Guatemala ranks in the 87th 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).
Read the chart (all 21 values)
| Country | M4+ events | Strongest magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Greece | 4,606 | M7.0 |
| Peru | 4,598 | M8.0 |
| Fiji | 4,498 | M7.9 |
| Argentina | 4,379 | M7.0 |
| India | 4,086 | M7.5 |
| Iran | 3,554 | M7.7 |
| Afghanistan | 3,478 | M7.5 |
| Timor Leste | 3,416 | M7.3 |
| Taiwan | 2,531 | M7.4 |
| Turkey | 2,249 | M7.8 |
| Guatemala (this page) | 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 | 1,130 | M7.8 |
| Canada | 1,026 | M7.8 |
| Iceland | 982 | M6.3 |
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Guatemala by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2006
2006: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2007
2007: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2008
2008: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2009
2009: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2012
2012: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2013
2013: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014
2014: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2016
2016: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2017
2017: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2022
2022: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2023
2023: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2024
2024: 2 major (M6+) events
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.
16 of 1,951 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 77 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Guatemala.
M7.0-7.9
7
9.1%
M6.0-6.9
70
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)
67
87.0% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
10
13.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
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 |
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Guatemala-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Guatemala-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Understand the data
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have occurred in Guatemala? ▼
What was the strongest earthquake in Guatemala? ▼
How seismically active is Guatemala? ▼
How deep are earthquakes in Guatemala? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
About Guatemala's figures
1,951 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.7 · average M4.4 · 77 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 10, 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 Guatemala's numbers mean
Guatemala ranks 24th of 187 countries tracked - a highly seismically active country.
- About 93 M4+ earthquakes strike Guatemala per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1929 was the busiest year on record with 3 significant events. See the full country ranking
- 87% of Guatemala'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 M7.7. 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.