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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Jamaica

Jamaica ranks 114th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

39
M4+ events (since 2005)
7
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.7
Strongest
~2
M4+ per year

The verdict

Jamaica has logged 39 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 7 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.

#114
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
39
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M7.7
strongest earthquake on record
7
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Jamaica by year

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

Value

What this shows Jamaica's most active year for major earthquakes was 1907 (2 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 2025

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 7 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Jamaica.

M7.0-7.9

1

14.3%

M6.0-6.9

6

85.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 7 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 16 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

7

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Jamaica

The 7 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag Location Depth
7.7 123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica 14.9 km
6.8 82 km SW of Black River, Jamaica 15.0 km
6.3 55 km N of Falmouth, Jamaica 15.0 km
6.2 4 km NNW of Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica 20.0 km
6.2 108 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica 10.0 km
6.2 58 km NNE of Port Antonio, Jamaica 15.0 km
6.2 23 km NNE of Ocho Rios, Jamaica 20.0 km

Significant earthquake record (7 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
7.7 123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica 14.9 km
6.2 108 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica 10.0 km
6.2 4 km NNW of Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica 20.0 km
6.8 82 km SW of Black River, Jamaica 15.0 km
6.2 23 km NNE of Ocho Rios, Jamaica 20.0 km
6.2 58 km NNE of Port Antonio, Jamaica 15.0 km
6.3 55 km N of Falmouth, Jamaica 15.0 km

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Jamaica.

Syria

39 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Madagascar

38 M4+ events · strongest M5.7

M5.7

Malaysia

37 M4+ events · strongest M7.1

M7.1

Bulgaria

36 M4+ events · strongest M5.0

M5.0

Libya

36 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

Montenegro

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.2

M5.2

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 Jamaica? ▼
The USGS catalog records 39 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Jamaica since 2005, an average of about 2 per year. Separately, 7 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Jamaica? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Jamaica measured magnitude 7.7. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Jamaica? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Jamaica ranks 114th of 215 countries worldwide - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1907, with 2.
How deep are earthquakes in Jamaica? ▼
Across the 7 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 16 km. 100% 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.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.