PlainQuake

Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Mexico

Mexico has catalogued 8,356 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 9th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M8.2.

Mexico ranks 9th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth, averaging about 398 M4+ events a year alongside 394 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. 4 of those major events reached M8 or greater, the catalogue's top magnitude class.

8,356
M4+ events (since 2005)
394
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.2
Strongest
~398
M4+ per year

The verdict

Mexico is one of the world's most seismically active places, with 8,356 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 394 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.2.

1932
busiest year (12 major events)
29 km
average recorded event depth
93%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.3 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Tonga sits immediately above at 10,847 events and Vanuatu sits immediately below at 7,572.

Where Mexico sits in the catalog

Rank 9th of 187 tracked countries (95th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Tonga sits immediately above at 10,847 events and Vanuatu sits immediately below at 7,572.

  • Tonga - next more active (10,847 M4+)
  • Vanuatu - next less active (7,572 M4+)

Mexico's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

8,356 Top 5% higher than 95% 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%). Below this entry. 1,500–2,000: 5 countries (3%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,500: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 2,500–3,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,000–3,500: 2 countries (1%). Below this entry. 3,500–4,000: 1 countries (1%). Below this entry. 4,000–4,500: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 4,500–5,000: 3 countries (2%). Below this entry. 5,000–5,500: 12 countries (6%). This entry sits in this band. Mexico 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 Mexico compares to its nearest peers

Mexico ranks in the 95th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 18 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Mexico vs. its 18 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 19 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 010,00020,00030,00040,000 M6.5M7M7.5M8M8.5M9M9.5 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
Mexico vs. its 18 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 19 values)
Country M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Indonesia 37,560 M8.6
Japan 27,851 M9.1
United States 17,280 M8.2
Papua New Guinea 15,655 M7.9
Philippines 14,262 M7.8
Chile 13,836 M8.8
Russia 12,525 M8.8
Tonga 10,847 M7.6
Mexico (this page) 8,356 M8.2
Vanuatu 7,572 M7.8
New Zealand 7,523 M8.1
Solomon Islands 6,129 M7.8
China 4,952 M7.9
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

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Mexico by year

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

Value

What this shows Mexico's most active year for major earthquakes was 1932 (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%0.9%
Share of Mexico's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

74 of 8,356 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 394 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Mexico.

How the 394 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 82.5%

M8+

4

1.0%

M7.0-7.9

65

16.5%

M6.0-6.9

325

82.5%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 394 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 29 km.

Mexico92.6%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of Mexico's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

365

92.6% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

29

7.4% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Mexico

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

Mag Location Depth
8.2 2017 Tehuantepec, Mexico Earthquake 47.4 km
8.1 1932 Jalisco, Mexico Earthquake 35.0 km
8.0 1995 Colima-Jalisco, Mexico Earthquake 33.0 km
8.0 1985 Michoacan, Mexico Earthquake 27.9 km
8.0 15 km ESE of San Gabriel Mixtepec, Mexico 20.0 km
7.8 7 km E of Los Tepames, Mexico 15.0 km
7.8 2 km NW of Teojomulco, Mexico 30.0 km
7.8 Central Chiapas, Mexico 0.0 km
7.7 2 km ESE of San Agustín Loxicha, Mexico 18.0 km
7.7 12 km NNE of La Central, Mexico 25.0 km

Significant earthquake record (394 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.0 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 10.0 km
7.3 58 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 18.6 km
6.0 75 km SSW of El Progreso, Mexico 10.0 km
6.5 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico 18.0 km
6.2 18 km SE of Aquila, Mexico 39.0 km
6.4 28 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico 61.9 km
6.3 Offshore Chiapas, Mexico 34.0 km
6.0 7 km W of Corral Falso, Mexico 18.0 km
6.2 28 km SW of Las Brisas, Mexico 10.0 km
6.1 82 km SSW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico 10.0 km
6.8 55 km SSW of Aguililla, Mexico 20.0 km
7.6 35 km SSW of Aguililla, Mexico 26.9 km
6.0 213 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
7.0 Acapulco, Mexico 20.0 km
7.4 9 km SE of Santa María Xadani, Mexico 20.0 km
6.1 173 km ESE of La Playa, Mexico 10.0 km
6.3 125 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 15.0 km
6.7 5 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 66.0 km
7.2 4 km S of Pinotepa de Don Luis, Mexico 22.0 km
6.3 79 km NNE of Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.1 7 km NNE of Ixtepec, Mexico 10.0 km
7.1 1 km S of Matzaco, Mexico 48.0 km
8.2 2017 Tehuantepec, Mexico Earthquake 47.4 km
6.3 106 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico 10.0 km
6.0 75 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 16.0 km
6.0 83 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 16.0 km
6.6 203 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.6 4 km W of Manuel Ávila Camacho (Ponte Duro), Mexico 85.0 km
6.7 95 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico 10.0 km
6.2 207 km WSW of José María Morelos, Mexico 5.0 km
6.1 96 km SSW of Altata, Mexico 10.0 km
6.2 217 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 17.0 km
6.3 2 km SE of Santa Teresa, Mexico 107.0 km
6.9 4 km W of Puerto Madero, Mexico 53.0 km
6.2 250 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 5.0 km
6.0 6 km W of Nuxco, Mexico 23.0 km
6.4 3 km NNE of Nuxco, Mexico 17.1 km
7.2 9 km ENE of Coyuquilla Norte, Mexico 24.0 km
6.0 98 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 18.5 km
6.6 98 km SW of Etchoropo, Mexico 9.4 km
6.4 7 km ESE of Ignacio López Rayón, Mexico 66.0 km
6.2 5 km ESE of Barrio Nuevo de los Muertos, Mexico 21.0 km
6.0 7 km NNE of Guacamayas, Mexico 30.0 km
6.1 8 km N of San José Poliutla, Mexico 53.0 km
6.3 59 km NNE of La Paz, Mexico 10.0 km
6.0 63 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico 14.0 km
7.0 69 km ENE of San Luis, Mexico 13.0 km
6.0 83 km ENE of San Luis, Mexico 9.0 km
6.5 41 km NW of El Habillal, Mexico 20.0 km
6.0 7 km SSW of Santa María Cortijo, Mexico 9.0 km
7.4 6 km E of Santiago Llano Grande, Mexico 20.0 km
6.2 46 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico 45.0 km
6.5 6 km SSW of Nuevo Balsas, Mexico 59.0 km
6.0 73 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico 12.0 km
6.6 7 km SW of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico 166.2 km
6.7 97 km SSW of El Huitusi, Mexico 13.0 km
6.2 226 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.3 2 km ESE of San Agustín Chayuco, Mexico 20.0 km
7.2 The 2010 Sierra El Mayor, B.C., Mexico Earthquake 10.0 km
6.4 236 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 13.0 km
6.2 97 km N of San Luis, Mexico 10.0 km
6.9 96 km WNW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico 10.0 km
6.0 82 km SSW of Campo Pesquero el Colorado, Mexico 10.0 km
6.7 19 km SW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico 24.0 km
6.4 196 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico 12.0 km
6.5 9 km SSW of General Pascual Fentes, Mexico 83.0 km
6.1 100 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico 9.0 km
6.1 6 km N of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico 113.0 km
6.0 5 km SE of El Paraíso, Mexico 34.0 km
6.0 85 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico 26.1 km
6.1 10 km NW of Zirándaro de los Chávez, Mexico 56.0 km
6.0 215 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 33.5 km
6.6 75 km SSW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico 14.0 km
6.2 236 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 20.0 km
6.1 6 km SW of Petatlán, Mexico 29.4 km
6.0 241 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 10.0 km
6.1 201 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico 10.0 km
6.4 87 km SW of Paredón Colorado, Mexico 10.0 km
7.6 16 km SSW of Cuyutlán, Mexico 24.0 km
6.5 111 km ESE of La Rivera, Mexico 10.0 km
6.8 27 km SSW of Nuxco, Mexico 24.9 km
6.4 2 km SW of Las Brisas, Mexico 80.2 km
6.4 2 km ESE of El Carmen, Mexico 84.9 km
6.1 109 km SW of Barrón, Mexico 33.0 km
6.3 33 km SW of El Colomo, Mexico 33.0 km
6.2 45 km SSW of El Naranjo, Mexico 10.0 km
6.0 6 km NNE of Hidalgo, Mexico 93.2 km
6.1 104 km SW of El Palmarcito, Mexico 33.0 km
6.5 24 km NNW of El Habillal, Mexico 45.8 km
6.3 3 km ESE of Plan de Ayala, Mexico 62.0 km
6.2 242 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico 33.0 km
7.5 15 km W of San Baltazar Loxicha, Mexico 60.6 km
6.3 20 km E of Coahuayutla de Guerrero, Mexico 68.7 km
7.0 1 km SE of Texcala, Mexico 70.0 km
6.1 197 km SW of Manuel Ávila Camacho (Ponte Duro), Mexico 33.0 km
6.3 2 km NNE of Cabeza de Toro, Mexico 86.6 km
6.0 17 km ENE of Aratichanguío, Mexico 67.3 km
6.4 2 km E of Benito Juárez, Mexico 33.0 km
6.0 46 km SSW of Barra de Tecoanapa, Mexico 10.0 km
6.9 4 km ENE of El Ciruelo, Mexico 33.0 km

Showing the first 100 of 394 significant events.

Other countries in this catalog sample

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

Guatemala

1,951 M4+ events · strongest M7.4

M7.4

Barbados

66 M4+ events · strongest M6.5

M6.5

Montserrat

4 M4+ events · strongest M4.1

M4.1

Philippines

14,262 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Palestinian Territory

3 M4+ events · strongest M4.5

M4.5

Rwanda

42 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Myanmar

1,136 M4+ events

M7.7

Canada

1,026 M4+ events

M7.8

Ecuador

1,130 M4+ events

M7.8

Tonga

10,847 M4+ events

M7.6

Cayman Islands

107 M4+ events

M7.6

Pakistan

1,262 M4+ events

M7.7

Understand the data

Tonga

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Vanuatu

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Mexico? ▼
The USGS catalog records 8,356 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Mexico since 2005, an average of about 398 per year. Separately, 394 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Mexico? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Mexico measured magnitude 8.2. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.3 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Mexico? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Mexico ranks 9th of 187 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1932, with 12.
How deep are earthquakes in Mexico? ▼
Across the 394 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 29 km. 93% 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 Mexico's figures

8,356 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M8.2 · average M4.3 · 394 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 19, 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 Mexico's numbers mean

Mexico ranks 9th of 187 countries tracked - among the most seismically active nations on Earth.

  • About 398 M4+ earthquakes strike Mexico per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1932 was the busiest year on record with 12 significant events. See the full country ranking
  • 93% of Mexico'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 M8.2. 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.