Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Mexico

Mexico ranks 9th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. 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

8,296
M4+ events (since 2005): 387
Major M6+ (since 1900): M8.0
Strongest: ~395
M4+ per year

The verdict

Mexico has logged 8,296 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 387 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.0.

#9
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 8,296
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M8.0
strongest earthquake on record: 387
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.3 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

2015

3
2016

4
2017

2
2018

2
2019

2
2020

2
2021

2
2022

5
2023

1
2024

1
2025

1
2026

2

What this shows Mexico's most active year for major earthquakes was 1931 (11 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 387 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Mexico.

M7.0-7.9

16.3%

M6.0-6.9

324

83.7%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 387 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 29 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

358

92.5% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

7.5% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Mexico

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.0	15 km ESE of San Gabriel Mixtepec, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 17, 1928
7.8	7 km E of Los Tepames, Mexico	15.0 km	Jun 18, 1932
7.8	2 km NW of Teojomulco, Mexico	30.0 km	Apr 15, 1907
7.8	Central Chiapas, Mexico	0.0 km	Sep 23, 1902
7.7	2 km ESE of San Agustín Loxicha, Mexico	18.0 km	Nov 29, 1978
7.7	12 km NNE of La Central, Mexico	25.0 km	Jun 22, 1932
7.6	35 km SSW of Aguililla, Mexico	26.9 km	Sep 19, 2022
7.6	16 km SSW of Cuyutlán, Mexico	24.0 km	Jan 22, 2003
7.6	7 km N of Pantla, Mexico	30.8 km	Sep 21, 1985
7.6	12 km SSE of Vallecitos de Zaragoza, Mexico	49.0 km	Mar 14, 1979

Significant earthquake record (387 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.0	75 km SSW of El Progreso, Mexico	10.0 km	Jun 30, 2026
6.5	0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico	18.0 km	Jan 2, 2026
6.2	18 km SE of Aquila, Mexico	39.0 km	Jan 12, 2025
6.4	28 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico	61.9 km	May 12, 2024
6.3	Offshore Chiapas, Mexico	34.0 km	Jul 14, 2023
6.0	7 km W of Corral Falso, Mexico	18.0 km	Dec 11, 2022
6.2	28 km SW of Las Brisas, Mexico	10.0 km	Nov 22, 2022
6.1	82 km SSW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico	10.0 km	Nov 4, 2022
6.8	55 km SSW of Aguililla, Mexico	20.0 km	Sep 22, 2022
7.6	35 km SSW of Aguililla, Mexico	26.9 km	Sep 19, 2022
6.0	213 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	10.0 km	Dec 22, 2021
7.0	Acapulco, Mexico	20.0 km	Sep 8, 2021
7.4	9 km SE of Santa María Xadani, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 23, 2020
6.1	173 km ESE of La Playa, Mexico	10.0 km	May 22, 2020
6.3	125 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	15.0 km	Nov 20, 2019
6.7	5 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	66.0 km	Feb 1, 2019
7.2	4 km S of Pinotepa de Don Luis, Mexico	22.0 km	Feb 16, 2018
6.3	79 km NNE of Loreto, Mexico	10.0 km	Jan 19, 2018
6.1	7 km NNE of Ixtepec, Mexico	10.0 km	Sep 23, 2017
7.1	1 km S of Matzaco, Mexico	48.0 km	Sep 19, 2017
6.3	106 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico	10.0 km	Jun 7, 2016
6.0	75 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	16.0 km	Apr 27, 2016
6.0	83 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	16.0 km	Apr 25, 2016
6.6	203 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	10.0 km	Jan 21, 2016
6.6	4 km W of Manuel Ávila Camacho (Ponte Duro), Mexico	85.0 km	Dec 17, 2015
6.7	95 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico	10.0 km	Sep 13, 2015
6.2	207 km WSW of José María Morelos, Mexico	5.0 km	Feb 22, 2015
6.1	96 km SSW of Altata, Mexico	10.0 km	Oct 8, 2014
6.2	217 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	17.0 km	Sep 6, 2014
6.3	2 km SE of Santa Teresa, Mexico	107.0 km	Jul 29, 2014
6.9	4 km W of Puerto Madero, Mexico	53.0 km	Jul 7, 2014
6.2	250 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	5.0 km	May 31, 2014
6.0	6 km W of Nuxco, Mexico	23.0 km	May 10, 2014
6.4	3 km NNE of Nuxco, Mexico	17.1 km	May 8, 2014
7.2	9 km ENE of Coyuquilla Norte, Mexico	24.0 km	Apr 18, 2014
6.0	98 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	18.5 km	Mar 2, 2014
6.6	98 km SW of Etchoropo, Mexico	9.4 km	Oct 19, 2013
6.4	7 km ESE of Ignacio López Rayón, Mexico	66.0 km	Sep 7, 2013
6.2	5 km ESE of Barrio Nuevo de los Muertos, Mexico	21.0 km	Aug 21, 2013
6.0	7 km NNE of Guacamayas, Mexico	30.0 km	Apr 22, 2013
6.1	8 km N of San José Poliutla, Mexico	53.0 km	Nov 15, 2012
6.3	59 km NNE of La Paz, Mexico	10.0 km	Sep 25, 2012
6.0	63 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	14.0 km	May 1, 2012
7.0	69 km ENE of San Luis, Mexico	13.0 km	Apr 12, 2012
6.0	83 km ENE of San Luis, Mexico	9.0 km	Apr 12, 2012
6.5	41 km NW of El Habillal, Mexico	20.0 km	Apr 11, 2012
6.0	7 km SSW of Santa María Cortijo, Mexico	9.0 km	Apr 2, 2012
7.4	6 km E of Santiago Llano Grande, Mexico	20.0 km	Mar 20, 2012
6.2	46 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico	45.0 km	Jan 21, 2012
6.5	6 km SSW of Nuevo Balsas, Mexico	59.0 km	Dec 11, 2011
6.0	73 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico	12.0 km	Jul 26, 2011
6.6	7 km SW of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico	166.2 km	Apr 7, 2011
6.7	97 km SSW of El Huitusi, Mexico	13.0 km	Oct 21, 2010
6.2	226 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	10.0 km	Aug 24, 2010
6.3	2 km ESE of San Agustín Chayuco, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 30, 2010
6.4	236 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	13.0 km	Sep 24, 2009
6.2	97 km N of San Luis, Mexico	10.0 km	Aug 3, 2009
6.9	96 km WNW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico	10.0 km	Aug 3, 2009
6.0	82 km SSW of Campo Pesquero el Colorado, Mexico	10.0 km	Jul 3, 2009
6.7	19 km SW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico	24.0 km	Oct 16, 2008
6.4	196 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico	12.0 km	Sep 24, 2008
6.5	9 km SSW of General Pascual Fentes, Mexico	83.0 km	Feb 12, 2008
6.1	100 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico	9.0 km	Sep 1, 2007
6.1	6 km N of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico	113.0 km	Jul 6, 2007
6.0	5 km SE of El Paraíso, Mexico	34.0 km	Apr 13, 2007
6.0	85 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico	26.1 km	Mar 13, 2007
6.1	10 km NW of Zirándaro de los Chávez, Mexico	56.0 km	Aug 11, 2006
6.0	215 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	33.5 km	Apr 4, 2006
6.6	75 km SSW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico	14.0 km	Jan 4, 2006
6.2	236 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	20.0 km	Jun 27, 2005
6.1	6 km SW of Petatlán, Mexico	29.4 km	Jan 1, 2004
6.0	241 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	10.0 km	Jul 17, 2003
6.1	201 km SSW of Barra de Navidad, Mexico	10.0 km	May 19, 2003
6.4	87 km SW of Paredón Colorado, Mexico	10.0 km	Mar 12, 2003
7.6	16 km SSW of Cuyutlán, Mexico	24.0 km	Jan 22, 2003
6.5	111 km ESE of La Rivera, Mexico	10.0 km	Oct 3, 2002
6.8	27 km SSW of Nuxco, Mexico	24.9 km	Apr 18, 2002
6.4	2 km SW of Las Brisas, Mexico	80.2 km	Jan 16, 2002
6.4	2 km ESE of El Carmen, Mexico	84.9 km	Nov 28, 2001
6.1	109 km SW of Barrón, Mexico	33.0 km	Nov 13, 2001
6.3	33 km SW of El Colomo, Mexico	33.0 km	May 20, 2001
6.2	45 km SSW of El Naranjo, Mexico	10.0 km	Apr 29, 2001
6.0	6 km NNE of Hidalgo, Mexico	93.2 km	Jan 19, 2001
6.1	104 km SW of El Palmarcito, Mexico	33.0 km	Dec 4, 2000
6.5	24 km NNW of El Habillal, Mexico	45.8 km	Aug 9, 2000
6.3	3 km ESE of Plan de Ayala, Mexico	62.0 km	Mar 12, 2000
6.2	242 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	33.0 km	Nov 21, 1999
7.5	15 km W of San Baltazar Loxicha, Mexico	60.6 km	Sep 30, 1999
6.3	20 km E of Coahuayutla de Guerrero, Mexico	68.7 km	Jun 21, 1999
7.0	1 km SE of Texcala, Mexico	70.0 km	Jun 15, 1999
6.1	197 km SW of Manuel Ávila Camacho (Ponte Duro), Mexico	33.0 km	May 5, 1999
6.3	2 km NNE of Cabeza de Toro, Mexico	86.6 km	Jun 7, 1998
6.0	17 km ENE of Aratichanguío, Mexico	67.3 km	Apr 20, 1998
6.4	2 km E of Benito Juárez, Mexico	33.0 km	Feb 3, 1998
6.0	46 km SSW of Barra de Tecoanapa, Mexico	10.0 km	Dec 16, 1997
6.9	4 km ENE of El Ciruelo, Mexico	33.0 km	Jul 19, 1997
6.5	5 km ENE of Churumuco de Morelos, Mexico	70.0 km	May 22, 1997
6.9	228 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	33.0 km	May 1, 1997
7.2	46 km WNW of El Habillal, Mexico	33.0 km	Jan 11, 1997
6.4	4 km SW of El Ramal (Porvenir), Mexico	99.5 km	Dec 31, 1996

Showing the first 100 of 387 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Mexico.

Vanuatu

7,557 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

New Zealand

7,422 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Japan region

6,324 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Solomon Islands

6,125 M4+ events · strongest M7.8

M7.8

Tonga

10,827 M4+ events · strongest M7.6

M7.6

China

4,920 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

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 Mexico? ▼

The USGS catalog records 8,296 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Mexico since 2005, an average of about 395 per year. Separately, 387 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Mexico? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Mexico measured magnitude 8.0. 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 215 countries worldwide - among the most seismically active nations on Earth. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1931, with 11.

How deep are earthquakes in Mexico? ▼

Across the 387 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 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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