Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has catalogued 1,423 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 29th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.7.
Nicaragua ranks 29th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country, averaging about 68 M4+ events a year alongside 62 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1906 to 2022, peaking in 1996.
- 1,423
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 62
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~68
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Nicaragua is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 1,423 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 62 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- 1996
- busiest year (4 major events)
- 41 km
- average recorded event depth
- 87%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder El Salvador sits immediately above at 1,509 events and Pakistan sits immediately below at 1,270.
USGS ComCat event tape
Event tape NICARAGUA · Nicaragua M4+ · 29th/187
Nicaragua · 1,423 M4+ · max M7.7 · 62 M6+
- TAPE 1,423
- EPIC 29th/187
- YOY M7.7
- BAND 62
- STRIP near El Salvador
- BOOK 87% shallow
Stamps derive from this country's USGS ComCat row (M4+ book, rank, peak magnitude, M6+ record, ladder neighbour, depth/peak year), not a hazard forecast. PlainQuake is informational only - not professional advice and not a substitute for official USGS guidance. See our disclaimer. Verify with USGS ComCat → · Read with methodology → · How earthquakes are measured → · Reading earthquake data → · All country catalog rows → · Countries ranked →
Observed impact record
What ComCat observed after earthquakes in Nicaragua
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 45 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.6. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 45
- Average observed MMI
- 5.6
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 7 / 4
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where Nicaragua sits in the catalog
Rank 29th of 187 tracked countries (84th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder El Salvador sits immediately above at 1,509 events and Pakistan sits immediately below at 1,270.
- El Salvador - next more active (1,509 M4+)
- Pakistan - next less active (1,270 M4+)
Nicaragua's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
1,423 Top 16% higher than 84% 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
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Nicaragua by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1992
1992: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 1994 1
1994: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1995 1
1995: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1996
1996: 4 major (M6+) events
4
- 1998
1998: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2004
2004: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2005
2005: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2011 1
2011: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2013 1
2013: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014
2014: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2021
2021: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2022 1
2022: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Nicaragua's most active year for major earthquakes was 1996 (4 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
10 of 1,423 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 62 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Nicaragua.
M7.0-7.9
7
11.3%
M6.0-6.9
55
88.7%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 62 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 41 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
54
87.1% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
8
12.9% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Nicaragua
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | 83 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 44.8 km | Sep 2, 1992 |
| 7.3 | 92 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Dec 30, 1907 |
| 7.2 | 7 km SW of El Viejo, Nicaragua | 65.0 km | Mar 28, 1921 |
| 7.2 | 116 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Jul 1, 1907 |
| 7.1 | 12 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Oct 24, 1956 |
| 7.1 | 9 km E of Granada, Nicaragua | 160.4 km | Oct 15, 1967 |
| 7.0 | 43 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Oct 9, 2004 |
| 7.0 | 15 km NNE of Telica, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Nov 5, 1926 |
| 6.8 | 47 km S of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 30.0 km | Oct 2, 1932 |
| 6.8 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | 52.5 km | Apr 3, 1990 |
Significant earthquake record (62 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Nicaragua since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | 55 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 27.0 km | Apr 21, 2022 |
| 6.3 | 62 km S of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 20.0 km | Nov 9, 2021 |
| 6.5 | 80 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 21.0 km | Sep 22, 2021 |
| 6.6 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | 135.0 km | Apr 11, 2014 |
| 6.1 | 16 km SW of Valle San Francisco, Nicaragua | 13.0 km | Apr 10, 2014 |
| 6.2 | 33 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 60.0 km | Mar 2, 2014 |
| 6.5 | 44 km W of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 30.0 km | Jun 15, 2013 |
| 6.0 | 7 km NNE of Belén, Nicaragua | 177.0 km | Nov 7, 2011 |
| 6.3 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | 14.0 km | Aug 3, 2005 |
| 6.6 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | 27.0 km | Jul 2, 2005 |
| 7.0 | 43 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Oct 9, 2004 |
| 6.3 | 129 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 9.0 km | Jun 29, 2004 |
| 6.2 | 33 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 28.0 km | Mar 2, 2004 |
| 6.0 | 51 km S of El Rosario, Nicaragua | 68.7 km | Oct 9, 1998 |
| 6.7 | 130 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 54.6 km | Aug 23, 1998 |
| 6.0 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | 33.0 km | Nov 17, 1996 |
| 6.0 | 113 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 33.0 km | Mar 27, 1996 |
| 6.7 | 30 km WSW of Villa El Carmen, Nicaragua | 33.0 km | Mar 3, 1996 |
| 6.6 | 39 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 33.0 km | Mar 3, 1996 |
| 6.6 | 120 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 25.0 km | Jun 14, 1995 |
| 6.4 | 181 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 14.5 km | Mar 15, 1994 |
| 6.0 | 55 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 10.0 km | Sep 5, 1992 |
| 6.0 | 58 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 10.0 km | Sep 2, 1992 |
| 7.7 | 83 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 44.8 km | Sep 2, 1992 |
| 6.8 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | 52.5 km | Apr 3, 1990 |
| 6.6 | 2 km WSW of Belén, Nicaragua | 86.7 km | May 6, 1988 |
| 6.5 | 4 km S of Chichigalpa, Nicaragua | 76.2 km | Nov 17, 1987 |
| 6.4 | 11 km SSW of El Rosario, Nicaragua | 55.8 km | Apr 8, 1987 |
| 6.3 | 23 km E of Nandaime, Nicaragua | 22.1 km | Dec 16, 1985 |
| 6.1 | 16 km WNW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 71.8 km | Apr 19, 1985 |
| 6.0 | 32 km W of Tola, Nicaragua | 62.9 km | Dec 20, 1984 |
| 6.2 | 18 km S of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 57.3 km | Aug 23, 1984 |
| 6.3 | 10 km N of Managua, Nicaragua | 10.0 km | Dec 23, 1972 |
| 6.5 | 23 km WNW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 55.0 km | Aug 12, 1970 |
| 6.6 | 34 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | 40.0 km | May 13, 1969 |
| 7.1 | 9 km E of Granada, Nicaragua | 160.4 km | Oct 15, 1967 |
| 6.2 | 6 km SW of El Viejo, Nicaragua | 102.4 km | May 23, 1961 |
| 7.1 | 12 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Oct 24, 1956 |
| 6.0 | 10 km NNE of Villa El Carmen, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Apr 30, 1955 |
| 6.2 | 24 km N of Telica, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Apr 4, 1955 |
| 6.8 | 33 km W of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Feb 19, 1954 |
| 6.8 | 60 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Feb 19, 1954 |
| 6.3 | 78 km SSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Nov 20, 1952 |
| 6.1 | 36 km WSW of Tola, Nicaragua | 46.9 km | Mar 2, 1952 |
| 6.2 | 42 km WNW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 45.0 km | Jan 25, 1947 |
| 6.3 | 53 km W of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Sep 26, 1942 |
| 6.1 | 14 km SSW of El Rosario, Nicaragua | 70.0 km | Jan 6, 1941 |
| 6.1 | 22 km NE of La Paz Centro, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | May 6, 1938 |
| 6.1 | 38 km SW of La Paz Centro, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Apr 25, 1938 |
| 6.7 | 60 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 25.0 km | Dec 22, 1934 |
| 6.8 | 47 km S of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 30.0 km | Oct 2, 1932 |
| 6.1 | 19 km S of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Mar 31, 1931 |
| 6.2 | 20 km S of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Mar 7, 1931 |
| 6.6 | 57 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 30.0 km | Oct 25, 1928 |
| 7.0 | 15 km NNE of Telica, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Nov 5, 1926 |
| 6.4 | 19 km SW of Tola, Nicaragua | 25.0 km | Feb 16, 1922 |
| 7.2 | 7 km SW of El Viejo, Nicaragua | 65.0 km | Mar 28, 1921 |
| 6.1 | 110 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Jul 22, 1919 |
| 6.4 | 144 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Jul 31, 1918 |
| 7.3 | 92 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Dec 30, 1907 |
| 7.2 | 116 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua | 15.0 km | Jul 1, 1907 |
| 6.2 | 73 km WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua | 35.0 km | Jun 20, 1906 |
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Nicaragua-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Nicaragua-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Showing 6 of 186 countries with a recorded max magnitude.
According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 317,293 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,444 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 2026-08-26.