Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Panama
Panama has catalogued 708 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 38th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.5.
Panama ranks 38th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country, averaging about 34 M4+ events a year alongside 106 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1904 to 2025, peaking in 1933.
- 708
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 106
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.5
- Strongest
- ~34
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Panama is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 708 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 106 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.5.
- 1933
- busiest year (4 major events)
- 19 km
- average recorded event depth
- 100%
- of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.7 - most events are moderate M4-5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage. On the M4+ activity ladder Costa Rica sits immediately above at 720 events and Nepal sits immediately below at 696.
ComCat country tape
Event tape PANAMA · Panama M4+ · 38th/187
Panama · 708 M4+ · max M7.5 · 106 M6+
- BAND 708
- STRIP 38th/187
- BOOK M7.5
- RANK 106
- MAX near Costa Rica
- M6 100% 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 Panama
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 48 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 5.8. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 48
- Average observed MMI
- 5.8
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 16 / 9
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
Where Panama sits in the catalog
Rank 38th of 187 tracked countries (80th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Costa Rica sits immediately above at 720 events and Nepal sits immediately below at 696.
- Costa Rica - next more active (720 M4+)
- Nepal - next less active (696 M4+)
Panama's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
708 Top 20% higher than 80% 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 Panama by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 2006 1
2006: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2008 1
2008: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2009
2009: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2011 1
2011: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2012 1
2012: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014
2014: 4 major (M6+) events
4
- 2015 1
2015: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2019
2019: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2021
2021: 3 major (M6+) events
3
- 2022
2022: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2023
2023: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2025
2025: 2 major (M6+) events
2
What this shows Panama's most active year for major earthquakes was 1933 (4 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
How Panama earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 0.0% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 2 | -33.3% | -8.9% |
Panama's year-on-year change (0.0%) is roughly in line with the global trend (+3.0%) in 2023.
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ = magnitude 4.0 or greater. YoY = year-on-year change. Global column uses the worldwide total from the same catalog.
27 of 708 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 106 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Panama.
M7.0-7.9
5
4.7%
M6.0-6.9
101
95.3%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 106 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 19 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
106
100.0% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Panama
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 44 km ESE of Burica, Panama | 30.0 km | Jul 18, 1934 |
| 7.3 | 33 km SSW of Boca de Cupé, Panama | 12.0 km | Jul 13, 1974 |
| 7.2 | 45 km SW of Quebrada de Piedra, Panama | 10.0 km | Jan 20, 1904 |
| 7.2 | 59 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Jul 26, 1962 |
| 7.0 | 12 km SSE of Jaqué, Panama | 3.0 km | Jul 11, 1976 |
| 7.0 | 56 km SSE of Cambutal, Panama | 20.0 km | May 2, 1943 |
| 6.8 | 146 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Aug 19, 1982 |
| 6.8 | 228 km WSW of Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Mar 3, 1906 |
| 6.8 | 78 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 30.0 km | Sep 18, 1962 |
| 6.8 | 20 km SSE of Guarumal, Panama | 25.0 km | Jul 21, 1934 |
Significant earthquake record (106 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Panama since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2 | 206 km S of Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Jul 14, 2025 |
| 6.2 | 124 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Mar 21, 2025 |
| 6.5 | 45 km NE of Puerto Obaldía, Panama | 13.0 km | May 25, 2023 |
| 6.3 | 73 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 16.0 km | Apr 4, 2023 |
| 6.7 | 60 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama | 20.0 km | Oct 20, 2022 |
| 6.0 | 281 km SW of Arenas, Panama | 8.0 km | Jan 28, 2022 |
| 6.7 | 71 km S of Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Jul 21, 2021 |
| 6.1 | 135 km S of Burica, Panama | 4.1 km | Jul 17, 2021 |
| 6.1 | 154 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | May 13, 2021 |
| 6.2 | 4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama | 32.6 km | Jun 26, 2019 |
| 6.0 | 1 km W of Breñón, Panama | 19.0 km | May 12, 2019 |
| 6.5 | 236 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 8.0 km | Jan 7, 2015 |
| 6.6 | 22 km ESE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 20.0 km | Dec 8, 2014 |
| 6.0 | 15 km ESE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Dec 6, 2014 |
| 6.5 | 110 km SE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | May 13, 2014 |
| 6.0 | 33 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama | 25.0 km | Apr 2, 2014 |
| 6.3 | 278 km SW of Arenas, Panama | 7.0 km | Jun 4, 2012 |
| 6.1 | 143 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 12.0 km | Apr 30, 2011 |
| 6.0 | 147 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 18.0 km | Oct 22, 2009 |
| 6.1 | 4 km NNW of El Porvenir, Panama | 38.0 km | Jul 4, 2009 |
| 6.3 | 259 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 9.0 km | Mar 12, 2009 |
| 6.3 | 11 km W of Puerto Armuelles, Panama | 32.0 km | Nov 19, 2008 |
| 6.1 | 163 km SW of Río Grande, Panama | 7.4 km | Jan 6, 2006 |
| 6.1 | 76 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 10.0 km | Dec 30, 2005 |
| 6.0 | 154 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 7.0 km | Dec 21, 2005 |
| 6.1 | 142 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Aug 27, 2005 |
| 6.5 | 256 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 18.0 km | May 5, 2005 |
| 6.1 | 2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama | 29.2 km | Feb 4, 2004 |
| 6.5 | 3 km SSE of Progreso, Panama | 33.0 km | Dec 25, 2003 |
| 6.2 | 124 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Apr 11, 2003 |
| 6.0 | 20 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Aug 7, 2002 |
| 6.5 | 14 km SE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Jul 31, 2002 |
| 6.1 | 33 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | 10.0 km | Nov 9, 2001 |
| 6.1 | 45 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 24.5 km | Aug 25, 2001 |
| 6.1 | 224 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Dec 12, 2000 |
| 6.1 | 7 km SE of Narganá, Panama | 65.0 km | Feb 26, 2000 |
| 6.2 | 269 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Dec 28, 1999 |
| 6.3 | 245 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Mar 31, 1999 |
| 6.1 | 53 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama | 33.0 km | Apr 1, 1997 |
| 6.0 | 137 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 11.7 km | Feb 5, 1995 |
| 6.3 | 86 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 17.8 km | May 18, 1992 |
| 6.2 | 16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | 10.0 km | May 4, 1991 |
| 6.0 | 71 km NE of Mulatupo, Panama | 36.1 km | May 2, 1991 |
| 6.0 | 234 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Apr 30, 1991 |
| 6.3 | 136 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama | 19.3 km | Dec 17, 1990 |
| 6.5 | 127 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | 9.6 km | May 8, 1990 |
| 6.2 | 124 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Dec 8, 1988 |
| 6.0 | 170 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Sep 8, 1987 |
| 6.3 | 229 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Jan 4, 1987 |
| 6.3 | 32 km E of Mulatupo, Panama | 37.7 km | Apr 20, 1985 |
| 6.2 | 80 km NNW of Portobelo, Panama | 32.8 km | Jan 5, 1985 |
| 6.0 | 95 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 10.0 km | Nov 26, 1983 |
| 6.1 | 11 km WSW of Puerto Armuelles, Panama | 39.1 km | May 9, 1983 |
| 6.8 | 146 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Aug 19, 1982 |
| 6.5 | 9 km WNW of Puerto Armuelles, Panama | 28.0 km | Jul 1, 1979 |
| 6.1 | 116 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 10.0 km | Jun 27, 1979 |
| 6.1 | 85 km NNE of San Ignacio de Tupile, Panama | 35.0 km | Apr 4, 1978 |
| 7.0 | 12 km SSE of Jaqué, Panama | 3.0 km | Jul 11, 1976 |
| 6.7 | 39 km WSW of Jaqué, Panama | 22.0 km | Jul 11, 1976 |
| 7.3 | 33 km SSW of Boca de Cupé, Panama | 12.0 km | Jul 13, 1974 |
| 6.2 | 274 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama | 25.2 km | Jun 15, 1968 |
| 6.1 | 277 km S of Burica, Panama | 20.6 km | Jul 12, 1967 |
| 6.3 | 63 km SSW of Quebrada de Piedra, Panama | 20.0 km | Dec 15, 1965 |
| 6.2 | 239 km SW of Burica, Panama | 10.0 km | Sep 9, 1965 |
| 6.8 | 78 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | 30.0 km | Sep 18, 1962 |
| 7.2 | 59 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Jul 26, 1962 |
| 6.5 | 14 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Mar 12, 1962 |
| 6.3 | 70 km WSW of Río Grande, Panama | 25.0 km | Mar 28, 1960 |
| 6.0 | 163 km S of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Dec 6, 1958 |
| 6.1 | 284 km SW of Arenas, Panama | 15.0 km | Jun 6, 1958 |
| 6.4 | 156 km S of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Oct 31, 1957 |
| 6.3 | 64 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 20.0 km | Jul 10, 1957 |
| 6.2 | 45 km SE of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Mar 13, 1956 |
| 6.4 | 261 km S of Burica, Panama | 35.0 km | Apr 27, 1954 |
| 6.0 | 134 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Jul 9, 1952 |
| 6.3 | 122 km SW of Jaqué, Panama | 10.0 km | May 16, 1952 |
| 6.6 | 15 km WSW of Arenas, Panama | 54.4 km | Jan 6, 1951 |
| 6.1 | 10 km WNW of Finca Blanco, Panama | 35.0 km | Aug 18, 1949 |
| 6.1 | 139 km SW of Río Grande, Panama | 15.0 km | Aug 11, 1945 |
| 6.5 | 3 km SW of Santo Tomás, Panama | 34.4 km | Jun 3, 1945 |
| 7.0 | 56 km SSE of Cambutal, Panama | 20.0 km | May 2, 1943 |
| 6.3 | 290 km SSW of Arenas, Panama | 12.5 km | Mar 5, 1943 |
| 6.1 | 135 km SW of Río Grande, Panama | 15.0 km | Oct 29, 1936 |
| 6.3 | 19 km NNW of Portobelo, Panama | 35.0 km | Nov 30, 1935 |
| 6.8 | 20 km SSE of Guarumal, Panama | 25.0 km | Jul 21, 1934 |
| 6.6 | 8 km SSW of Burica, Panama | 20.0 km | Jul 18, 1934 |
| 7.5 | 44 km ESE of Burica, Panama | 30.0 km | Jul 18, 1934 |
| 6.0 | 36 km SE of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Nov 29, 1933 |
| 6.2 | 29 km W of Burica, Panama | 25.0 km | Nov 23, 1933 |
| 6.2 | 78 km S of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Nov 21, 1933 |
| 6.3 | 251 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama | 15.0 km | May 6, 1933 |
| 6.0 | 99 km SE of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Oct 12, 1931 |
| 6.7 | 260 km SSW of Arenas, Panama | 10.0 km | Aug 20, 1927 |
| 6.6 | 97 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Aug 10, 1927 |
| 6.1 | 136 km S of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Mar 9, 1927 |
| 6.4 | 19 km SSE of Camogantí, Panama | 15.0 km | Mar 29, 1925 |
| 6.2 | 66 km NNE of Kusapín, Panama | 15.0 km | Jan 28, 1925 |
| 6.0 | 135 km SSE of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Oct 25, 1921 |
| 6.3 | 192 km S of Burica, Panama | 15.0 km | Sep 24, 1920 |
| 6.2 | 75 km SSE of Pedasí, Panama | 15.0 km | Jun 30, 1917 |
Showing the first 100 of 106 significant events.
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Panama-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Panama-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.