Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Panama

Panama has catalogued 704 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.

Compiled by PlainQuake, Earthquake Data Editorial Process · July 19, 2026

704
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 704 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 717 events and Nepal sits immediately below at 694.

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 717 events and Nepal sits immediately below at 694.

Costa Rica - next more active (717 M4+)
Nepal - next less active (694 M4+)

Panama's M4+ count vs. every tracked country

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

704 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

How Panama compares to its nearest peers

Panama ranks in the 80th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 187 tracked countries. Plotted here against its 20 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

Panama vs. its 20 nearest-ranked peer countries, USGS ComCat

Read the chart (all 21 values)

Country	M4+ events	Strongest magnitude
El Salvador	1,501	M7.3
Nicaragua	1,416	M6.6
Pakistan	1,262	M7.7
Myanmar	1,136	M7.7
Ecuador	1,130	M7.8
Canada	1,026	M7.8
Iceland	982	M6.3
Bolivia	832	M6.8
Wallis and Futuna	807	M6.7
Costa Rica	717	M7.6
Panama (this page)	704	M6.7
Nepal	694	M7.8
Micronesia	672	M6.6
Kyrgyzstan	625	M6.7
Italy	609	M6.6
Ethiopia	574	M5.9
Venezuela	531	M7.5
Dominican Republic	489	M5.8
Svalbard and Jan Mayen	434	M6.8
Portugal	423	M6.3
Tanzania	368	M6.0

2006

1
2008

1
2009

3
2011

1
2012

1
2014

4
2015

1
2019

2
2021

3
2022

2
2023

2
2025

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.

Share of Panama's M4+ catalog that reached significant M6+ severity

27 of 704 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.

How the 106 total breaks down by magnitude M6.0-6.9 is the largest share -- 95.3%

M6.0-6.9 95.3%

M7.0-7.9

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.

Depth distribution of Panama's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

106

100.0% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

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.

Greenland

77 M4+ events · strongest M4.9

M4.9

Reunion

2 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

Argentina

4,379 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

Vietnam

80 M4+ events · strongest M5.3

M5.3

Yemen

338 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Central African Republic

2 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster

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

Botswana

13 M4+ events

M6.5

Barbados

66 M4+ events

M6.5

Democratic Republic of the Congo

161 M4+ events

M6.8

Australia

285 M4+ events

M6.6

Argentina

4,379 M4+ events

M7.0

Zimbabwe

135 M4+ events

M7.0

Understand the data

Costa Rica

Next more active on the M4+ ladder.

Nepal

Next less active on the M4+ ladder.

Country rankings

Every country by M4+ activity.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in Panama? ▼

The USGS catalog records 704 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Panama since 2005, an average of about 34 per year. Separately, 106 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Panama? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Panama measured magnitude 7.5. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.7 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Panama? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Panama ranks 38th of 187 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1933, with 4.

How deep are earthquakes in Panama? ▼

Across the 106 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 19 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 Panama's figures

704 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.5 · average M4.7 · 106 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jun 3, 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 Panama's numbers mean

Panama ranks 38th of 187 countries tracked - a moderately seismically active country.

About 34 M4+ earthquakes strike Panama per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1933 was the busiest year on record with 4 significant events. See the full country ranking
100% of Panama'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 M7.5. 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.