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Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Peru

Peru ranks 16th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active country. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

4,591
M4+ events (since 2005)
218
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M8.4
Strongest
~219
M4+ per year

The verdict

Peru has logged 4,591 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 218 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 8.4.

#16
of 215 countries by M4+ activity
4,591
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
M8.4
strongest earthquake on record
218
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.5 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

Major (M6+) earthquakes in Peru by year

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

Value

What this shows Peru's most active year for major earthquakes was 1970 (8 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 2025

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 218 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Peru.

M8+

7

3.2%

M7.0-7.9

42

19.3%

M6.0-6.9

169

77.5%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 218 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 97 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

139

63.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

65

29.8% of events

Deep (>300 km)

14

6.4% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Peru

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

Mag Location Depth
8.4 6 km SSW of Atico, Peru 33.0 km
8.2 21 km SE of Huacho, Peru 45.0 km
8.1 67 km W of Paramonga, Peru 37.4 km
8.1 21 km NNE of Minas de Marcona, Peru 30.0 km
8.0 78 km NE of Navarro, Peru 122.6 km
8.0 41 km SW of San Vicente de Cañete, Peru 39.0 km
8.0 95 km N of San Antonio del Estrecho, Peru 644.8 km
7.9 34 km SW of Chimbote, Peru 58.4 km
7.9 143 km ESE of San Antonio del Estrecho, Peru 475.0 km
7.7 37 km SSW of Atico, Peru 25.0 km

Significant earthquake record (218 events)

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

Mag Location Depth
6.0 19 km SE of Picota, Peru 126.0 km
6.2 43 km W of Puerto Santa, Peru 58.0 km
6.1 34 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru 18.0 km
7.2 10 km WSW of Atiquipa, Peru 24.0 km
6.0 10 km SW of Atiquipa, Peru 27.0 km
6.2 11 km E of Iray, Peru 93.0 km
7.2 10 km W of Azángaro, Peru 236.0 km
6.5 49 km NW of Barranca, Peru 110.0 km
7.5 43 km NNW of Barranca, Peru 126.0 km
6.2 7 km E of Sullana, Peru 34.0 km
6.1 19 km SW of Vilavila, Peru 186.0 km
8.0 78 km NE of Navarro, Peru 122.6 km
7.0 22 km NNE of Azángaro, Peru 267.0 km
7.1 136 km W of Iñapari, Peru 630.0 km
7.1 37 km W of Atiquipa, Peru 39.0 km
6.4 22 km S of Atico, Peru 43.7 km
6.4 186 km NW of Iñapari, Peru 612.0 km
6.2 22 km SW of Vilavila, Peru 12.0 km
6.1 51 km N of Moyobamba, Peru 121.0 km
7.6 185 km WNW of Iñapari, Peru 620.6 km
7.6 155 km WNW of Iñapari, Peru 606.2 km
6.8 38 km NW of Aniso, Peru 101.0 km
6.3 16 km W of Sechura, Peru 29.0 km
6.1 24 km SSW of Paracas, Peru 20.0 km
7.1 16 km WSW of Atiquipa, Peru 40.0 km
6.2 96 km WSW of Paita, Peru 10.0 km
6.0 3 km ESE of Maca, Peru 7.0 km
6.0 16 km ESE of San Alejandro, Peru 129.0 km
6.1 30 km E of San Fernando, Peru 144.6 km
6.1 16 km S of Uñon, Peru 110.0 km
6.2 40 km ENE of Palca, Peru 105.9 km
6.4 6 km ESE of Pampa de Tate, Peru 43.0 km
6.9 39 km SW of Santiago, Peru 24.0 km
7.0 64 km ESE of Contamana, Peru 147.0 km
6.3 68 km ESE of Palca, Peru 118.0 km
6.1 4 km WNW of Sacsamarca, Peru 101.4 km
6.0 83 km NNE of Yambrasbamba, Peru 132.0 km
6.2 21 km S of Las Yaras, Peru 37.0 km
6.1 10 km SSW of Tirapata, Peru 198.9 km
6.0 117 km SSW of Sechura, Peru 15.0 km
6.0 40 km WNW of Pisco, Peru 21.0 km
6.4 78 km ESE of Contamana, Peru 154.0 km
6.2 28 km E of Lluta, Peru 123.0 km
6.0 7 km NNW of Paracas, Peru 30.0 km
6.0 46 km S of Paracas, Peru 35.0 km
6.4 46 km WSW of Santiago, Peru 23.4 km
8.0 41 km SW of San Vicente de Cañete, Peru 39.0 km
6.1 52 km NNE of Pucallpa, Peru 152.1 km
6.3 63 km WSW of Pimentel, Peru 23.0 km
6.0 41 km SW of San Vicente de Cañete, Peru 28.1 km
6.7 52 km SW of San Vicente de Cañete, Peru 23.0 km
6.0 26 km W of Chichas, Peru 107.0 km
7.5 39 km NW of Yurimaguas, Peru 115.0 km
6.3 55 km NW of Zorritos, Peru 39.5 km
6.0 18 km ENE of Shirac, Peru 129.9 km
6.0 81 km SSW of Quilca, Peru 33.0 km
6.0 35 km E of San Fernando, Peru 160.6 km
7.6 51 km SW of Punta de Bombón, Peru 33.0 km
6.6 31 km S of Achanizo, Peru 62.0 km
6.7 34 km WSW of Pacocha, Peru 24.0 km
6.1 56 km SSW of Quilca, Peru 33.0 km
8.4 6 km SSW of Atico, Peru 33.0 km
6.8 6 km SE of Camaná, Peru 87.2 km
6.2 16 km SSE of Pucara, Peru 136.2 km
6.6 43 km NE of San Fernando, Peru 164.6 km
6.4 101 km E of Pangoa, Peru 33.0 km
6.7 97 km NE of Sandia, Peru 586.0 km
7.2 51 km N of Barranca, Peru 112.0 km
6.2 90 km SE of Palca, Peru 115.6 km
6.2 73 km SE of Palca, Peru 113.8 km
6.1 68 km S of Paracas, Peru 33.0 km
6.0 29 km WSW of San Juan, Peru 33.0 km
6.1 54 km WSW of Changuillo, Peru 33.0 km
7.7 60 km SW of Changuillo, Peru 33.0 km
7.5 123 km WSW of Puerto Santa, Peru 10.0 km
6.5 81 km W of Paramonga, Peru 59.9 km
6.7 64 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru 97.0 km
6.3 45 km E of Estique, Peru 148.2 km
6.0 5 km WSW of Nicasio, Peru 199.5 km
6.1 92 km E of Sina, Peru 650.0 km
6.9 74 km S of Tambopata, Peru 596.0 km
6.3 15 km SE of Lachaqui, Peru 106.3 km
6.3 52 km SSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru 96.5 km
6.1 4 km E of San Clemente, Peru 56.9 km
7.0 15 km W of Lares, Peru 104.5 km
6.0 50 km SSE of San Juan, Peru 21.4 km
6.8 13 km SSE of Chojata, Peru 127.7 km
6.3 21 km ESE of Pampa de Tate, Peru 50.0 km
7.1 11 km NE of Rioja, Peru 19.8 km
6.5 4 km ENE of Rioja, Peru 20.7 km
6.2 147 km WSW of Puerto Santa, Peru 24.7 km
6.0 27 km SSW of Sechura, Peru 35.1 km
7.0 130 km W of Iñapari, Peru 598.8 km
6.6 6 km ESE of Segunda Jerusalén - Azunguillo, Peru 24.2 km
6.6 69 km ESE of Contamana, Peru 153.0 km
6.2 52 km WSW of Islay (Matarani), Peru 16.1 km
7.1 30 km SW of Islay (Matarani), Peru 33.1 km
6.0 136 km SSW of Atico, Peru 32.3 km
6.6 36 km SSW of Locumba, Peru 36.5 km
6.0 1 km SSE of Caminaca, Peru 241.4 km

Showing the first 100 of 218 significant events.

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Peru.

Greece

4,600 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

Fiji

4,493 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Argentina

4,371 M4+ events · strongest M7.0

M7.0

China

4,920 M4+ events · strongest M7.9

M7.9

Iran

3,544 M4+ events · strongest M7.7

M7.7

Afghanistan

3,472 M4+ events · strongest M7.5

M7.5

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 Peru? ▼
The USGS catalog records 4,591 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Peru since 2005, an average of about 219 per year. Separately, 218 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.
What was the strongest earthquake in Peru? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in Peru measured magnitude 8.4. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.
How seismically active is Peru? ▼
By catalogued M4+ activity, Peru ranks 16th of 215 countries worldwide - a highly seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1970, with 8.
How deep are earthquakes in Peru? ▼
Across the 218 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 97 km. 64% 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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