Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in Venezuela

Venezuela ranks 46th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country. 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

526
M4+ events (since 2005): 33
Major M6+ (since 1900): M7.5
Strongest: ~25
M4+ per year

The verdict

Venezuela has logged 526 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 33 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.5.

#46
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 526
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M7.5
strongest earthquake on record: 33
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.

1983

1
1986

1
1989

1
1994

1
1997

1
2000

1
2009

1
2013

1
2018

1
2024

1
2025

2
2026

2

What this shows Venezuela's most active year for major earthquakes was 1957 (4 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 33 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Venezuela.

M7.0-7.9

12.1%

M6.0-6.9

87.9%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 33 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 34 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

84.8% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

15.2% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0.0% of events

Strongest earthquakes in Venezuela

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.5	28 km SE of Yumare, Venezuela	10.0 km	Jun 24, 2026
7.3	40 km ENE of Carúpano, Venezuela	146.8 km	Aug 21, 2018
7.2	23 km SE of Yumare, Venezuela	20.3 km	Jun 24, 2026
7.0	26 km WSW of Carúpano, Venezuela	19.9 km	Jul 9, 1997
6.7	22 km NNE of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela	10.0 km	Jan 17, 1929
6.6	32 km W of Catia La Mar, Venezuela	23.0 km	Jul 30, 1967
6.6	42 km W of Güiria, Venezuela	100.0 km	Apr 10, 1935
6.5	50 km WNW of Güiria, Venezuela	103.4 km	Sep 20, 1968
6.4	27 km NNE of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela	14.0 km	Sep 12, 2009
6.4	52 km WNW of Güiria, Venezuela	23.3 km	Oct 4, 1957

Significant earthquake record (33 events)

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

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
7.5	28 km SE of Yumare, Venezuela	10.0 km	Jun 24, 2026
7.2	23 km SE of Yumare, Venezuela	20.3 km	Jun 24, 2026
6.3	25 km ENE of Mene Grande, Venezuela	14.0 km	Sep 25, 2025
6.2	5 km ENE of Mene Grande, Venezuela	9.0 km	Sep 24, 2025
6.0	20 km NE of Yaguaraparo, Venezuela	77.0 km	Jun 23, 2024
7.3	40 km ENE of Carúpano, Venezuela	146.8 km	Aug 21, 2018
6.0	36 km N of Güiria, Venezuela	63.0 km	Oct 12, 2013
6.4	27 km NNE of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela	14.0 km	Sep 12, 2009
6.2	66 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela	110.3 km	Oct 4, 2000
7.0	26 km WSW of Carúpano, Venezuela	19.9 km	Jul 9, 1997
6.0	44 km SSE of San Cristóbal, Venezuela	11.6 km	May 31, 1994
6.0	6 km WNW of Chichiriviche, Venezuela	20.3 km	Apr 30, 1989
6.3	36 km ESE of Carúpano, Venezuela	18.8 km	Jun 11, 1986
6.1	53 km WSW of Güiria, Venezuela	40.0 km	Apr 11, 1983
6.1	19 km NW of Quíbor, Venezuela	33.0 km	Apr 5, 1975
6.1	18 km SW of Carúpano, Venezuela	34.0 km	Jun 12, 1974
6.5	50 km WNW of Güiria, Venezuela	103.4 km	Sep 20, 1968
6.6	32 km W of Catia La Mar, Venezuela	23.0 km	Jul 30, 1967
6.1	37 km SW of Güiria, Venezuela	15.0 km	Dec 25, 1957
6.0	57 km NW of Güiria, Venezuela	15.0 km	Oct 6, 1957
6.4	52 km WNW of Güiria, Venezuela	23.3 km	Oct 4, 1957
6.2	55 km NW of Güiria, Venezuela	15.0 km	Oct 2, 1957
6.1	8 km SW of Mucumpiz, Venezuela	15.0 km	Nov 16, 1956
6.4	8 km SSW of El Tocuyo, Venezuela	15.0 km	Aug 3, 1950
6.3	29 km SSE of Güiria, Venezuela	35.0 km	Dec 23, 1945
6.3	156 km NW of Punto Fijo, Venezuela	15.0 km	Dec 23, 1943
6.2	163 km NW of Punto Fijo, Venezuela	15.0 km	Dec 22, 1943
6.1	163 km NW of Punto Fijo, Venezuela	15.0 km	Dec 21, 1943
6.6	42 km W of Güiria, Venezuela	100.0 km	Apr 10, 1935
6.3	29 km ENE of Táriba, Venezuela	15.0 km	Mar 14, 1932
6.7	22 km NNE of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela	10.0 km	Jan 17, 1929
6.3	41 km WSW of Güiria, Venezuela	20.0 km	Aug 8, 1923
6.2	40 km ESE of San Cristóbal, Venezuela	15.0 km	Jul 11, 1919

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Venezuela.

Dominican Republic

488 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

Ethiopia

572 M4+ events · strongest M5.9

M5.9

Italy

608 M4+ events · strongest M6.6

M6.6

Svalbard and Jan Mayen

431 M4+ events · strongest M6.8

M6.8

Kyrgyzstan

624 M4+ events · strongest M6.7

M6.7

Portugal

414 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

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 Venezuela? ▼

The USGS catalog records 526 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in Venezuela since 2005, an average of about 25 per year. Separately, 33 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in Venezuela? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in Venezuela measured magnitude 7.5. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.5 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is Venezuela? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, Venezuela ranks 46th of 215 countries worldwide - a moderately seismically active country. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1957, with 4.

How deep are earthquakes in Venezuela? ▼

Across the 33 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 34 km. 85% 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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