Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Venezuela
Venezuela has catalogued 531 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 44th of 187 countries), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.5.
Venezuela ranks 44th of 187 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately seismically active country, averaging about 25 M4+ events a year alongside 33 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1919 to 2026, peaking in 1957.
- 531
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 33
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.5
- Strongest
- ~25
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Venezuela is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 531 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 33 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.5.
- 1957
- busiest year (4 major events)
- 34 km
- average recorded event depth
- 85%
- 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 Ethiopia sits immediately above at 574 events and Dominican Republic sits immediately below at 489.
Where Venezuela sits in the catalog
Rank 44th of 187 tracked countries (76th percentile by M4+ count since 2005). On the M4+ activity ladder Ethiopia sits immediately above at 574 events and Dominican Republic sits immediately below at 489.
- Ethiopia - next more active (574 M4+)
- Dominican Republic - next less active (489 M4+)
Venezuela's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
531 Top 24% higher than 76% 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 Venezuela compares to its nearest peers
Venezuela ranks in the 76th 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).
Read the chart (all 21 values)
| Country | M4+ events | Strongest magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 982 | M6.3 |
| Bolivia | 832 | M6.8 |
| Wallis and Futuna | 807 | M6.7 |
| Costa Rica | 717 | M7.6 |
| Panama | 704 | M6.7 |
| Nepal | 694 | M7.8 |
| Micronesia | 672 | M6.6 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 625 | M6.7 |
| Italy | 609 | M6.6 |
| Ethiopia | 574 | M5.9 |
| Venezuela (this page) | 531 | M7.5 |
| Dominican Republic | 489 | M5.8 |
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen | 434 | M6.8 |
| Portugal | 423 | M6.3 |
| Tanzania | 368 | M6.0 |
| Yemen | 338 | M6.6 |
| Somalia | 332 | M5.8 |
| Australia | 285 | M6.6 |
| Albania | 273 | M6.4 |
| Honduras | 269 | M7.5 |
| Djibouti | 260 | M5.5 |
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Venezuela by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1983
1983: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1986
1986: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1989
1989: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1994
1994: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1997
1997: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2000
2000: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2009
2009: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2013
2013: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2018
2018: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2024
2024: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2025
2025: 2 major (M6+) events
2
- 2026
2026: 2 major (M6+) events
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.
8 of 531 catalogued M4+ events since 2005 reached M6.0 or higher.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 33 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Venezuela.
M7.0-7.9
4
12.1%
M6.0-6.9
29
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)
28
84.8% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
5
15.2% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Strongest earthquakes in Venezuela
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 20 km ESE 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 | 21 km ENE of San Felipe, Venezuela | 27.6 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 | 20 km ESE of Yumare, Venezuela | 10.0 km | Jun 24, 2026 |
| 7.2 | 21 km ENE of San Felipe, Venezuela | 27.6 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 |
Other countries in this catalog sample
A Venezuela-keyed shuffle of the full 186-country roster, not the six nearest by count.
Peak-magnitude sample from the same roster
A second Venezuela-keyed shuffle of countries with a recorded max magnitude.
Understand the data
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes have occurred in Venezuela? ▼
What was the strongest earthquake in Venezuela? ▼
How seismically active is Venezuela? ▼
How deep are earthquakes in Venezuela? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
About Venezuela's figures
531 M4+ events since 2005 · strongest M7.5 · average M4.5 · 33 M6+ significant events since 1900 · latest M4+ catalog stamp Jul 13, 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 Venezuela's numbers mean
Venezuela ranks 44th of 187 countries tracked - a moderately seismically active country.
- About 25 M4+ earthquakes strike Venezuela per year on average, though major (M6+) activity is episodic - 1957 was the busiest year on record with 4 significant events. See the full country ranking
- 85% of Venezuela'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.