Country profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Venezuela
Venezuela has catalogued 538 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 26 M4+ events a year alongside 33 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Its M6+ record runs from 1919 to 2026, peaking in 1957.
- 538
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 33
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.5
- Strongest
- ~26
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Venezuela is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 538 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 33 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.5.
- 1957
- busiest year (4 major events)
- 33 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 576 events and Dominican Republic sits immediately below at 492.
USGS event tape strip
Event tape VENEZUELA · Venezuela M4+ · 44th/187
Venezuela · 538 M4+ · max M7.5 · 33 M6+
- YOY 538
- BAND 44th/187
- STRIP M7.5
- BOOK 33
- RANK near Ethiopia
- MAX 85% 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 Venezuela
USGS recorded Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) for 26 events in this catalogued record; their average observed intensity was MMI 6.6. These are only events with an observation, not an estimate of future shaking or a safety rating.
- MMI observations
- 26
- Average observed MMI
- 6.6
- PAGER alerts / tsunami flags
- 7 / 4
Source: USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) GeoJSON impact fields. Missing MMI, alert, and tsunami values remain unreported rather than being treated as zero.
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 576 events and Dominican Republic sits immediately below at 492.
- Ethiopia - next more active (576 M4+)
- Dominican Republic - next less active (492 M4+)
Venezuela's M4+ count vs. every tracked country
Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat
538 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
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.
How Venezuela earthquake activity changed recently
| Year | M4+ events | YoY change | Global YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0.0% | -43.9% |
| 2025 | 2 | +100.0% | +29.3% |
Venezuela's M4+ activity rose faster than the global average in 2026: 0.0% locally vs -43.9% globally, a 43.9-point gap.
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.
8 of 538 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: 33 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 W of Catia La Mar, Venezuela | 10.0 km | Jun 24, 2026 |
| 7.3 | 40 km ENE of Carúpano, Venezuela | 146.8 km | Aug 21, 2018 |
| 7.2 | 20 km E of San Felipe, Venezuela | 10.0 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 W of Catia La Mar, Venezuela | 10.0 km | Jun 24, 2026 |
| 7.2 | 20 km E of San Felipe, Venezuela | 10.0 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.
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.