U.S. state profile · USGS ComCat
Earthquakes in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico ranks 5th of 38 U.S. states and territories by catalogued seismic activity - a moderately active state. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend.
- 296
- M4+ events (since 2005)
- 12
- Major M6+ (since 1900)
- M7.7
- Strongest
- ~14
- M4+ per year
The verdict
Puerto Rico has logged 296 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 12 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.7.
- #5
- of 38 U.S. states by M4+ activity
- 296
- catalogued M4+ events (2005–present)
- M7.7
- strongest earthquake on record
- 12
- major M6+ events since 1900
Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate tremors felt but rarely damaging.
Major (M6+) earthquakes in Puerto Rico by year
Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year
- 1915 1
1915: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1918
1918: 4 major (M6+) events
4
- 1920 1
1920: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1939 1
1939: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1943 1
1943: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 1988 1
1988: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2014 1
2014: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2019 1
2019: 1 major (M6+) events
1
- 2020 1
2020: 1 major (M6+) events
1
What this shows Puerto Rico's most active year for major earthquakes was 1918 (4 M6+ events). Major-quake counts track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.
Magnitude distribution of major events
Breakdown of the 12 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for Puerto Rico.
M7.0–7.9
2
16.7%
M6.0–6.9
10
83.3%
Depth of major earthquakes
Hypocentral depth of the 12 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 16 km.
Shallow (<70 km)
12
100% of events
Intermediate (70–300 km)
0
0.0% of events
Deep (>300 km)
0
0.0% of events
USGS seismic hazard context
PGA hazard tiers from the USGS National Seismic Hazard Map, the design-basis shaking used in building codes.
PGA hazard tiers (50-year design life) - Puerto Rico - National Seismic Hazard Map 2023 (USGS NSHM)
Strongest earthquakes in Puerto Rico
The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | 45 km N of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Jul 29, 1943 |
| 7.1 | 24 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1918 |
| 6.4 | 4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico | 6.0 km | Jan 7, 2020 |
| 6.4 | 61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico | 20.0 km | Jan 13, 2014 |
| 6.4 | 32 km NW of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Feb 10, 1920 |
| 6.4 | 120 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1915 |
| 6.3 | 6 km WNW of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 25, 1918 |
| 6.1 | 18 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Nov 12, 1918 |
| 6.1 | 15 km WNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1918 |
| 6.0 | 220 km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Jun 12, 1939 |
Significant earthquake record (12 events)
Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in Puerto Rico since 1900, most recent first.
| Mag | Location | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 | 4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico | 6.0 km | Jan 7, 2020 |
| 6.0 | 67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 10.0 km | Sep 24, 2019 |
| 6.4 | 61 km N of Hatillo, Puerto Rico | 20.0 km | Jan 13, 2014 |
| 6.0 | 67 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 33.3 km | Nov 3, 1988 |
| 7.7 | 45 km N of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Jul 29, 1943 |
| 6.0 | 220 km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Jun 12, 1939 |
| 6.4 | 32 km NW of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Feb 10, 1920 |
| 6.1 | 18 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Nov 12, 1918 |
| 6.3 | 6 km WNW of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 25, 1918 |
| 6.1 | 15 km WNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1918 |
| 7.1 | 24 km NNW of San Antonio, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1918 |
| 6.4 | 120 km N of Isabela, Puerto Rico | 15.0 km | Oct 11, 1915 |
States with similar seismic activity
Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to Puerto Rico.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit Puerto Rico? ▼
What was the largest earthquake in Puerto Rico? ▼
How does Puerto Rico rank for earthquakes? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Understand the data
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. State assignment uses USGS place-name geocoding. 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 surface 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.
Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.