What the record shows for Mexico
The strongest earthquake on record near Mexico is a magnitude 8.1 in 1932, centred 1932 Jalisco, Mexico Earthquake - 94 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1,158 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 722 km of Mexico - roughly 58 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 28 tsunamis within 722 km of Mexico between 1818 and 2022. The most significant was in 1985 near Mexico, triggered by an M8.0 earthquake, which killed around 9,500 people.
24 volcanoes are catalogued near Mexico, including Durango Volcanic Field, Sanganguey, Ceboruco, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Mascota Volcanic Field, Isabel, Isla and 18 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Mexico’s Pacific coast sits above the Cocos plate subduction zone, the source of its largest and most destructive earthquakes.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Mexico.
Earthquake risk in Mexico - FAQ
Is Mexico at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 58 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 722 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.1 in 1932.
What was the biggest earthquake in Mexico?
The strongest earthquake on record near Mexico is M8.1, in 1932 (1932 Jalisco, Mexico Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Mexico get tsunamis?
Yes - 28 tsunamis since 1818 (most recently 2022) within 722 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 9,500 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Mexico?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.