Portugal and the Azores lie near the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary in the Atlantic. Great earthquakes on the SW Iberian margin recur roughly every 1,000–2,000 years. The last was the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (M8.5), 271 years ago. Its shaking, fire and tsunami destroyed most of Lisbon. This page pulls real records for Portugal: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. 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 Portugal.
Check Portugal hazard risk in detail
An interactive breakdown of the earthquake, tsunami and volcano risk near Portugal - or search any city or region.
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Earthquake risk in Portugal - FAQ
Is Portugal at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 2 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.0 in 1909.
What was the biggest earthquake in Portugal?
The strongest earthquake on record near Portugal is M6.0, in 1909 (2 km SW of Alcochete, Portugal), from USGS. Historically, an even larger event - the the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (M8.5, 1755) - is on record for this region.
Does Portugal get tsunamis?
Yes - 10 tsunamis since 1531 (most recently 1926) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 50,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Portugal?
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.