Volcano · Mexico
Popocatépetl
Watched closely: some 25 million people live within 100 km.
Status right now
No current reports
Popocatépetl is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 5 Nov 2026, 00:34 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Mexico
- Region
- Central America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 5,393 m (17,694 ft)
- Coordinates
- 19.023° N, 98.622° W
- Smithsonian number
- 341090
What kind of volcano is it?
Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2022 | 2 | 1 | – |
| 30 Apr 1996 | 3 | 5 | – |
| 19 Feb 1919 | 1 | – | – |
3 significant eruptions near Popocatépetl in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- ColimaMexico · 527 km
- Santa MaríaGuatemala · 889 km
- FuegoGuatemala · 967 km
- PacayaGuatemala · 998 km
- MasayaNicaragua · 1,546 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 1,831 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.