Recent Magnitude 2 Earthquakes Worldwide
26268 earthquakes between magnitude 2.0 and 2.9 have been recorded worldwide since December 2024 — an average of 1251 per month. The most recent are listed below.
Minor earthquakes in this range are felt by people close to the epicentre as a brief jolt or rattle, but they very rarely cause any damage. A magnitude 2.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 kg of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The average focal depth for events in this band is 23 km.
The countries recording the most earthquakes in this magnitude band are the United States (23228), Puerto Rico (2431), Mexico (267), the U.S. Virgin Islands (139), Canada (126).
Events in this band make up 14.9% of every earthquake in the catalogue. A magnitude 2 releases about 32 times the energy of a magnitude 1, and about 1,000 times that of a magnitude 0.
90% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 10% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
The largest event in this band on record here is a magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Brawley, United States on 10 May 2026, at a focal depth of 2 km.
1 earthquakes in this magnitude band carry a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information. The flag does not mean that a tsunami occurred.
Magnitude 2 earthquakes, newest first
100 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
Frequently asked questions
How often do magnitude 2 earthquakes happen?
Our catalogue contains 26268 earthquakes in the magnitude 2.0–2.9 band, an average of 1251 per month. Globally, each step down the magnitude scale is roughly ten times more frequent than the step above it.
Where do most magnitude 2 earthquakes occur?
The countries recording the most events in this band are the United States (23228), Puerto Rico (2431), Mexico (267), the U.S. Virgin Islands (139), Canada (126). Offshore events along subduction trenches and mid-ocean ridges are recorded under a regional name rather than a country.
How strong is a magnitude 2 earthquake?
Minor earthquakes in this range are felt by people close to the epicentre as a brief jolt or rattle, but they very rarely cause any damage. A magnitude 2.0 earthquake radiates roughly 15 kg of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
Countries with magnitude 2 earthquakes
For what a magnitude 2 earthquake actually feels like and how the scale works, read the full explainer. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.