How many earthquakes happen in California a year?

On average, California experiences several hundred earthquakes with magnitudes of 1.5 or greater each year. However, the vast majority of these are minor tremors that cause little to no damage. Larger and more destructive earthquakes, with magnitudes of 6.0 or greater, occur less frequently, but they can still cause significant damage and loss of life. Notable examples include the 2014 South Napa Earthquake (6.0), the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquakes (6.4 and 7.1), and the 2019 Death Valley Earthquake (7.1).