PlainQuake

U.S. state profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in California

California has catalogued 883 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 (ranked 4th of 39 U.S. states), with the strongest reaching magnitude M7.9.

California ranks 4th of 39 U.S. states and territories by catalogued seismic activity - a highly seismically active state, averaging about 42 M4+ events a year alongside 94 significant M6+ earthquakes since 1900. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend.

883
M4+ events (since 2005)
94
Major M6+ (since 1900)
M7.9
Strongest
~42
M4+ per year

The verdict

California is more seismically active than most places tracked here, with 883 M4+ earthquakes logged since 2005 and 94 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 7.9.

1992
busiest year (6 major events)
10 km
average recorded event depth
100%
of events are shallow (<70 km, the most damaging kind)

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.4 - most events are moderate tremors felt but rarely damaging.

California's M4+ count vs. every tracked state

Total catalogued M4+ events since 2005, USGS ComCat

883 Top 10% higher than 90% of 39 states

0–100: 30 states (77%). Below this entry. 100–200: 1 states (3%). Below this entry. 200–300: 4 states (10%). Below this entry. 300–400: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 400–500: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 500–600: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 600–700: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 700–800: 0 states (0%). Below this entry. 800–900: 1 states (3%). This entry sits in this band. 900–1,000: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. 1,000–1,100: 3 states (8%). Above this entry. California 0 1,000+ every tracked state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a 100-wide band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) · 2005-present

How California compares to its nearest peers

California ranks in the 90th percentile for M4+ frequency among all 39 tracked U.S. states and territories. Plotted here against its 13 nearest-ranked peers by how OFTEN they shake (M4+ count) against how HARD the strongest one ever hit (max recorded magnitude).

California vs. its 13 nearest-ranked peer states, USGS ComCat

California vs. its 13 nearest-ranked peer states, USGS ComCat 2×2 strategic matrix plotting 14 entities by M4+ events since 2005 (X) and Strongest recorded magnitude (Y), with a crosshair dividing the plot into four quadrants. Frequent and severeRare but severeFrequent, capped so farLower on both axes -2,00002,0004,0006,0008,00010,000 M5M6M7M8M9 M4+ events since 2005 Strongest recorded magnitude
California vs. its 13 nearest-ranked peer states, USGS ComCat
Read the chart (all 14 values)
State M4+ events Strongest magnitude
Alaska 8,960 M8.2
Northern Mariana Islands 3,328 M7.7
Guam 2,456 M6.8
California (this page) 883 M7.2
Puerto Rico 296 M6.4
Oregon 263 M6.3
U.S. Virgin Islands 221 M6.1
Hawaii 204 M6.9
Nevada 170 M6.5
Oklahoma 97 M5.8
Idaho 73 M6.5
Georgia 67 M6.0
Texas 52 M5.4
New Mexico 37 M5.4

Major (M6+) earthquakes in California by year

Count of significant (magnitude 6.0+) events catalogued each year

Value

What this shows California's most active year for major earthquakes was 1992 (6 M6+ events). Major-quake counts track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2026

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 94 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for California.

M7.0–7.9

11

11.7%

M6.0–6.9

83

88.3%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 94 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 10 km.

CaliforniaCalifornia, Shallow (<70 km): 100%100%Shallow (<70 km)Intermediate (70-300 km)Deep (>300 km)
Depth distribution of California's M6+ events, USGS ComCat

Shallow (<70 km)

94

100% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

0

0.0% of events

USGS seismic hazard context

PGA hazard tiers from the USGS National Seismic Hazard Map, the design-basis shaking used in building codes. These are the national distribution of hazard tiers across all US land area, not a California-specific breakdown; California's own position within these tiers depends on its local geology and fault proximity.

HazardHazard, Low (PGA <0.05g): 35%35%Hazard, Moderate (0.05-0.15g): 32%32%Hazard, High (0.15-0.30g): 22%22%Hazard, Very High (>0.30g): 11%11%Low (PGA <0.05g)Moderate (0.05-0.15g)High (0.15-0.30g)Very High (>0.30g)
PGA hazard tiers (50-year design life) - National distribution, USGS National Seismic Hazard Map 2023 (USGS NSHM)

Strongest earthquakes in California

The 10 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag Location Depth
7.9 The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake 11.7 km
7.5 The 1952 Kern County, California Earthquake 6.0 km
7.4 123 km W of Big Lagoon, California 15.0 km
7.3 The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake -0.1 km
7.2 153 km W of Big Lagoon, California 16.0 km
7.2 The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake 9.9 km
7.2 The 1980 Eureka, California Earthquake 19.0 km
7.1 The 1923 Humboldt County, California Earthquake 15.0 km
7.1 The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake 13.7 km
7.1 121 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km

Significant earthquake record (94 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in California since 1900, most recent first.

Mag Location Depth
7.0 2024 Offshore Cape Mendocino, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.4 15km WSW of Ferndale, CA 17.9 km
6.2 7km N of Petrolia, CA 27.0 km
6.0 Antelope Valley, CA 7.5 km
6.6 164 km W of Ferndale, California 8.4 km
6.0 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake 11.1 km
6.8 77 km WNW of Indianola, California 16.4 km
6.3 279 km SSW of Avalon, California 13.0 km
6.5 The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake 28.7 km
6.6 196 km W of Ferndale, California 12.0 km
7.2 153 km W of Big Lagoon, California 16.0 km
6.5 10 km NE of San Simeon, California 8.4 km
7.1 The 1999 Hector Mine, California Earthquake 13.7 km
6.6 126 km W of Ferndale, California 4.6 km
7.1 121 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.1 46km E of Big Pine, California 3.6 km
6.3 The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake 3.6 km
7.3 The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake -0.1 km
6.6 32 km SW of Ferndale, California 21.7 km
6.5 30 km WSW of Ferndale, California 18.8 km
7.2 The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake 9.9 km
6.1 The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake 11.6 km
6.0 30 km SSW of Scotia, California 8.3 km
6.9 The 1989 Loma Prieta, California Earthquake 17.2 km
6.6 The 1987 Superstition Hills, California Earthquake 11.2 km
6.2 The 1987 Elmore Ranch, California Earthquake 10.9 km
6.4 The 1986 Chalfant Valley, California Earthquake 8.8 km
6.0 The 1986 North Palm Springs, California Earthquake 9.5 km
6.1 4 km NNW of Round Valley, California 8.1 km
6.7 217 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.2 The 1984 Morgan Hill, California Earthquake 8.2 km
6.7 The 1983 Coalinga, California Earthquake 9.6 km
7.2 The 1980 Eureka, California Earthquake 19.0 km
6.2 9 km SW of Aspen Springs, California 13.8 km
6.1 8 km W of Aspen Springs, California 11.9 km
6.0 7 km ENE of Mammoth Lakes, California 6.7 km
6.1 11 km WNW of Aspen Springs, California 6.8 km
6.3 67 km W of Trinidad, California 41.8 km
6.0 105 km W of Ferndale, California 11.1 km
6.6 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, California 8.9 km
6.6 The 1968 Borrego Mountain, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.2 219 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.1 172 km WSW of Crescent City, California 15.0 km
6.4 155 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.4 The 1954 Eureka-Arcata, California Earthquake 15.0 km
6.8 123 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.4 The 1954 San Jacinto Fault, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.2 28km NW of Cambria, CA 6.0 km
6.0 31 km NW of Shelter Cove, California 15.0 km
7.5 The 1952 Kern County, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.0 53 km SW of Ferndale, California 15.0 km
6.4 169 km W of Crescent City, California 15.0 km
6.0 6 km WNW of Verdi, California 0.0 km
6.0 The 1948 Desert Hot Springs, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.5 The 1947 Manix, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.3 The 1946 Walker Pass, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.3 191 km WSW of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.6 The 1942 Fish Creek Mountains, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.5 68 km W of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.3 201 km WSW of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.8 84 km W of Ferndale, California 15.0 km
6.9 The 1940 Imperial Valley, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.0 16km WSW of Oasis, CA 6.0 km
6.1 123 km WSW of Ferndale, California 10.0 km
6.4 The 1933 Long Beach, California Earthquake 6.0 km
6.5 The 1932 Eureka, California Earthquake 15.0 km
6.9 The 1927 Lompoc, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.2 183 km WNW of Indianola, California 15.0 km
6.3 16 km SW of Davenport, California 10.0 km
6.3 22 km S of Davenport, California 15.0 km
6.8 The 1925 Santa Barbara, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.0 72 km WSW of Crescent City, California 0.0 km
6.2 3 km SE of San Bernardino, California 5.0 km
7.1 The 1923 Humboldt County, California Earthquake 15.0 km
6.5 1922 Parkfield, California Earthquake 0.0 km
7.4 123 km W of Big Lagoon, California 15.0 km
6.0 153 km WNW of Indianola, California 0.0 km
6.5 52 km WNW of Big Lagoon, California 15.0 km
6.7 The 1918 San Jacinto, California Earthquake 10.0 km
6.4 187 km W of Trinidad, California 15.0 km
6.3 237 km WSW of Ferndale, California 15.0 km
6.5 Near Morgan Hill, California 10.0 km
6.0 The 1910 Lake Elsinore, California Earthquake 0.0 km
6.0 Near Bishop, California 0.0 km
6.0 Offshore Humboldt County, California 0.0 km
6.0 Near Rio Dell, California 0.0 km
6.0 Death Valley area, California 0.0 km
6.4 Northwest of Eureka, California 0.0 km
6.3 The 1906 Imperial Valley, California Earthquake 0.0 km
7.9 The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake 11.7 km
6.1 Northwest of Huron, California 0.0 km
6.2 Near San Jose, California 0.0 km
6.1 Near San Jose, California 0.0 km
6.4 1901 Parkfield, California Earthquake 0.0 km

States with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to California.

Puerto Rico

296 M4+ events · strongest M6.4

M6.4

Oregon

263 M4+ events · strongest M6.3

M6.3

U.S. Virgin Islands

221 M4+ events · strongest M6.1

M6.1

Hawaii

204 M4+ events · strongest M6.9

M6.9

Nevada

170 M4+ events · strongest M6.5

M6.5

Oklahoma

97 M4+ events · strongest M5.8

M5.8

States with a similarly strong peak event

Closest all-time strongest catalogued magnitude to California's M7.9.

Hawaii

204 M4+ events

M6.9

Guam

2,456 M4+ events

M6.8

Northern Mariana Islands

3,328 M4+ events

M7.7

Idaho

73 M4+ events

M6.5

Nevada

170 M4+ events

M6.5

Puerto Rico

296 M4+ events

M6.4

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes hit California? ▼
The USGS catalog records 883 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes in California since 2005, about 42 per year, plus 94 major (M6+) events catalogued back to 1900.
What was the largest earthquake in California? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in California measured magnitude 7.9. The average magnitude across the M4+ catalog is 4.4.
How does California rank for earthquakes? ▼
Among U.S. states and territories, California ranks 4th of 39 by catalogued M4+ activity - a highly seismically active state.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All figures come from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward; the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900.

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Most active U.S. regions

How the states rank for seismicity.

State rankings

Every state by M4+ activity.

About this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. State assignment uses USGS place-name geocoding. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward - the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.

What California's numbers mean

California ranks 4th of 39 U.S. states and territories - a highly seismically active state.

  • See California's computed risk level alongside every other state, using the same USGS-derived methodology. Open the risk calculator
  • 100% of California's catalogued major earthquakes are shallow (under 70km) - shallow events generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. How depth affects shaking
  • Compare California against every other U.S. state by count and maximum magnitude. See the full state ranking

Figures reflect the USGS ComCat catalog (M4+ since 2005, M6+ significant events since 1900) - not a real-time hazard assessment. For official guidance, see the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

According to the US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, PlainQuake's figures are rendered directly from 315,341 recorded M4+ earthquakes and 14,428 significant M6+ events (USGS ComCat, 2005-present) -- no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-19.