What is the relationship between the strength of eathquakes and the earthquake frequency?

The relationship between the strength of earthquakes and their frequency is often described by the Gutenberg-Richter law, which states that smaller earthquakes occur much more frequently than larger ones. For instance, while thousands of minor earthquakes may be recorded each year, significant earthquakes (magnitude 7 or above) happen much less frequently, often on the order of once every several years. This inverse relationship means that as the magnitude of an earthquake increases, its likelihood of occurrence decreases.