This quick chart groups Gregorian birth years by the repeating 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle. It is a starting point, not a final answer for January or February birthdays, because the zodiac year changes at Lunar New Year rather than on January 1.
Chinese zodiac years from 1924 through 2031
| Sign | Common birth years |
|---|---|
| Rat | 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| Ox | 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| Tiger | 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| Rabbit | 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Dragon | 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| Snake | 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| Horse | 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| Goat | 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| Monkey | 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| Rooster | 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| Dog | 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| Pig | 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 |
Before using the chart
If you were born in January or February, check the exact Lunar New Year date for your birth year. A person born before that boundary usually belongs to the preceding zodiac year. The Hong Kong Observatory publishes Gregorian-Lunar conversion tables that can help verify a boundary date.
Check the Hong Kong Observatory calendar resources, then use our birth-date guide.
How the repeating cycle is calculated
The animal sequence repeats every 12 years. In the chart above, 2020 is used as a Rat-year reference, and the sequence moves forward one sign for each Gregorian year. Subtracting or adding 12 returns to the same animal label. That arithmetic is useful for a quick chart, but it does not move the lunar boundary to January 1.
Three checks before recording a result
- Check the complete birth date. A year without a month and day is not enough for a January or February birthday.
- Check the calendar source. Use a dated Gregorian-Lunar table rather than an undated social image.
- Record the tradition. Animal names and details can vary across regions, so state which zodiac convention you used.
Example: moving backward through the cycle
If 2020 is Rat, then 2019 is Pig and 2018 is Dog. Moving back another 12 years from 2020 reaches 2008, another common Rat year. The calculation identifies the cycle label only; a February 2008 birthday still needs the exact Lunar New Year boundary check.
What the chart can and cannot tell you
The chart identifies a traditional year label. It does not diagnose a personality, predict an outcome, or replace evidence in a real decision. Use the linked sign guides as reflective prompts and keep only the questions that fit your actual circumstances.
For a fuller cultural overview, compare the Smithsonian Lunar New Year resources with the calendar source. Then open the linked sign guide for reflection questions rather than fixed claims.
Keep a reusable verification record
When the chart is used for family history, a classroom project, or a personal journal, save the complete birth date, the calendar table consulted, the boundary date shown by that table, and the date you checked it. That small record prevents a quick year lookup from being mistaken for a verified lunar-year result. It also makes the answer easier to revisit when a source updates its calendar archive or when two traditions use different translated animal names.