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Chinese zodiac years 1950–2030: animal and element by year

Each Chinese year is ruled by one of 12 animals and one of 5 elements, and it starts on Chinese New Year, not on 1 January. Find any year from 1950 to 2030 below.

By ZodiacDNA Editorial Team · Published · 100% free to read and use

Quick answer

The Chinese zodiac assigns each lunar year one of 12 animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig) and one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), giving a 60-year cycle. The year begins on Chinese New Year, between 21 January and 20 February, so people born in January or early February often belong to the previous animal.

Chinese zodiac by year, 1950–2030

YearSignYin/YangStartsEnds
1950Metal TigerYang17 February 19505 February 1951
1951Metal RabbitYin6 February 195126 January 1952
1952Water DragonYang27 January 195213 February 1953
1953Water SnakeYin14 February 19532 February 1954
1954Wood HorseYang3 February 195423 January 1955
1955Wood GoatYin24 January 195511 February 1956
1956Fire MonkeyYang12 February 195630 January 1957
1957Fire RoosterYin31 January 195717 February 1958
1958Earth DogYang18 February 19587 February 1959
1959Earth PigYin8 February 195927 January 1960
1960Metal RatYang28 January 196014 February 1961
1961Metal OxYin15 February 19614 February 1962
1962Water TigerYang5 February 196224 January 1963
1963Water RabbitYin25 January 196312 February 1964
1964Wood DragonYang13 February 19641 February 1965
1965Wood SnakeYin2 February 196520 January 1966
1966Fire HorseYang21 January 19668 February 1967
1967Fire GoatYin9 February 196729 January 1968
1968Earth MonkeyYang30 January 196816 February 1969
1969Earth RoosterYin17 February 19695 February 1970
1970Metal DogYang6 February 197026 January 1971
1971Metal PigYin27 January 197114 February 1972
1972Water RatYang15 February 19722 February 1973
1973Water OxYin3 February 197322 January 1974
1974Wood TigerYang23 January 197410 February 1975
1975Wood RabbitYin11 February 197530 January 1976
1976Fire DragonYang31 January 197617 February 1977
1977Fire SnakeYin18 February 19776 February 1978
1978Earth HorseYang7 February 197827 January 1979
1979Earth GoatYin28 January 197915 February 1980
1980Metal MonkeyYang16 February 19804 February 1981
1981Metal RoosterYin5 February 198124 January 1982
1982Water DogYang25 January 198212 February 1983
1983Water PigYin13 February 19831 February 1984
1984Wood RatYang2 February 198419 February 1985
1985Wood OxYin20 February 19858 February 1986
1986Fire TigerYang9 February 198628 January 1987
1987Fire RabbitYin29 January 198716 February 1988
1988Earth DragonYang17 February 19885 February 1989
1989Earth SnakeYin6 February 198926 January 1990
1990Metal HorseYang27 January 199014 February 1991
1991Metal GoatYin15 February 19913 February 1992
1992Water MonkeyYang4 February 199222 January 1993
1993Water RoosterYin23 January 19939 February 1994
1994Wood DogYang10 February 199430 January 1995
1995Wood PigYin31 January 199518 February 1996
1996Fire RatYang19 February 19966 February 1997
1997Fire OxYin7 February 199727 January 1998
1998Earth TigerYang28 January 199815 February 1999
1999Earth RabbitYin16 February 19994 February 2000
2000Metal DragonYang5 February 200023 January 2001
2001Metal SnakeYin24 January 200111 February 2002
2002Water HorseYang12 February 200231 January 2003
2003Water GoatYin1 February 200321 January 2004
2004Wood MonkeyYang22 January 20048 February 2005
2005Wood RoosterYin9 February 200528 January 2006
2006Fire DogYang29 January 200617 February 2007
2007Fire PigYin18 February 20076 February 2008
2008Earth RatYang7 February 200825 January 2009
2009Earth OxYin26 January 200913 February 2010
2010Metal TigerYang14 February 20102 February 2011
2011Metal RabbitYin3 February 201122 January 2012
2012Water DragonYang23 January 20129 February 2013
2013Water SnakeYin10 February 201330 January 2014
2014Wood HorseYang31 January 201418 February 2015
2015Wood GoatYin19 February 20157 February 2016
2016Fire MonkeyYang8 February 201627 January 2017
2017Fire RoosterYin28 January 201715 February 2018
2018Earth DogYang16 February 20184 February 2019
2019Earth PigYin5 February 201924 January 2020
2020Metal RatYang25 January 202011 February 2021
2021Metal OxYin12 February 202131 January 2022
2022Water TigerYang1 February 202221 January 2023
2023Water RabbitYin22 January 20239 February 2024
2024Wood DragonYang10 February 202428 January 2025
2025Wood SnakeYin29 January 202516 February 2026
2026Fire HorseYang17 February 20265 February 2027
2027Fire GoatYin6 February 202725 January 2028
2028Earth MonkeyYang26 January 202812 February 2029
2029Earth RoosterYin13 February 20292 February 2030
2030Metal DogYang3 February 203022 January 2031

Dates are the first and last day of each lunar year (China Standard Time).

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Frequently asked questions

Why does my Chinese zodiac not match my birth year?

The Chinese year starts on Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February). If you were born before that date, your sign is the previous year's animal.

How is the element decided?

By the last digit of the year: 0–1 Metal, 2–3 Water, 4–5 Wood, 6–7 Fire, 8–9 Earth. Even years are Yang, odd years are Yin.

How long is the full cycle?

60 years: 12 animals × 5 elements. A 1996 Fire Rat repeats in 2056.

Is there a free Chinese zodiac calculator?

Yes. The ZodiacDNA Chinese zodiac calculator gives your animal, element and compatibility from your exact birth date, free.

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