Years of the Rooster 1957 · 1969 · 1981 · 1993 · 2005 · 2017 · 2029

The Year of the Rooster comes round every 12 years. The next one is 2029, the Year of the Earth Rooster, which begins on 13 Feb 2029.

Every 12 years
Next: 2029
Sign: 10th of 12

Year of the Rooster chart

The table shows every Year of the Rooster from 1924 to 2043, with the exact start and end dates and the element that rules each one.

Year	Dates	Element sign	Stem-branch
1933	26 Jan 1933 – 13 Feb 1934	Water Rooster	癸酉 (guǐ yǒu)
1945	13 Feb 1945 – 1 Feb 1946	Wood Rooster	乙酉 (yǐ yǒu)
1957	31 Jan 1957 – 17 Feb 1958	Fire Rooster	丁酉 (dīng yǒu)
1969	17 Feb 1969 – 5 Feb 1970	Earth Rooster	己酉 (jǐ yǒu)
1981	5 Feb 1981 – 24 Jan 1982	Metal Rooster	辛酉 (xīn yǒu)
1993	23 Jan 1993 – 9 Feb 1994	Water Rooster	癸酉 (guǐ yǒu)
2005	9 Feb 2005 – 28 Jan 2006	Wood Rooster	乙酉 (yǐ yǒu)
2017	28 Jan 2017 – 15 Feb 2018	Fire Rooster	丁酉 (dīng yǒu)
2029	13 Feb 2029 – 2 Feb 2030	Earth Rooster	己酉 (jǐ yǒu)
2041	1 Feb 2041 – 21 Jan 2042	Metal Rooster	辛酉 (xīn yǒu)

Born in January or February? The Chinese zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January, so check the exact dates above. If your birthday falls before Lunar New Year you belong to the previous year’s sign. The Birth Destiny calculator works it out for you.

When is the next Year of the Rooster?

The next Year of the Rooster is 2029, the Year of the Earth Rooster. It runs from 13 Feb 2029 to 2 Feb 2030. After that the Rooster returns in 2041.

What each element means for the Rooster

Because the 12 animals are paired with five elements, the same combination only repeats every 60 years. Choose your birth year to see what your element adds to the Rooster’s character.

Your zodiac year: běn mìng nián

When the Rooster year comes round, everyone born under the Rooster is in their běn mìng nián (本命年), their own zodiac year. Far from being lucky, tradition treats it as a year of change and challenge. The custom is to wear something red, such as a bracelet, socks or underwear, ideally given by an older relative.

Read the full Year of the Rooster guide for personality, compatibility and career.

Years of the Rooster questions, answered

What years are the Year of the Rooster?

The Years of the Rooster are 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 and 2041. Each begins at Lunar New Year, which falls between 21 January and 20 February.

When is the next Year of the Rooster?

The next Year of the Rooster is 2029, the Year of the Earth Rooster. It runs from 13 Feb 2029 to 2 Feb 2030.

Is my own zodiac year unlucky?

Tradition says the year of your own sign, called běn mìng nián, is a year of change that calls for extra care rather than a lucky one. Many people wear something red, often a gift from an older relative, for protection.