The Chinese zodiac is a repeating cycle of 12 years, each named after an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Your animal is decided by your birth year. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Here are all 12 animals with years, traits, elements and compatibility.
Chinese zodiac years chart
| # | Animal | Recent years | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rat | 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 | clever, resourceful, quick-witted |
| 2 | Ox | 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 | diligent, dependable, patient |
| 3 | Tiger | 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 | brave, confident, competitive |
| 4 | Rabbit | 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 | gentle, elegant, kind |
| 5 | Dragon | 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 | confident, ambitious, charismatic |
| 6 | Snake | 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 | wise, intuitive, private |
| 7 | Horse | 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 | energetic, independent, cheerful |
| 8 | Goat | 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 | gentle, creative, compassionate |
| 9 | Monkey | 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 | clever, curious, playful |
| 10 | Rooster | 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 | observant, hardworking, confident |
| 11 | Dog | 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 | loyal, honest, protective |
| 12 | Pig | 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 | generous, easygoing, sincere |
How to find your Chinese zodiac sign
Find your birth year in the chart above. One catch: zodiac years start at Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid February, not on January 1. If you were born in January or February, look up the New Year date for that year, because you may belong to the previous animal.
Chinese New Year dates, 2020 to 2031
| Year | Zodiac year | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Metal Rat | January 25, 2020 | February 11, 2021 |
| 2021 | Metal Ox | February 12, 2021 | January 31, 2022 |
| 2022 | Water Tiger | February 1, 2022 | January 21, 2023 |
| 2023 | Water Rabbit | January 22, 2023 | February 9, 2024 |
| 2024 | Wood Dragon | February 10, 2024 | January 28, 2025 |
| 2025 | Wood Snake | January 29, 2025 | February 16, 2026 |
| 2026 | Fire Horse | February 17, 2026 | February 5, 2027 |
| 2027 | Fire Goat | February 6, 2027 | January 25, 2028 |
| 2028 | Earth Monkey | January 26, 2028 | February 12, 2029 |
| 2029 | Earth Rooster | February 13, 2029 | February 2, 2030 |
| 2030 | Metal Dog | February 3, 2030 | January 22, 2031 |
| 2031 | Metal Pig | January 23, 2031 | February 10, 2032 |
Why these 12 animals? The Great Race
According to the best-known legend, the Jade Emperor held a race to decide which animals would be in the calendar, and in what order. The Rat hitched a ride on the Ox and jumped ahead at the finish line to come first. The Ox was second, followed by the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster and Dog. The Pig arrived last after stopping to eat and sleep.
Some countries use slightly different animals: in Vietnam, for example, the Cat takes the place of the Rabbit.
The five elements
Each year also has one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. Combined with the 12 animals, this makes a 60-year cycle. The element follows the last digit of the year:
- Years ending in 0 or 1: Metal
- Years ending in 2 or 3: Water
- Years ending in 4 or 5: Wood
- Years ending in 6 or 7: Fire
- Years ending in 8 or 9: Earth
So 2024 was a Wood Dragon year, 2025 a Wood Snake year, and 2026 is a Fire Horse year. (For January and February birthdays, use the lunar year you actually belong to.)
Yin and Yang
The animals alternate between Yang (Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Dog) and Yin (Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster, Pig).
Chinese zodiac compatibility
Tradition groups the animals into four triangles of affinity, sets of three that are four years apart and are said to get along best:
- Rat, Dragon and Monkey
- Ox, Snake and Rooster
- Tiger, Horse and Dog
- Rabbit, Goat and Pig
Each animal also has a secret friend: Rat and Ox, Tiger and Pig, Rabbit and Dog, Dragon and Rooster, Snake and Monkey, Horse and Goat.
Animals six years apart sit opposite each other and are said to clash: Rat and Horse, Ox and Goat, Tiger and Monkey, Rabbit and Rooster, Dragon and Dog, Snake and Pig.
Chinese zodiac vs Western zodiac
The Chinese zodiac is based on your birth year and the lunar calendar. The Western zodiac is based on where the Sun was on your birth date, which gives 12 signs of about a month each. Everyone has both. Find your Western sign in our zodiac signs guide, or see your whole chart with the free birth chart calculator.
The Chinese zodiac is a cultural tradition, and these descriptions are for reflection and entertainment.
FAQ
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order?
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
What is my Chinese zodiac sign?
It's the animal of the lunar year you were born in. Check the years chart, and if your birthday is in January or February, check the Chinese New Year date for that year.
What Chinese zodiac year is 2026?
2026 is the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse. It runs from February 17, 2026 to February 5, 2027.
What is the next Chinese zodiac year?
The Year of the Goat (also called Sheep) begins on February 6, 2027.
Which Chinese zodiac signs are compatible?
Animals in the same triangle of affinity are said to be most compatible: Rat, Dragon and Monkey; Ox, Snake and Rooster; Tiger, Horse and Dog; Rabbit, Goat and Pig.