Rat traits
People born in the Year of the Rat are traditionally described as clever, quick and resourceful. The year’s element – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water – is said to add its own flavour, so a Fire Rat and a Water Rat are not quite alike.
Compatibility
- Best matches: Dragon and Monkey (the same group of four), and the Ox (its “secret friend”).
- Least compatible: the Horse, six places away on the wheel.
Every Year of the Rat, 1900–2099
| Year | Element | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | Wood (Yang) | Feb 16, 1904 | Feb 3, 1905 |
| 1916 | Fire (Yang) | Feb 3, 1916 | Jan 22, 1917 |
| 1928 | Earth (Yang) | Jan 23, 1928 | Feb 9, 1929 |
| 1940 | Metal (Yang) | Feb 8, 1940 | Jan 26, 1941 |
| 1952 | Water (Yang) | Jan 27, 1952 | Feb 13, 1953 |
| 1964 | Wood (Yang) | Feb 13, 1964 | Feb 1, 1965 |
| 1976 | Fire (Yang) | Jan 31, 1976 | Feb 17, 1977 |
| 1988 | Earth (Yang) | Feb 17, 1988 | Feb 5, 1989 |
| 2000 | Metal (Yang) | Feb 5, 2000 | Jan 23, 2001 |
| 2012 | Water (Yang) | Jan 23, 2012 | Feb 9, 2013 |
| 2024 | Wood (Yang) | Feb 10, 2024 | Jan 28, 2025 |
| 2036 | Fire (Yang) | Jan 28, 2036 | Feb 14, 2037 |
| 2048 | Earth (Yang) | Feb 14, 2048 | Feb 1, 2049 |
| 2060 | Metal (Yang) | Feb 2, 2060 | Jan 20, 2061 |
| 2072 | Water (Yang) | Feb 19, 2072 | Feb 6, 2073 |
| 2084 | Wood (Yang) | Feb 6, 2084 | Jan 25, 2085 |
| 2096 | Fire (Yang) | Jan 25, 2096 | Feb 11, 2097 |
Frequently asked questions
What years are the Year of the Rat?
Recent Rat years are 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024. Each starts at Chinese New Year, between January 21 and February 20.
When is the next Year of the Rat?
From Monday, January 28, 2036 – the Fire Rat year.
What is the Rat compatible with?
Traditionally the Dragon and Monkey, and its “secret friend” the Ox. It is said to clash with the Horse.
I was born in January or February – am I a Rat?
Only if your birthday is on or after Chinese New Year in your birth year. The table below gives the exact start date of every Rat year.
Find your own animal and element from your date of birth with the Chinese Zodiac Calculator. The other animals: Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster, Dog and Pig.