Which years are Year of the Monkey?

1932 (Water Monkey, from 6 February 1932); 1944 (Wood Monkey, from 25 January 1944); 1956 (Fire Monkey, from 12 February 1956); 1968 (Earth Monkey, from 30 January 1968); 1980 (Metal Monkey, from 16 February 1980); 1992 (Water Monkey, from 4 February 1992); 2004 (Wood Monkey, from 22 January 2004); 2016 (Fire Monkey, from 8 February 2016); 2028 (Earth Monkey, from 26 January 2028); 2040 (Metal Monkey, from 12 February 2040). The year starts at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January.

When is the next Year of the Monkey?

2028, the Earth Monkey, starting 26 January 2028.

Cathay Ink › Chinese zodiac › Year of the Monkey

Year of the Monkey

Clever, playful and inventive. The Monkey solves problems sideways and keeps everyone laughing while it does.

The Monkey is the ninth of the twelve animals, paired with the earthly branch 申 and the hours 3 – 5 pm. The next Year of the Monkey is 2028, a Earth Monkey year, from 26 January 2028.

Check my birthday

Years of the Monkey

Each year starts at Chinese New Year, so a January birthday usually belongs to the previous animal.

1932Water Monkey, from 6 February 1932
1944Wood Monkey, from 25 January 1944
1956Fire Monkey, from 12 February 1956
1968Earth Monkey, from 30 January 1968
1980Metal Monkey, from 16 February 1980
1992Water Monkey, from 4 February 1992
2004Wood Monkey, from 22 January 2004
2016Fire Monkey, from 8 February 2016
2028Earth Monkey, from 26 January 2028
2040Metal Monkey, from 12 February 2040

Born in one of these years? Enter the exact date to confirm the animal and see your lunar birthday.

The Monkey in Chinese culture

Character

Clever, playful and inventive. The Monkey solves problems sideways and keeps everyone laughing while it does.

Closest companions in the cycle: the Rat and the Dragon, the two animals that share the Monkey's trine. Its secret friend is the Snake.

A story

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King of Journey to the West, is the most loved character in Chinese literature.

Element changes the flavour of each Monkey year. Metal 金: resolve and clarity: the edge of a blade, the ring of a bell. Wood 木: growth and flexibility: spring, bamboo, new shoots. Water 水: adaptability and depth: rivers finding their way. Fire 火: warmth and drive: summer, lanterns, the hearth. Earth 土: steadiness and care: harvest, soil, the centre.

Your Monkey in ink

A poster with the Monkey above, your name and lunar birthday below, and your Chinese name as a round seal.

Make the poster

Enter your birthday and we set the poster: the animal in ink wash, the year's element, the date in the lunar calendar, your name. Full-resolution download, printable at A3.

Start with my birthday

Want a Chinese name on the seal? Find one first: three real names with every character explained, free.

Previous animal: Goat 羊. Next: Rooster 鸡.