There are exactly 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal governs one year in a repeating 12-year cycle, and this cycle has been used in Chinese culture for over two thousand years.

The traditional order is: Rat (1st), Ox (2nd), Tiger (3rd), Rabbit (4th), Dragon (5th), Snake (6th), Horse (7th), Goat (8th), Monkey (9th), Rooster (10th), Dog (11th), and Pig (12th). According to Chinese legend, this order was determined by the Jade Emperor's great race, in which animals arrived in this sequence.

The Dragon is widely regarded as the luckiest animal in the Chinese zodiac. As the only mythical creature among the twelve, the Dragon is the supreme symbol of power, good fortune, and imperial authority. Dragon years typically see higher birth rates in many East Asian countries as families hope to welcome Dragon children. The Pig and Rat are also considered particularly fortunate signs.

Your Chinese zodiac animal is determined by the year of your birth — but with an important nuance: the Chinese year begins at Spring Festival (立春), not January 1st. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the zodiac animal of the previous Western calendar year. Use our calculator on the home page for a precise result based on your exact birth date.

Yes, the 12 zodiac animals repeat in the same order every 12 years. However, the full traditional Chinese calendar cycle is actually 60 years, combining the 12 zodiac animals with the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). This means each animal appears in five elemental variations — for example, Wood Rat, Fire Rat, Earth Rat, Metal Rat, and Water Rat — before the complete cycle begins again.