The Pig is the twelfth of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Recent and coming Pig years include 2007 (from 18 February 2007), 2019 (from 5 February 2019) and 2031 (from 23 January 2031). A Pig year begins on the lunar new year and not on 1 January, so a Pig birthday in January or February may belong to the animal before.
Folklore, not science, is the right frame: a Pig year says nothing certain about the people born in it. This page sets out the Pig as the tradition describes it, with every Pig year and its exact start date, and you can check a birth date with the Chinese zodiac calculator.
Years of the Pig
These Pig years run from 1948 to 2047, with dates from the Hong Kong Observatory’s table, as in the calculator. Each Pig year begins on the lunar new year in China and Hong Kong and ends the day before the next. The element column is the element of that particular year, and the last column names it in the sixty-year cycle, where the Pig is always paired with the branch hai.
| Chinese year | Begins | Ends | Element | Stem and branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 8 February 1959 | 27 January 1960 | Yin Earth | Ji-hai |
| 1971 | 27 January 1971 | 14 February 1972 | Yin Metal | Xin-hai |
| 1983 | 13 February 1983 | 1 February 1984 | Yin Water | Gui-hai |
| 1995 | 31 January 1995 | 18 February 1996 | Yin Wood | Yi-hai |
| 2007 | 18 February 2007 | 6 February 2008 | Yin Fire | Ding-hai |
| 2019 | 5 February 2019 | 24 January 2020 | Yin Earth | Ji-hai |
| 2031 | 23 January 2031 | 10 February 2032 | Yin Metal | Xin-hai |
| 2043 | 10 February 2043 | 29 January 2044 | Yin Water | Gui-hai |
For example, someone born on 8 February 2007 was born before the lunar new year of 2007, which began on 18 February 2007, so that person is a Dog and not a Pig. If a Pig birthday falls within a day of the new year, check the family date, since the time zone can move it.
Its place in the zodiac
In the Great Race the Pig is said to have set off, grown hungry, stopped for a meal, and then fallen asleep before finishing, arriving twelfth. The story is told with affection, and the Pig is remembered for good appetite and a contented nature.
In the older calendar of earthly branches the Pig is hai (亥), branch number 12. It is Yin, its fixed element is Water, its double-hour is 9 pm to 11 pm and its compass direction is north-north-west. That fixed element stays the same in every Pig year, whereas the year element changes.
What the tradition says
The Pig is described as generous, warm, easygoing and sincere, a person who enjoys good food, good company and the comforts of home. In Chinese culture the Pig stands for plenty and good fortune. The shadow side described is trusting too readily and indulgence.
- Generosity. Giving time, food and attention freely.
- Sincerity. Honest dealing, with little pretence.
- Warmth. Putting people at their ease.
- Contentment. Finding enjoyment in the ordinary.
Growth edges
Descriptions of the Pig mention naivety, a tendency to overspend or overindulge, and difficulty saying no. The suggested practice is to set a monthly budget for treats and to pause before agreeing to a request that costs real time.
In relationships
In close relationships the Pig is pictured as affectionate, loyal and a generous host, with a love of family gatherings. The growth point is a sound sense of boundaries. This is a prompt for reflection about yourself, not a ruling on any pair.
In work
The tradition links the Pig with hospitality, food, the caring professions, the arts and any work built on warmth and trust. This is a description of an approach, not a forecast.
The Pig with each element
The Pig returns every twelve years while the elements turn in a cycle of ten, so Pig years carry five different year elements, and the tradition reads each as a variation on the Pig. Across 1948 to 2047 they fall as follows.
- Wood Pig, in 1995: the Pig’s warm generosity with a year that the tradition calls cooperative, idealistic and growth-minded. Read about Wood.
- Fire Pig, in 2007: the Pig’s warm generosity with a year that the tradition calls energetic, enthusiastic and expressive. Read about Fire.
- Earth Pig, in 1959 and 2019: the Pig’s warm generosity with a year that the tradition calls patient, practical and loyal. Read about Earth.
- Metal Pig, in 1971 and 2031: the Pig’s warm generosity with a year that the tradition calls determined, precise and self-disciplined. Read about Metal.
- Water Pig, in 1983 and 2043: the Pig’s warm generosity with a year that the tradition calls intuitive, adaptable and thoughtful. Read about Water.
Compatibility in the tradition
The tradition compares animals by a handful of old pairings. For the Pig the list is:
- Trine allies: Rabbit and Goat, with the Pig in the gentle and creative trine.
- Secret friend (six harmonies): Tiger.
- Opposite (a clash): Snake.
- Harm: Monkey.
- Penalty: no other animal. The Pig is also on the list of self-penalty animals.
None of these is a verdict on a Pig’s relationships. The compatibility overview explains each pairing, and the Chinese zodiac compatibility tool compares a Pig with anyone, from two birth dates.
Names and variations
In Chinese the animal is zhu, the word for pig, and the Japanese zodiac uses the boar in the same place. English writers use Pig, Boar or Hog. The Pig is the twelfth animal and closes the cycle.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which years are Years of the Pig?
Recent and upcoming Pig years are 2007, 2019, 2031. The next one begins on 23 January 2031 and is a Yin Metal year (Xin-hai). Every Pig year to 2047 is in the table above, with its end date.
↳ I was born in January or February: am I A Pig?
Only if your birth date falls on or after the lunar new year that opens a Pig year. For the Pig year 2007 the new year was 18 February 2007, so a birth before that date counts as the Dog. The calculator checks a Pig birthday, or any date from 1901 to 2100.
↳ Is the Year of the Pig lucky?
The Pig is traditionally a symbol of plenty, and a Pig year is often described as comfortable and generous. It is a cultural association, and no animal year has been shown to affect luck.
↳ Who is the Pig most compatible with?
By the traditional pairings, the Pig's trine allies are Rabbit and Goat, and its secret friend is Tiger. The tradition gives no score, and a Pig can do well or badly with any animal.
Return to the Chinese zodiac hub, or read about the Dog and the Rat.