Chinese Zodiac Animals: All 12 Signs in Order
The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle in which each year is paired with one of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, in that fixed order. The cycle repeats every 12 years, and each animal is also paired with one of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), producing the full 60-year zodiac cycle. Your animal sign depends on the lunar year you were born in; use the zodiac calculator to find yours, especially if your birthday falls in January or February.
The 12 Animals in Order
The order is fixed by the traditional Great Race story, in which the animals raced to the Jade Emperor and were placed in the zodiac in the order they arrived. Read each animal's full page for personality, years, compatibility and meaning.
- #1
Rat
The Rat is the first animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle. People born under this sign are traditionally described as quick-witted
Read about the Rat → - #2
Ox
The Ox is the second animal in the zodiac cycle. Ox-born people are traditionally associated with diligence
Read about the Ox → - #3
Tiger
The Tiger is the third animal in the zodiac. Tiger-born people are traditionally associated with courage
Read about the Tiger → - #4
Rabbit
The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the zodiac. Rabbit-born people are traditionally associated with gentleness
Read about the Rabbit → - #5
Dragon
The Dragon is the fifth animal in the zodiac and the only mythical creature in the set.
Read about the Dragon → - #6
Snake
The Snake is the sixth animal in the zodiac. Snake-born people are traditionally associated with wisdom
Read about the Snake → - #7
Horse
The Horse is the seventh animal in the zodiac. Horse-born people are traditionally associated with energy
Read about the Horse → - #8
Goat
The Goat is the eighth animal in the zodiac. Goat-born people are traditionally associated with kindness
Read about the Goat → - #9
Monkey
The Monkey is the ninth animal in the zodiac. Monkey-born people are traditionally associated with cleverness
Read about the Monkey → - #10
Rooster
The Rooster is the tenth animal in the zodiac. Rooster-born people are traditionally associated with precision
Read about the Rooster → - #11
Dog
The Dog is the eleventh animal in the zodiac. Dog-born people are traditionally associated with loyalty
Read about the Dog → - #12
Pig
The Pig is the twelfth and final animal in the zodiac. Pig-born people are traditionally associated with generosity
Read about the Pig →
How the Chinese Zodiac Works
Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Lunar New Year (late January to mid-February), not on January 1. This is why people born in January or early February may have a different sign than their Gregorian birth year suggests. The 12-animal cycle is paired with the 5-element cycle, which advances one step every two years: Wood, Wood, Fire, Fire, Earth, Earth, Metal, Metal, Water, Water. The full animal × element cycle takes 60 years. This is why 2020 was the Metal Rat, 2024 was the Wood Dragon, and 2026 is the Fire Horse.
To understand the system more deeply, see What Is the Chinese Zodiac? and the 12 animals in order explainer.
Finding Your Sign
If you know your birth year, you can find your sign on the complete zodiac years chart (1900–2100). If you were born in January or February, or you want a precise result, use the zodiac calculator; it matches your birthday against the lunar calendar and tells you whether your sign belongs to your Gregorian birth year or the previous one.
Horoscope 2026
Each animal has traditional compatibility matches: signs it pairs well with and signs that are more challenging; you can read about those on each animal's full page. For what 2026 holds, see the Fire Horse year horoscope and each animal's individual 2026 page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac in order?
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. This order is fixed by the traditional Great Race story and repeats every 12 years. Each animal is paired with one of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), which cycles every two years, producing the full 60-year zodiac cycle. -
How do I find my Chinese zodiac animal?
Enter your birthday in the zodiac calculator. The calculator uses the lunar calendar, so birthdays in January or February are matched to the correct lunar year; your sign may differ from your Gregorian birth year if you were born before Lunar New Year. -
Which Chinese zodiac animal is 2026?
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, beginning on Lunar New Year, February 17, 2026. The Horse is the seventh animal in the 12-sign cycle. See the Horoscope 2026 page for what the Fire Horse year means for each sign. -
Are Chinese zodiac animals the same as Western zodiac signs?
No. Chinese zodiac animals are 12-year cycle signs tied to the lunar calendar; Western zodiac signs are 12-month constellations tied to the solar year. The two systems have different origins, different cycles and different meanings; they should not be conflated. -
Which Chinese zodiac animal is the luckiest?
Different signs are considered lucky in different ways. The Dragon is the most openly fortunate sign, associated with power and prosperity. The Pig is associated with abundance, the Rat with resourcefulness. "Lucky" in the Chinese zodiac is cultural; it describes qualities traditionally believed to help in life, not guaranteed good fortune.