How Old Am I If I Was Born in 1947?
If you were born in 1947, you are 79 years old if you have already had your birthday this year, or 78 if you have not (as of Thursday, October 29, 2026).
78 or 79
years old in 2026
Everyone born in 1947 turns 79 on their birthday in 2026. By October 29, people with birthdays from January 1 to October 29 are already 79, and the rest are still 78. The Pew Research Center counts 1947 births in the Baby Boom generation, which runs from 1946 to 1964. Most of 1947 was the year of the Fire Pig in the Chinese zodiac. Lunar New Year came on January 22, 1947, so babies born before it are the Fire Dog.
Age by birth month
Your exact age today depends on the month and day you were born in 1947. The months and days below run from the last day of each month to the first.
| Born in | Years | Months | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1947 | 79 | 956–957 | 29,126–29,156 |
| February 1947 | 79 | 956 | 29,098–29,125 |
| March 1947 | 79 | 954–955 | 29,067–29,097 |
| April 1947 | 79 | 953–954 | 29,037–29,066 |
| May 1947 | 79 | 952–953 | 29,006–29,036 |
| June 1947 | 79 | 951–952 | 28,976–29,005 |
| July 1947 | 79 | 950–951 | 28,945–28,975 |
| August 1947 | 79 | 949–950 | 28,914–28,944 |
| September 1947 | 79 | 948–949 | 28,884–28,913 |
| October 1947 | 78 or 79 | 947–948 | 28,853–28,883 |
| November 1947 | 78 | 946–947 | 28,823–28,852 |
| December 1947 | 78 | 945–946 | 28,792–28,822 |
Counted from Thursday, October 29, 2026 (US Eastern time). The page recounts from your device's date when it opens.
How old in 2030, 2040 and 2050
Someone born in 1947 turns 83 in 2030, 93 in 2040 and 103 in 2050. Before the birthday in each year, the age is one less.
| Year | Age after the birthday | Age before it |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 83 | 82 |
| 2040 | 93 | 92 |
| 2050 | 103 | 102 |
Retirement and Medicare ages for 1947
People born in 1947 could start Social Security at 62, in 2009, at a reduced rate. Their full retirement age is 66, which they reached in 2013. Each year they wait after that, up to 70 in 2017, raises the monthly amount. A January 1, 1947 birthday counts as 1946 for this rule.
Medicare starts at 65, in 2012. You can sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month, in that month or in the 3 months after.
Required minimum distributions from IRAs began at 70½ for anyone born before July 1, 1949, so 2017 for a January to June 1947 birthday and 2018 for a later one.
| Milestone | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest Social Security retirement benefits | 62 | 2009 |
| Medicare eligibility | 65 | 2012 |
| Social Security full retirement age | 66 | 2013 |
| Social Security stops growing for delay | 70 | 2017 |
| Required minimum distributions start | 70½ | 2017 or 2018 |
Sources: SSA full retirement age table, Medicare.gov sign-up dates, IRS required minimum distribution FAQs. General information, not tax or benefits advice.
What year were you born if you are 79?
Someone who is 79 on October 29, 2026 and has had a birthday this year was born in 1947. If their birthday is still ahead, between October 30 and December 31, they were born in 1946. The birth year table covers every age from 1 to 100.
Birth year 1947 facts
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Age at the end of 2026 | 79 |
| Generation (Pew) | Baby Boom generation (1946–1964) |
| 1947 started on | Wednesday, January 1, 1947 |
| Leap year | No, 1947 had 365 days |
| Chinese zodiac | Fire Pig from January 22, 1947; Fire Dog before |
Milestone birthdays
| Milestone | Year | When |
|---|---|---|
| Turns 18 | 1965 | Past |
| Turns 21 | 1968 | Past |
| Turns 30 | 1977 | Past |
| Turns 40 | 1987 | Past |
| Turns 50 | 1997 | Past |
| Turns 60 | 2007 | Past |
| Turns 65 | 2012 | Past |
| Turns 70 | 2017 | Past |
| Turns 80 | 2027 | In 1 year |
| Turns 90 | 2037 | In 11 years |
| Turns 100 | 2047 | In 21 years |
Days lived
Someone born in 1947 has been alive between 28,792 days (born December 31) and 29,156 days (born January 1) as of Thursday, October 29, 2026. That is roughly 4,139 weeks.
In the US, most children born in 1947 finished high school in 1965, or in 1966 if their birthday fell after the school-entry cut-off. That cut-off is usually in late summer or early autumn and varies by state.
Born in 1947 questions
What generation is someone born in 1947?
Someone born in 1947 belongs to the Baby Boom generation (1946–1964), as defined by the Pew Research Center.
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1947?
It is 66 for Social Security. Benefits can start from 62 at a reduced rate.
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1947?
Most of 1947 was the Fire Pig. Births before Lunar New Year on January 22, 1947 belong to the Fire Dog.
Related pages
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