How Old Am I If I Was Born in 1998?
If you were born in 1998, you are 28 years old if you have already had your birthday this year, or 27 if you have not (as of Saturday, October 24, 2026).
27 or 28
years old in 2026
Everyone born in 1998 turns 28 on their birthday in 2026. By October 24, people with birthdays from January 1 to October 24 are already 28, and the rest are still 27. The Pew Research Center counts 1998 births in Generation Z, which runs from 1997 to 2012. Most of 1998 was the year of the Earth Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. Lunar New Year came on January 28, 1998, so babies born before it are the Fire Ox.
Age by birth month
Your exact age today depends on the month and day you were born in 1998. The months and days below run from the last day of each month to the first.
| Born in | Years | Months | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1998 | 28 | 344–345 | 10,493–10,523 |
| February 1998 | 28 | 343–344 | 10,465–10,492 |
| March 1998 | 28 | 342–343 | 10,434–10,464 |
| April 1998 | 28 | 341–342 | 10,404–10,433 |
| May 1998 | 28 | 340–341 | 10,373–10,403 |
| June 1998 | 28 | 339–340 | 10,343–10,372 |
| July 1998 | 28 | 338–339 | 10,312–10,342 |
| August 1998 | 28 | 337–338 | 10,281–10,311 |
| September 1998 | 28 | 336–337 | 10,251–10,280 |
| October 1998 | 27 or 28 | 335–336 | 10,220–10,250 |
| November 1998 | 27 | 334–335 | 10,190–10,219 |
| December 1998 | 27 | 333–334 | 10,159–10,189 |
Counted from Saturday, October 24, 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 1998 turns 32 in 2030, 42 in 2040 and 52 in 2050. Before the birthday in each year, the age is one less.
| Year | Age after the birthday | Age before it |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 32 | 31 |
| 2040 | 42 | 41 |
| 2050 | 52 | 51 |
Retirement and Medicare ages for 1998
People born in 1998 can start Social Security at 62, in 2060, at a reduced rate. Their full retirement age is 67, which they reach in 2065. Each year they wait after that, up to 70 in 2068, raises the monthly amount. A January 1, 1998 birthday counts as 1997 for this rule.
Medicare starts at 65, in 2063. 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 start at 75 for anyone born in 1960 or later, so 2073 for this group. That rule comes from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.
| Milestone | Age | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest Social Security retirement benefits | 62 | 2060 |
| Medicare eligibility | 65 | 2063 |
| Social Security full retirement age | 67 | 2065 |
| Social Security stops growing for delay | 70 | 2068 |
| Required minimum distributions start | 75 | 2073 |
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 28?
Someone who is 28 on October 24, 2026 and has had a birthday this year was born in 1998. If their birthday is still ahead, between October 25 and December 31, they were born in 1997. The birth year table covers every age from 1 to 100.
Birth year 1998 facts
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Age at the end of 2026 | 28 |
| Generation (Pew) | Generation Z (1997–2012) |
| 1998 started on | Thursday, January 1, 1998 |
| Leap year | No, 1998 had 365 days |
| Chinese zodiac | Earth Tiger from January 28, 1998; Fire Ox before |
Milestone birthdays
| Milestone | Year | When |
|---|---|---|
| Turns 18 | 2016 | Past |
| Turns 21 | 2019 | Past |
| Turns 30 | 2028 | In 2 years |
| Turns 40 | 2038 | In 12 years |
| Turns 50 | 2048 | In 22 years |
| Turns 60 | 2058 | In 32 years |
| Turns 65 | 2063 | In 37 years |
| Turns 70 | 2068 | In 42 years |
| Turns 80 | 2078 | In 52 years |
| Turns 90 | 2088 | In 62 years |
| Turns 100 | 2098 | In 72 years |
Days lived
Someone born in 1998 has been alive between 10,159 days (born December 31) and 10,523 days (born January 1) as of Saturday, October 24, 2026. That is roughly 1,477 weeks.
In the US, most children born in 1998 finished high school in 2016, or in 2017 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 1998 questions
What generation is someone born in 1998?
Someone born in 1998 belongs to Generation Z (1997–2012), as defined by the Pew Research Center.
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1998?
It is 67 for Social Security. Benefits can start from 62 at a reduced rate.
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1998?
Most of 1998 was the Earth Tiger. Births before Lunar New Year on January 28, 1998 belong to the Fire Ox.
Related pages
Cite this page
APA: ClockTotals. (2026, October 22). How Old Am I If I Was Born in 1998? https://clocktotals.com/how-old/born-in-1998/
MLA: “How Old Am I If I Was Born in 1998?” ClockTotals, 22 Oct. 2026, clocktotals.com/how-old/born-in-1998/.
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