2003 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Goat
癸未 · 羊 Yáng
2003 is the Year of the Water Goat (also called the Sheep and Ram). The Chinese year ran from Feb 1, 2003 to Jan 21, 2004, so anyone born in that span is a Water Goat. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 1, 2003, and earlier births belong to the Water Horse year.
- Goat
- Water
- Yin
Born in 2003?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
2003 at a Glance
- Animal
- Goat 羊 yáng
- Element
- Water
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 癸未 · sound element 杨柳木
- Begins
- Saturday, Feb 1, 2003
- Ends
- Jan 21, 2004
- Age in 2026
- 22 or 23
- Next Goat year
- 2015
2003 Water Goat: A Gentle Sign
The character for the Goat, 羊, sits inside 美, “beautiful,” and 祥, “auspicious,” and tradition gives the sign a calm, kind nature. A 2003 Goat turns 23 in 2026 and 24 in 2027, its second own sign year.
Lunar New Year 2003 fell on Feb 1, 2003, so January 2003 birthdays are Water Horses. The year ended on Jan 21, 2004, before the 2004 Monkey.
Born in January or Early February 2003?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2003 was on Saturday, Feb 1, 2003, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 31, 2003 | Water Horse | 壬午 |
| Feb 1, 2003 to Jan 21, 2004 | Water Goat | 癸未 |
So someone born on Feb 1, 2003 is a Water Horse, and someone born on Feb 1, 2003 is a Water Goat. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Water Goat?
A Water Goat combines the Goat with the element of the birth year. 2003 ends in 3, which gives Water. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Water Goat years include 1943.
How Old Is a 2003 Goat, and When Is the Next Goat Year?
Someone born in 2003 turns 23 in 2026 and 24 in 2027. The last Goat year was 1991, and the next is 2015. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Goat years a 2003 Goat lives through:
- 2003Water GoatBornThis page
- 2015 Chinese zodiacWood GoatTurns 12
- 2027 Chinese zodiacFire GoatTurns 24
2003 Goat Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Goat's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 2003 Goat in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Goat to the next two years, and how old a 2003 Goat will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Supported
Turns 23. Link to the Horse: Secret Friend (六合).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Own Sign Year
Turns 24. Link to the Goat: Own sign year (本命年).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2003, and the other years of the decade.
- 2001 Chinese zodiacMetal SnakeJan 24, 2001 to Feb 11, 2002
- 2002 Chinese zodiacWater HorseFeb 12, 2002 to Jan 31, 2003
- 2003Water GoatFeb 1, 2003 to Jan 21, 2004
- 2004 Chinese zodiacWood MonkeyJan 22, 2004 to Feb 8, 2005
- 2005 Chinese zodiacWood RoosterFeb 9, 2005 to Jan 28, 2006
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
2000 Chinese zodiac2001 Chinese zodiac2002 Chinese zodiac20032004 Chinese zodiac2005 Chinese zodiac2006 Chinese zodiac2007 Chinese zodiac2008 Chinese zodiac2009 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
2003 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2003?
2003 is the Year of the Water Goat (also called the Sheep and Ram). The Chinese year ran from Feb 1, 2003 to Jan 21, 2004.
What element is the 2003 Chinese zodiac?
Water. A year's element follows its last digit: 3 gives Water. The Goat's own fixed element is Earth, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 2003?
Lunar New Year 2003 fell on Saturday, Feb 1, 2003. Born from January 1 to Jan 31, 2003, you are a Water Horse. From Feb 1, 2003, you are a Water Goat.
How old is someone born in 2003?
In 2026 they turn 23, or are 22 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 24. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Goat year after 2003?
2015, the Year of the Wood Goat, begins on Feb 19, 2015.