What happens if you are born on leap day, February 29?

Leap years take place every four years with the last in 2020, and see's one extra day on February 29, Leap Day.

However, as the occasion only comes around once every four years, it means that those born on February 29 miss out on birthdays. 

Whilst many 'leapers' pick another date to make sure they have an annual birthday, their age is technically younger than most.

But how does going four years without a birthday work, are you 10 when you're 40? Here's what to know about being born on Leap Day.

What is a leap year?

Leap years take place when there is an extra day in a year that is added at the end of February, meaning there are 366 days instead of the normal 365 days in a year.

Do you know what age you would be if you were born on a leap day? (Image: Getty)

Why do leap years take place?

The Earth takes 365.24 days to orbit the sun in the average year, however, due to that extra 0.24 of time, a leap year is added.

If a leap year was not added, it would mean the Gregorian calendar would start six hours before Earth officially completes its orbit.

This extra time would then make the Gregorian calendar out of sync with the seasons, moving around 24 calendar days within a century, which could eventually see Christmas fall in summer for the Northern Hemisphere.

What happens if you are born on a leap day?

In the UK if you are born on a leap day, February 29, your birthday is typically seen as February 28 or March 1 on non-leap years.

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How old would you be if you were born on a leap year?

If you are trying to work out the math on what you're exact age would be if you were born on February 29, then you are in luck.

• 1920: 104 years old or 26.
• 1924: 100 years old or 25.
• 1928: 96 years old or 24.
• 1932: 92 years old or 23.
• 1936: 88 years old or 22.
• 1940: 84 years old or 21.
• 1944: 80 years old or 20.
• 1948: 76 years old or 19.
• 1952: 72 years old or 18.
• 1956: 68 years old or 17.
• 1960: 64 years old or 16.
• 1964: 60 years old or 15.
• 1968: 56 years old or 14.
• 1972: 52 years old or 13.
• 1976: 48 years old or 12.
• 1980: 44 years old or 11.
• 1984: 40 years old or 10.
• 1988: 36 years old or 9.
• 1992: 32 years old or 8.
• 1996: 28 years old or 7.
• 2000: 24 years old or 6.
• 2004: 20 years old or 5.
• 2008: 16 years old or 4.
• 2012: 12 years old or 3.
• 2016: 8 years old or 2.
• 2020: 4 years old or 1.

The next leap year will take place in 2028.