You might be 32 by the Gregorian calendar but in Ethiopian you could still be celebrating your 24th birthday. Use our free Ethiopian age calculator to find out your true Ethiopian calendar age instantly.
The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months — twelve 30-day months and Pagume (5 or 6 days). Ethiopia is currently 7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.
Related: Chronological Age Calculator (Find Out Your Age)
How The Ethiopian Calendar Works
Understanding your Ethiopian age starts with understanding the calendar itself. Here are the key things that make it unique.
13 Months of Sunshine
Ethiopia has 13 months, unlike the traditional 12 months, which is used worldwide and they proudly claim it in their tourism motto, “13 Months of Sunshine.”
The first twelve months each contain exactly 30 days. The thirteenth month, Pagume (ጳጉሜ), has just 5 days in a common year and 6 days in a leap year.
This short month acts as a bridge between years, a kind of sacred pause before Enkutatash ushers in the new year.
Here is the full breakdown of 13 months:
📅 Ethiopian Calendar – 13 Months
| # | Month | Ge’ez | Gregorian Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meskerem | መስከረም | September 11 – October 10 |
| 2 | Tikimt | ጥቅምት | October 11 – November 9 |
| 3 | Hidar | ኅዳር | November 10 – December 9 |
| 4 | Tahsas | ታኅሳስ | December 10 – January 8 |
| 5 | Tir | ጥር | January 9 – February 7 |
| 6 | Yekatit | የካቲት | February 8 – March 9 |
| 7 | Megabit | መጋቢት | March 10 – April 8 |
| 8 | Miyazia | ሚያዝያ | April 9 – May 8 |
| 9 | Ginbot | ግንቦት | May 9 – June 7 |
| 10 | Sene | ሰኔ | June 8 – July 7 |
| 11 | Hamle | ሐምሌ | July 8 – August 6 |
| 12 | Nehase | ነሐሴ | August 7 – September 5 |
| 13 | Pagume | ጳጉሜ | September 6 – September 10/11 |
Why Ethiopia is “7 to 8 Years Behind”
The Ethiopian calendar is currently 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. This gap exists because of a centuries-old theological disagreement about the date of the Annunciation, the moment the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of Jesus.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church calculated this event differently from Rome. The result: the Ethiopian calendar year count diverged by approximately 7 years and 8 months from the Gregorian calculation. Neither calendar is “wrong.” They simply count from different anchors in history.
The Four-Year Evangelist Cycle
The Ethiopian calendar organizes years into a four-year cycle, with each year named after one of the four Gospel writers:
- Mathewos (Matthew)
- Markos (Mark)
- Lukas (Luke)
- Yohannes (John)
This cycle also determines the leap year; the Year of John (Yohannes) is always the Ethiopian leap year, with Pagume receiving its extra sixth day.
Use our Ethiopian age calculator and it will tell you which Evangelist year you were born in.
How to Use the Ethiopian Age Calculator
The calculator gives you two ways to find your Ethiopian age:
If you know your Gregorian (G.C.) birthday, the date on your passport, ID, or birth certificate, select “Enter Gregorian Date,” pick your month, day, and year, and click calculate. The tool will convert your birthday into the Ethiopian calendar and show you your current Ethiopian age.
If you already know your Ethiopian (E.C.) birthday, perhaps from a family record, a church document, or a relative who told you, then select “Enter Ethiopian Date,” enter your Meskerem-to-Pagume birth month, the day, and your Ethiopian birth year, and calculate. The tool will show your equivalent Gregorian date as well.
Along with your age, the calculator shows you:
- Your exact Ethiopian birth date (month, day, and year in E.C.)
- Your equivalent Gregorian birth date
- The number of months until your next Ethiopian birthday
- The Evangelist year you were born in (Mathewos, Markos, Lukas, or Yohannes)
- Today’s full Ethiopian date in both English and Ge’ez script
- Whether your birth year was an Ethiopian leap year
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years behind is the Ethiopian calendar?
The Ethiopian calendar is currently 7 to 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar. The exact gap depends on the time of year. For example, between January 1 and September 10 of any Gregorian year, Ethiopia is 8 years behind. After the Ethiopian New Year (around September 11), the gap becomes 7 years until December 31.
When does the Ethiopian New Year fall?
Ethiopian New Year, called Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ), falls on 1 Meskerem in the Ethiopian calendar, which corresponds to September 11 in most Gregorian years, or September 12 in a Gregorian leap year.
Is the Ethiopian calendar still used today?
Absolutely. The Ethiopian calendar is the official calendar of Ethiopia, used in government, churches, schools and daily life throughout the country.
Try Our Ethiopian Age Calculator Now!
Want to know how old I am in Ethiopia? Use our free Ethiopian age calculator and instantly convert to birth date from the Gregorian system to the Ethiopian calendar.
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