Next Leap Year
When is the next leap year?
The next leap year is 2028.
That's in 1132 days.
The last leap year was 2024.
What is a Leap Year?
A leap year is a year with 366 days instead of the usual 365. This extra day, known as a leap day, occurs on February 29th and is added to keep our calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year.
Why do we need leap years?
We need leap years because the Earth's orbit around the sun takes approximately 365.242190 days (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds). To keep our calendar aligned with the solar year and seasons, we add a leap day every four years, with some exceptions:
- Years divisible by 4 are leap years
- However, years divisible by 100 are not leap years
- Unless they are also divisible by 400, then they are leap years
This system keeps our calendar accurate to within 26 seconds per year.
Upcoming Leap Years
2028
2032
2036
2040
2044
2048
2052
2056
2060
2064
2068
2072
2076
2080
2084
2088
2092
2096
2100
2104
Interesting Leap Year Facts
- People born on February 29 are called "leaplings" or "leapers".
- The chances of being born on a leap day are about 1 in 1,461.
- In many countries, February 29 is considered an auspicious day for women to propose marriage.
- The Summer Olympics and the U.S. Presidential Elections occur during leap years.
- A year that is divisible by 4,000 will be a common year, not a leap year, but this won't happen until the year 4000.