What Is a Leap Year
A leap year adds an extra day, February 29, to the calendar to keep it aligned with Earth's orbit. It occurs every four years, with exceptions for century years not divisible by 400.
How Rare Is a Leap Year Birthday
About 1 in 1,461 people are born on February 29. The odds are lower in non-leap years because the date does not exist, making leap day birthdays statistically uncommon worldwide.
Famous People Born on February 29
Notable individuals born on leap day include rapper Ja Rule, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and actor Dennis Farina. Some use their official birthday on February 28 or March 1 in common years.
For more details on leap year rules and history, see the Time and Date leap year guide.
