What the data shows
The rarest zodiac signs, according to birth data
Which zodiac sign is the rarest? We counted 62,187,024 U.S. births recorded by the Social Security Administration from 2000 to 2014.
Share of births by zodiac sign
Share of all U.S. births 2000–2014 falling in each sign’s conventional date range.
Rarest zodiac signs ranking, from rarest to most common
| Sign | Births 2000–2014 | Share | Average births per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capricorn | 4,663,199 | 7.50% | 10,720 |
| Aries | 4,983,157 | 8.01% | 11,074 |
| Aquarius | 5,001,409 | 8.04% | 11,114 |
| Sagittarius | 5,023,366 | 8.08% | 11,163 |
| Pisces | 5,051,808 | 8.12% | 11,127 |
| Scorpio | 5,114,444 | 8.22% | 11,365 |
| Taurus | 5,161,756 | 8.30% | 11,101 |
| Libra | 5,228,627 | 8.41% | 11,619 |
| Gemini | 5,267,980 | 8.47% | 11,329 |
| Leo | 5,521,329 | 8.88% | 11,874 |
| Virgo | 5,574,916 | 8.96% | 11,989 |
| Cancer | 5,595,033 | 9.00% | 11,656 |
Why some signs are rarer
Capricorn has the lowest share in this dataset. Its conventional range is shorter (29 days) and contains the Christmas and New Year holidays, when fewer births are recorded. Differences in scheduled births are one possible explanation; these records do not measure the cause. Even per recorded day, the Capricorn period has fewer births than average.
The most common signs fall in late summer and early fall. U.S. births peak in August and September, a well-documented seasonal pattern roughly nine months after the winter holidays.
How the daily average is calculated
Each sign’s total is divided by the number of recorded calendar dates in that sign, across 2000–2014. Leap days count only in the years in which February 29 occurred; Pisces therefore covers 454 observed days, rather than assuming a leap day every year.
Download the aggregate birth data
Download the zodiac birth-statistics table as CSV
The file contains the twelve sign totals, shares, observed-day counts and daily averages, with the 2000–2014 U.S. period and FiveThirtyEight / Social Security Administration attribution. It contains no personal birth records. Use it with the limitations below; it does not establish which sign is rarest worldwide.
Limits of this analysis
- The data covers U.S. births only; other countries have different seasonal patterns.
- Signs are assigned by the conventional date table, so a few cusp birthdays would fall in the neighboring sign in some years.
- Being rare says nothing about personality; it reflects birth seasonality and hospital scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest zodiac sign?
In U.S. births from 2000 to 2014, Capricorn was the least common sign (7.5% of births), followed by Aries (8.0%). Cancer was the most common (9.0%).
Why is Capricorn rare?
Fewer babies are born over the Christmas and New Year holidays, when scheduled births (inductions and planned caesareans) may contribute to the pattern. The records alone do not identify its cause. Those holidays fall in Capricorn, which also has a shorter 29-day conventional range.
What is the most common birthday?
In the same data the highest average daily births fall in mid-September, around September 9 to 20, roughly nine months after the winter holidays. The least common dates are December 25, January 1 and July 4.
Is Ophiuchus the rarest sign?
Ophiuchus is not one of the twelve astrological signs. Read why.
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide