Days Until Leap Year
Live countdown to the next February 29th
Days Until Leap Year
Leap Day Facts
Summary
There are 750 days, 23 hours, and 17 minutes left until Leap Year 2028.
Upcoming Leap Years
| Year | Leap Day | Day | Days Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028 | February 29 | Tuesday | 750 days |
| 2032 | February 29 | Sunday | 2211 days |
| 2036 | February 29 | Friday | 3672 days |
| 2040 | February 29 | Wednesday | 5133 days |
| 2044 | February 29 | Monday | 6594 days |
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Go to ToolThe Calendar's Correction: Why We Need Leap Years
It happens only once every four years. An extra 24 hours added to the calendar, a magical day that seemingly appears out of nowhere. But why does February 29th exist? And what would happen if we stopped adding it?
If you are searching "How many days until Leap Year?", you might be a "Leapling" waiting for your rare birthday, a math enthusiast, or just curious about why our calendar is so complicated.
Our Live Leap Year Countdown Tool above tracks the precise moment until the next February 29th arrives. But beyond the timer, this guide is your deep dive into time itself. We will explore the astronomical science, the ancient history of Julius Caesar, and the quirky traditions associated with this quadrennial event.
When Is the Next Leap Year?
A leap year occurs every 4 years to help synchronize the calendar year with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The next leap year after 2026 is 2028, which will include February 29 as an extra day.
The 0.2422 Day Problem
We are taught in school that a year is 365 days long. That is the time it takes for Earth to orbit the Sun. But that is a lie. Or at least, a simplification.
🌎 The Solar Year Reality
A complete orbit of the Earth around the Sun actually takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds (or 365.2422 days).
If we ignored those extra ~6 hours every year, our calendar would drift out of sync with the seasons. After 100 years, we would be off by 24 days. After 700 years, Christmas would happen in the middle of summer (in the Northern Hemisphere)!
To fix this, we save up those extra quarter-days and add them all at once every four years as February 29th. This brings our calendar back in alignment with the Earth's orbit.
The Math: It's Not Just Every 4 Years
Most people think a Leap Year happens every 4 years, guaranteed. But it's slightly more complex than that. Remember, the solar year is 365.2422 days, not exactly 365.25. If we added a day every 4 years forever, we would actually add too much time (about 11 minutes per year).
To correct this tiny error, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian Calendar in 1582 with three rules:
- Rule 1: The year must be evenly divisible by 4.
- Rule 2: If the year can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year (e.g., 1700, 1800, 1900 were not leap years).
- Rule 3: UNLESS the year is also divisible by 400. Then it IS a leap year.
This is why the year 2000 was a leap year (divisible by 400), but the year 2100 will NOT be a leap year.
Leap Year by the Numbers
The impact of this extra day is surprisingly significant, affecting everything from birthdays to economics.
1 in 1,461
The odds of being born on February 29th (Leap Day).
5 Million
Estimated number of "Leaplings" (people born on Feb 29) worldwide.
44 Minutes
The amount of time our calendar is still "off" every 400 years, requiring "Leap Seconds."
$0
Amount extra salaried employees are usually paid for working on Feb 29.
Leap Day Customs Around the World
February 29th is considered lucky by some and unlucky by others.
Ireland (The Proposal): An old Irish legend says St. Brigid struck a deal with St. Patrick to allow women to propose to men on Leap Day. This tradition was popularized in the movie Leap Year.
Greece (Bad Luck): In Greece, getting married in a leap year (and especially on Leap Day) is considered bad luck and is thought to lead to divorce.
USA (Anthony, Texas): This town declares itself the "Leap Year Capital of the World." Every four years, they host a massive festival for Leaplings from around the globe to celebrate their birthdays together.
France (The Newspaper): Since 1980, a satirical newspaper called La Bougie du Sapeur is published only on February 29th. It has appeared just 11 times in 44 years!
Born on Feb 29? The Leapling Dilemma
If you are one of the rare 5 million people born on this day, you face a unique set of challenges (and perks).
Frequently Asked Questions
The Extra 24 Hours
Whether you use the extra day to get ahead on work, relax, or celebrate a rare birthday, Leap Day is a gift of time. Use our Leap Year Countdown Timer to track the arrival of this calendar anomaly.
Bookmark this page! Our timer automatically recalculates for the next cycle as soon as Feb 29 passes.