186 four-year-olds will celebrate their “first” birthday tomorrow, February 29

Of the 4,835 women and men born on a leap day in Austria, their registered birthday is back on the calendar this year.

The Austrian Statistics Authority announced, upon request, that 186 four-year-old children born in Austria can look forward to their “real first” birthday on February 29, 2024. Of the 4,835 women and men born on a leap day in this country, their birthday was returned Registered to the calendar this year.

Every four years is a leap year, with 366 calendar days. In 2024, February will not only have 28 days, but will also have an additional 29th day in order to align the calendar and seasons once again. This prevents the beginning of spring from being in January in a few hundred years. In Austria, this affects a total of 4,835 'leap year babies' born on February 29 – including 186 children who, for the first time after waiting four years, have not had to choose another day for their birthday.

Three percent of leap year children

Of the 6,327 girls and boys born in Austria in February 2020, leap year babies make up just under three percent. Across Austria, “leap year babies” make up only 0.8% of all people who can celebrate a birthday in February (569,916 people).

The federal state with the highest birth rate for today is Lower Austria which currently has a population of 1,024 people. Upper Austria comes in second place with 897, followed by Vienna with 827. Only 167 people born in Burgenland can look forward to their “real” birthday this year.