The end of February 2020 is approaching, bringing with it a special occasion for Leaplings: finally being able to celebrate their birthdays on the day they were actually born. In honour of this once-every-four-years event, here are some fun facts about leap year babies in Germany.
"Leaplings" are individuals who are born on February 29. The official date of birth of a Leapling - as printed on their birth certificate - therefore only comes once every four years.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 2.040 babies are born in Germany on each February 29, on average. Since the average life expectancy of someone in Germany is 80 years, this would mean that these individuals would be able to celebrate their birthday on their official birth date around 20 times in their entire lives.
Section 188 of the German Civil Code (BGB) states that children born on a leap day officially turn a year older on March 1, in the years where February 29 does not appear on the calendar.
Unfortunately, therefore, having only 20 birthdays does not mean you stay 20!
The possibility of being born on any day of the year is one in 365. However, since February 29 occurs only once every four years, the probability of being a leap day baby is even lower: one in 1461.
Therefore, approximately only 0,07 percent of the world’s population celebrate their birthday on a leap day.
To round it all off, here are some German celebrities who happen to also be Leaplings: