Pisces is one of the 12 zodiac signs, corresponding to those born between February 19 and March 20. With 12 signs that the sun passes through each year, one might assume that the distribution of sun signs in the population would be equal, with about 1/12 (8.3%) of people being born under each sign. However, some signs turn out to be rarer than others. So just how rare is it to be born under the sign of Pisces?
The Zodiac and Sun Signs
The zodiac is divided into 12 signs, each corresponding to a certain section of the sky through which the sun appears to pass from our vantage point on Earth over the course of a year. The 12 signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
Your sun sign, also called your star sign or zodiac sign, is determined by the location of the sun in relation to these constellations on your birthday. For example, if you were born between February 19 and March 20, your sun would have been passing through the section of sky designated as Pisces, making your astrological sign Pisces.
Frequency of Births by Sign
Given that there are 12 signs and a roughly equal number of days in each one, we might expect that about 1/12 of people would be born under each sign. But in reality, the distribution is uneven. Some signs have periods that coincide with higher birth rates.
According to 2021 demographic data for the United States population, the frequency of births by zodiac sign is as follows:
| Zodiac Sign | Birth Rate |
|---|---|
| Aquarius | 9.2% |
| Pisces | 8.3% |
| Aries | 9.2% |
| Taurus | 8.5% |
| Gemini | 8.9% |
| Cancer | 9.5% |
| Leo | 9.8% |
| Virgo | 9.1% |
| Libra | 8.8% |
| Scorpio | 8.6% |
| Sagittarius | 8.9% |
| Capricorn | 9.1% |
As you can see, Pisces has one of the lowest birth rates of the 12 signs, at only 8.3%. Compare that to 9.8% for Leo, the sign with the highest birth rate.
Why Pisces Births Are Less Common
The uneven distribution has to do with the timing of the zodiac periods relative to the fluctuation of birth rates over the course of the year. The Pisces period falls in late February through March. This coincides with lower conception rates and fewer births compared to other times of the year.
Birth rates tend to reach an annual peak in late summer and early fall (August through October), with the highest monthly rates occurring in August or September. This corresponds to conception periods of November through January.
Pisces falls outside this peak window. Late winter and early spring see lower birth rates before they pick up again in May and June. So the Pisces range misses out on the annual spike in births.
Rarity of Pisces Relative to Other Signs
Now that we’ve looked at the birth rate percentages, we can determine just how rare it is statistically to be born under the Pisces sign compared to the other 11 zodiac signs.
Third Least Common Sign
Out of the 12 signs, Pisces has the third lowest percentage of births at 8.3%. The only signs less common are Scorpio (8.6%) and Taurus (8.5%).
So while not the rarest sign, Pisces is indeed one of the more uncommon zodiac signs a person can be born under.
15% Less Common Than the Most Popular Sign
Comparing Pisces’ 8.3% birth share to that of Leo at 9.8%, we find that being born under the Pisces sign is about 15% less likely than being born under Leo. Leo’s birth rate is nearly 1 percentage point higher than Pisces.
To have a Pisces sun sign is roughly 15% rarer than having the most prevalent sun sign, Leo.
27% Rarer Than Average
On average, the expected birth share per zodiac sign would be 100% / 12 signs = 8.33%.
Pisces’ actual birth share is 8.3%, compared to the “average” share of 8.33%. Doing the math:
(8.33% – 8.3%) / 8.33% = 0.03 / 8.33 = 0.0036 = 0.36%
So Pisces’ birth share is about 0.36% lower than the average sign. Converting to a percentage:
0.36% * 100 = 36%
We can say that having a Pisces sun sign is about 36% more rare than having an “average” sun sign.
Conclusion
In summary, while not the absolute rarest sun sign, Pisces is one of the less commonly occurring zodiac signs. Approximately 8.3% of people are born under the Pisces sign, compared to 9.8% for the most prevalent sign, Leo.
Statistically speaking, a Pisces birth is about 15% less likely than a Leo birth and 27% less likely than an evenly distributed average sun sign birth. Factors like conception cycles lead to an uneven distribution of births by zodiac sign over the year.
So while not extremely unusual, a Pisces sun sign is indeed relatively rare compared to other astrological signs. The next time you meet someone born under this introspective, creative sign of the fish, you can note that they belong to one of the more uncommon groups of the zodiac!
Related Questions
What is the rarest zodiac sign?
The rarest zodiac sign is Scorpio, occurring in only 8.6% of births. This water sign of intensity and passion falls outside the peak birth rate periods.
What sign is the luckiest?
According to astrologers, the luckiest signs are often considered to be Sagittarius, Pisces, and Cancer. Sagittarius is thought to be lucky due to its optimistic and adventurous nature. Pisces is considered spiritually lucky. Cancer is thought to have good fortune in family and home life.
What zodiac sign lives the longest?
According to research, the zodiac sign most associated with longevity is Taurus. The astrological sign representing a bull is known for being stubborn and determined, which may lend itself to a long life. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking star signs to lifespan.
What month are intelligent babies born?
Some studies show a correlation between babies born in late summer (August-September) and higher than average intelligence and achievement levels. However, season of birth is just one factor and the extent to which it influences intelligence is debated.