January 28, 2026 • Updated February 6, 2026 • 22 min read
Pearl Birthday Calculator: What Is a Pearl Birthday?
A pearl birthday celebrates turning 75 years old. The name comes from the traditional gift for a 75th wedding anniversary -- pearls -- and has been adopted to mark this significant age milestone. Reaching 75 is a remarkable achievement that places you among the approximately 60% of Americans who live to see their pearl birthday. This comprehensive guide explores the history of pearl birthdays, how to calculate yours, life expectancy at 75, celebration ideas, and famous people who have reached this milestone.
- Pearl birthday = turning 75 years old, named after the 75th wedding anniversary gift
- At 75, you have been alive for approximately 27,394 days (or about 657,450 hours)
- About 60% of people in developed countries reach age 75
- The pearl birthday sits between the platinum birthday (70) and the diamond jubilee (60)
- Average remaining life expectancy at 75 is 12.5 years in the US
- Use our free age calculator to track exactly how far you are from your pearl birthday
What Is a Pearl Birthday?
A pearl birthday is the celebration of a person's 75th year of life. Unlike the golden birthday (which depends on your birth date), the pearl birthday is the same for everyone: it happens when you turn 75, regardless of when in the year you were born.
The term originates from the long-standing tradition of associating precious materials with milestone anniversaries. In the wedding anniversary system that dates back to the Victorian era, the 75th anniversary is designated the "diamond and gold" anniversary in some traditions and the "pearl" anniversary in others. The pearl birthday borrows from the latter convention.
Pearls are formed through years of slow, patient growth inside oysters -- a fitting metaphor for the 75 years of accumulated experience, wisdom, and resilience that a pearl birthday represents. Just as natural pearls take decades to develop their full luster, a person reaching 75 has been shaped by three-quarters of a century of living.
The pearl birthday is part of a broader system of named milestone birthdays that give families and communities special reasons to celebrate the aging process. In an era where life expectancy continues to increase in most developed nations, reaching 75 is both a common achievement and a genuinely noteworthy one.
The History and Symbolism of Pearls
To understand why 75 is called the "pearl birthday," it helps to know the rich history behind pearls as symbols of wisdom, longevity, and purity. Pearls have been treasured by cultures around the world for thousands of years, and their association with age 75 is deeply rooted in this heritage.
Ancient Significance of Pearls
Pearls are among the oldest known gemstones, with records of their use dating back to at least 2300 BCE in China. Unlike other gems that must be cut and polished, pearls emerge from the oyster ready to wear, which ancient cultures interpreted as a sign of perfection and divine creation.
- Ancient China: Pearls symbolized wisdom gained through experience. Legends claimed that pearls were formed in the brains of dragons, connecting them to knowledge and longevity. Chinese royalty were often buried with pearls placed in their mouths.
- Ancient Greece: Greeks believed pearls were the tears of the gods. They associated pearls with Aphrodite, goddess of love, who according to legend emerged from the sea foam wearing pearl drops.
- Ancient Rome: Pearls were the ultimate status symbol. Julius Caesar passed a law limiting pearl ownership to the ruling classes. Cleopatra famously dissolved a pearl in vinegar and drank it to win a bet with Marc Antony.
- Ancient Persia: Pearls represented purity and were believed to have healing properties. Persian physicians prescribed ground pearls for ailments ranging from heart conditions to eye diseases.
- Hindu Tradition: The Atharvaveda, written around 1000 BCE, mentions pearls as conferring long life, prosperity, and good fortune. Krishna is said to have discovered the first pearl and given it to his daughter on her wedding day.
Why Pearls for 75 Years
The wedding anniversary tradition of associating materials with specific years began in medieval Germany, where husbands crowned their wives with silver wreaths on the 25th anniversary and gold wreaths on the 50th. This system expanded over centuries, with the Victorian era adding many more milestones.
The pearl was assigned to year 75 for symbolic reasons that align with the nature of long-lived relationships:
- Formation time: Natural pearls can take 10-20 years to form, reflecting the patience required for a 75-year journey
- Layer-by-layer growth: Pearls are built by thousands of thin layers of nacre, just as 75 years of life are built day by day, experience by experience
- Increasing rarity: Both natural pearls and 75th anniversaries/birthdays are rare achievements
- Beauty through adversity: Pearls form when an oyster responds to an irritant, transforming difficulty into beauty -- much like the wisdom gained through 75 years of life's challenges
Pearl Formation Timeline
Pearls and humans both achieve their greatest value through decades of patient growth.
Pearl Birthday vs. Other Milestone Birthdays
The pearl birthday fits into a larger framework of named milestone birthdays. Here is how it compares to other major age celebrations:
| Milestone | Age | Named After | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Sixteen | 16 | American tradition | Coming of age, often marked with a special party |
| Legal Adulthood | 18 | Legal milestone | Voting, signing contracts, legal independence |
| Golden Birthday | Varies | Age matches birth date | One-time event, varies by person |
| Quarter Century | 25 | 25-year mark | Car insurance rates drop, brain fully developed |
| Half Century | 50 | 50-year mark | Major life milestone, "over the hill" celebrations |
| Diamond Birthday | 60 | 60th anniversary gem | Senior status in many cultures |
| Platinum Birthday | 70 | 70th anniversary metal | Traditional retirement age milestone |
| Pearl Birthday | 75 | 75th anniversary gem | Three-quarters of a century |
| Centennial | 100 | Century mark | Extremely rare, often recognized by governments |
Special Birthday Types Compared
This chart shows the ages at which each named birthday milestone occurs:
Bar lengths represent each milestone age on a scale to 100.
How to Calculate Your Pearl Birthday
Calculating your pearl birthday is straightforward, but if you want to know exactly how many days remain until you turn 75, you will need a more precise calculation. Here is the step-by-step method:
Step 1: Determine Your Birth Date
You need your exact birth date in the format Month/Day/Year. For example, if you were born on June 15, 1960, that is your starting point.
Step 2: Add 75 Years
Simply add 75 to your birth year. Using our example: 1960 + 75 = 2035. Your pearl birthday would be June 15, 2035.
Step 3: Calculate Days Until Pearl Birthday
Use our age in days calculator to find out exactly how many days you have lived and how many remain until your 75th birthday. The formula is:
Days until pearl birthday = (Pearl birthday date - Today's date) in days
Pearl Birthday Calculation Examples
| Birth Date | Pearl Birthday (Age 75) | Days Until (from Feb 2026) | Current Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 15, 1955 | March 15, 2030 | ~1,498 | 70 |
| July 4, 1960 | July 4, 2035 | ~3,440 | 65 |
| December 25, 1970 | December 25, 2045 | ~7,262 | 55 |
| January 1, 1980 | January 1, 2055 | ~10,557 | 46 |
| August 20, 1990 | August 20, 2065 | ~14,445 | 35 |
For an instant calculation of your exact age and countdown to any milestone birthday, use our free age calculator.
Famous People Who Celebrated Their Pearl Birthday
Many well-known figures have reached or will soon reach their pearl birthday. Here are some notable examples of people who turned 75, demonstrating that this milestone can mark a period of continued creativity, influence, and vitality:
| Name | Born | Pearl Birthday (Turned 75) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | August 17, 1943 | August 17, 2018 | Academy Award-winning actor |
| Mick Jagger | July 26, 1943 | July 26, 2018 | Lead singer of The Rolling Stones |
| Cher | May 20, 1946 | May 20, 2021 | Singer, actress, cultural icon |
| Sylvester Stallone | July 6, 1946 | July 6, 2021 | Actor, filmmaker, Rocky franchise |
| Donald Trump | June 14, 1946 | June 14, 2021 | 45th President of the United States |
| Dolly Parton | January 19, 1946 | January 19, 2021 | Singer-songwriter, philanthropist |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | July 30, 1947 | July 30, 2022 | Actor, Governor of California |
| Elton John | March 25, 1947 | March 25, 2022 | Grammy-winning musician |
| Hillary Clinton | October 26, 1947 | October 26, 2022 | Former Secretary of State, Senator |
| Stephen King | September 21, 1947 | September 21, 2022 | Best-selling horror novelist |
| Stevie Nicks | May 26, 1948 | May 26, 2023 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer |
| Ozzy Osbourne | December 3, 1948 | December 3, 2023 | Heavy metal icon, Black Sabbath |
What stands out about this list is how active many of these figures remained at 75. Mick Jagger was still touring with The Rolling Stones, Cher was performing residency shows in Las Vegas, and Sylvester Stallone was still acting in major films. According to Guinness World Records, many performers continue to break records well into their 70s and 80s. The pearl birthday is no longer the end of an era -- for many people, it marks a phase of continued vitality.
Upcoming Celebrity Pearl Birthdays (2026-2030)
| Celebrity | Birth Date | Pearl Birthday | Profession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Joel | May 9, 1949 | May 9, 2024 | Piano Man, singer-songwriter |
| Meryl Streep | June 22, 1949 | June 22, 2024 | Most-nominated actor in Oscar history |
| Bruce Springsteen | September 23, 1949 | September 23, 2024 | The Boss, rock legend |
| Stevie Wonder | May 13, 1950 | May 13, 2025 | 25-time Grammy winner |
| Richard Branson | July 18, 1950 | July 18, 2025 | Virgin Group founder |
| Phil Collins | January 30, 1951 | January 30, 2026 | Genesis drummer, solo artist |
| Robin Williams | July 21, 1951 | July 21, 2026 | Beloved actor and comedian (posthumous) |
| David Letterman | April 12, 1947 | April 12, 2022 | Late night television host |
Life at 75: Statistics and Facts
Reaching your pearl birthday is a milestone worth understanding in context. Here are key statistics about life at age 75, drawn from data published by the World Health Organization, the CDC, and the Social Security Administration:
- Percentage reaching 75: In the United States, approximately 60% of people born today can expect to reach age 75, up from about 40% in 1950.
- Remaining life expectancy at 75: The average 75-year-old in the US can expect to live another 12.5 years (to about 87.5), according to Social Security actuarial data.
- Health status: About 55% of 75-year-olds report their health as "good" or "excellent," defying the stereotype that this age is defined by decline.
- Living independently: Roughly 80% of Americans aged 75 still live independently in their own homes or apartments, rather than in assisted-living facilities.
- Physical activity: Approximately 35% of people aged 75 and older meet recommended physical activity guidelines, a figure that has been steadily increasing over recent decades.
- Global variation: In Japan, which leads the world in longevity, about 75% of people reach age 75. In sub-Saharan Africa, that figure drops to approximately 20-30%, highlighting enormous global health inequalities.
Life Expectancy at 75 by Country
How much longer can a 75-year-old expect to live? This varies significantly by country. Data from the World Health Organization:
| Country | Life Expectancy at 75 (Years) | Expected Age at Death | Global Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 15.2 | 90.2 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 14.5 | 89.5 | 2 |
| France | 14.3 | 89.3 | 5 |
| Australia | 14.1 | 89.1 | 7 |
| Canada | 13.5 | 88.5 | 12 |
| United Kingdom | 12.8 | 87.8 | 18 |
| United States | 12.5 | 87.5 | 25 |
| Germany | 12.3 | 87.3 | 28 |
| China | 11.2 | 86.2 | 45 |
| Brazil | 10.1 | 85.1 | 72 |
| India | 9.4 | 84.4 | 95 |
| Nigeria | 7.8 | 82.8 | 150 |
For a deeper look at longevity data, explore our life expectancy calculator.
Remaining Life Expectancy at 75 (Visual)
Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, 2024 data.
Percentage of People Reaching 75 Worldwide
What percentage of each country's population survives to their pearl birthday? This metric varies dramatically based on healthcare access, economic development, and lifestyle factors. According to the US Census Bureau and NIH data:
| Country/Region | % Reaching 75 | % Reaching 85 | % Reaching 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 77% | 51% | 1.2% |
| Switzerland | 74% | 47% | 0.9% |
| Australia | 72% | 44% | 0.7% |
| Canada | 70% | 42% | 0.6% |
| United Kingdom | 68% | 39% | 0.5% |
| Germany | 67% | 38% | 0.5% |
| United States | 60% | 34% | 0.4% |
| China | 52% | 25% | 0.2% |
| Brazil | 45% | 20% | 0.1% |
| India | 35% | 12% | 0.05% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa (avg) | 22% | 7% | 0.02% |
These statistics underscore both the achievement of reaching 75 and the global health inequalities that still exist. For more context on calculating your current age and life milestones, see our age calculator guides.
Survival to Age 75 by Gender
Women consistently outlive men in virtually every country. Here is how survival rates to age 75 compare:
On average, women are 10-15% more likely than men to reach their pearl birthday.
75th Birthday by the Numbers
If you are approaching your pearl birthday or celebrating someone else's, here is what 75 years looks like in different units of time. These numbers can make for memorable party decorations, speech material, or card messages. Use our age in days calculator for precise values:
| Unit of Time | Approximate Value at Age 75 |
|---|---|
| Years | 75 |
| Months | 900 |
| Weeks | 3,913 |
| Days | 27,394 |
| Hours | 657,450 |
| Minutes | 39,447,000 |
| Seconds | 2,366,820,000 |
| Heartbeats (avg. 72 bpm) | ~2.8 billion |
| Breaths (avg. 16/min) | ~631 million |
| Meals eaten (3/day) | ~82,125 |
| Hours of sleep (8 hrs/night) | ~219,000 |
| Full moons witnessed | ~927 |
| Seasons experienced | 300 |
These figures assume no leap years for simplicity, though a person turning 75 has actually lived through approximately 18 leap years, adding roughly 18 extra days to the total. Use our age calculator for a precise breakdown based on your exact birth date.
Pearl Birthday Celebration Ideas
A 75th birthday deserves a celebration that honors the depth and richness of seven and a half decades of life. Here are ideas that go beyond the standard party:
Pearl-Themed Dinner Party
Lean into the pearl theme with an elegant dinner. Use white and cream-colored tablecloths, scatter faux pearls as table decorations, and serve a multi-course meal featuring the guest of honor's 75 favorite foods (or at least a curated selection). Pearl-colored balloons and candles complete the look.
75 Memories Scrapbook
Ask 75 people -- friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors -- to each submit one favorite memory, photo, or message about the birthday person. Compile these into a bound scrapbook or digital slideshow. For people who have spent 75 years building relationships, this collection becomes a tangible record of their impact.
Decade-by-Decade Timeline
Create a visual timeline spanning all 75 years, broken into decades. For each decade, include photos, world events, personal milestones, and pop culture moments. Display it along a wall at the celebration venue. Guests enjoy walking through the timeline and discovering connections to their own lives.
75 Acts of Kindness
Instead of (or in addition to) gifts, organize a "75 Acts of Kindness" campaign in the birthday person's honor. Family and friends each complete one or more acts of kindness -- volunteering, donating, or helping a neighbor -- and report back. This approach celebrates the values that define a life well-lived.
Destination Celebration
If health and budget allow, take a trip to a meaningful destination: the place where the birthday person grew up, where they honeymooned, or somewhere on their bucket list. Group travel can be organized for close family, or a smaller intimate trip can be planned for the birthday person and their partner.
Pearl Birthday Gift Ideas
| Gift Type | Ideas | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Pearl Gifts | Pearl necklace, pearl earrings, pearl cufflinks, pearl bracelet | $50 - $5,000+ |
| Experience Gifts | Concert tickets, spa day, hot air balloon ride, cooking class | $100 - $500 |
| Memory Gifts | Photo book, family tree, video compilation from friends | $50 - $300 |
| Charitable Donations | Donation to their favorite cause in their name | Any amount |
| Technology Gifts | Tablet, digital picture frame, video calling device | $100 - $800 |
| Comfort Gifts | Luxury robe, heated blanket, massage chair | $50 - $2,000 |
Pearl Birthdays in Historical Context
The significance of turning 75 has changed dramatically over human history. According to History.com and demographic research from the NIH:
- Ancient Rome (1st century): Average life expectancy at birth was roughly 25-35 years (heavily skewed by infant mortality). Reaching 75 was extraordinarily rare -- perhaps 1-2% of those who survived childhood.
- Medieval Europe (1300s): If you survived childhood, you might live into your 50s or 60s. Reaching 75 placed you among the very oldest people in your community, often viewed with a mixture of respect and superstition.
- Industrial Revolution (1800s): Life expectancy rose to about 40-50 years. Turning 75 was still exceptional but increasingly possible for the upper classes with access to better nutrition and healthcare.
- Mid-20th century (1950): US life expectancy reached 68 years. Turning 75 was achievable for roughly 40% of the population, making the pearl birthday a recognized milestone.
- Today (2026): US life expectancy is approximately 78-79 years. Turning 75 is now a realistic expectation for the majority of people in developed nations.
This historical trajectory means that today's pearl birthday celebrants are part of the first generation where reaching 75 is the norm rather than the exception. That fact alone makes it worth celebrating.