Dragon Ball: How Old Is Goku in Every Series? (2024)

Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball franchise has largely been about the coming-of-age of its main protagonist, Goku. The story has seen him go from being all alone in the world to starting a family of his own while making new friends along the way, usually in the form of former rivals. Although there's an official timeline for Dragon Ball, fans still get confused about Goku's age.

The Saiyan hero has grown from a young boy way back at the beginning of the original manga/anime series to a full-grown man (and back again, but only in the now no-longer-canon Dragon Ball GT). That's compounded further by a new series that seemingly resets his age again. By looking at Goku's age in Dragon Ball, it can be determined how old Goku is in Dragon Ball Super.

Updated on June 25, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Goku is easily one of the most recognizable anime faces in the world, making him a truly iconic character. That said, his age has differed drastically based on the Dragon Ball series in question, especially with Dragon Ball Daima coming out in sometime in October 2024. As such, we've updated this article with some more relevant information.

How Was Goku's Character Conceived?

Son Goku is loosely based on Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King in Journey to the West, a Chinese literary novel from the 16th century. In fact, the name Son Goku is essentially the Japanese version of Sun Wukong. Although Akira Toriyama had first intended to make his protagonist a monkey, he went through multiple drafts before choosing the version fans saw in Dragon Ball.

There were also martial arts influences in the origin of this character. Goku was previously known as Tangton, a prototype character based on Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. In an interview, Toriyama states that "nobody could play Goku" in a live-action movie except a young Jackie Chan. Further, DBZ character artist Yamamuro Tadayoshi claimed that Goku's Super Saiyan appearance — "his slanting pose with that scowling look in his eyes" — was based entirely on Bruce Lee.

How Old Is Goku In Dragon Ball?

11-18 years old

When Goku is first discovered by a teenage Bulma as she searches for the Dragon Balls, the naïve young boy reveals that he's 11 years old. He then accompanies Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, and Puar to stop Emperor Pilaf and his forces from using the Dragon Balls for world domination. Goku spends the remainder of his eleventh year training under Master Roshi alongside Krillin, to prepare for the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament where he is narrowly defeated by Roshi under the disguise of Jackie Chung, clearly another reference to Jackie Chan.

In the three-year interim before the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament in the original Dragon Ball, 15-year-old Goku systematically dismantles the nefarious Red Ribbon Army before entering the tournament, where he's defeated by Tien. Immediately following the tournament, Goku and his friends defeat the evil King Piccolo, only to learn that his more powerful son would enter the next tournament and follow in his father's footsteps. Training under Kami, the Guardian of the Earth, and Mister Popo, Goku enters the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament as an 18-year-old, defeating Piccolo and marrying his childhood sweetheart Chi-Chi shortly after. Thus, by the end of Dragon Ball, Goku's age is fairly firm.

What Is Goku's Age In DBZ?

Physically 23-37 years old; Chronologically 24-44 years old

Five years have passed since the end of Dragon Ball, which effectively makes Goku 23 years old when DBZ begins. He also has a five-year-old son named Gohan in tow. After learning of his true alien Saiyan heritage from his long-lost evil brother Raditz, Goku sacrifices his life for Piccolo to kill Raditz once and for all. As the Z Fighters train on Earth for the arrival of Raditz's superiors, Vegeta and Nappa, Goku trains in the afterlife. Upon his resurrection through the Dragon Balls, Goku remains physically 23 but chronologically ages to 24 when he helps drive Vegeta from the Earth.

After defeating Frieza, Goku spends three years training with the Z Fighters for the arrival of the Androids, which was predicted by the alternate future Trunks. During this time, Goku is physically 26 and chronologically 27. Realizing how dire the situation has become, Goku and Gohan train for a full year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, with the heavenly Lookout largely unaffected by time in the outside world. Goku emerges physically and chronologically 27 to face Cell in the Cell Games.

After sacrificing himself against Cell to save Earth, Goku is dead for seven years before his eventual resurrection by the Elder Kai to defeat the evil and powerful Majin Buu. Although he's still physically 27, Goku is chronologically 34 upon Buu's defeat. After both Goku and the series experience a 10-year time jump for the epilogue, Goku becomes physically 37 and chronologically 44. Vegeta also points out that the Saiyans' aging slows once they hit their physical prime, so they can fight longer and more effectively. Of course, this has the effect of somewhat muddling the Goku age timeline.

How Old Is Goku In GT?

Physically 11-13 years old; Chronologically 49-51 years old

At the conclusion of Dragon Ball Z, Goku departs to train with Kid Buu's good reincarnation Uub at the Lookout. Dragon Ball GT opens five years later, after the completion of Uub's training. This makes Goku's physical age 42 and chronological age 49. This proves short-lived, however, as Emperor Pilaf accidentally used the Black Star Dragon Balls to revert Goku to the age when he first met him. In other words, Goku becomes an eleven-year-old child while retaining the wits of a 49-year-old adult.

It takes Goku approximately one year to recover the Black Star Dragon Balls, though he is ultimately unsuccessful in using them to save the Earth. At Earth's destruction, Goku is now physically 12 but psychologically 50. Following this, the series experiences a one-year time jump for its climactic story arc, making Goku physically 13 but psychologically 51. GT has an epilogue and television special taking place approximately a century into the future after Goku merges with the Eternal Dragon, appearing as an adult once again in his physical prime. While his exact physical age is unknown, this would make Goku approximately 51 at the end of GT.

What Is Goku's Age In Dragon Ball Super?

Physically 31-32 years old; Chronologically 38-39 years old

The entirety of Dragon Ball Super takes place within the 10-year time jump between Majin Buu's defeat at the end of Dragon Ball Z and its subsequent epilogue. Super starts approximately four years into the time jump, making Goku physically 31 but chronologically 38. Following the start of the series, Goku and Vegeta train for a year under Beerus and Whis before the events carrying them through the end of the series begin.

By the end of the anime series and sequel animated film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Goku is physically 32 and chronologically 39. While there has been a manga continuation of the series beyond the events of Broly and the anime's conclusion, the exact clarification about how many years have passed is uncertain. However, as the events of Z's epilogue have still not taken place, Goku still hasn't hit 40 — physically, anyway.

Dragon Ball Daima Makes Goku Young Again

Age currently unknown

Announced in 2023, the upcoming anime Dragon Ball Daima is the latest animated installment in the franchise. Directed by Aya Komaki, the series isn't based on a preceding manga by franchise creator Akira Toriyama. Likewise, the term "Daima" is similarly made up, and its closest translation is the word "evil." The central premise involves Goku and allies such as Vegeta being given diminutive, childlike forms by a strange new threat. This series sends them off on a grand adventure to get to the bottom of this incident.

Given this concept, it sounds very similar to the storyline of the controversial Dragon Ball GT. At the same time, it seems Goku and the others are simply shrunken in size. Thus, it doesn't really factor into the Goku age timeline. Goku's age in the series is likely the same as it is in Dragon Ball Super, but it's not confirmed yet where the two intersect. Thus, Goku's age is constantly changing, even when he doesn't really age.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First Film

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Latest Film

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

First TV Show

Dragon Ball (1986)

Latest TV Show

Dragon Ball Super

Upcoming TV Shows

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

April 26, 1989

Cast

Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil