How Old is Percy Jackson? (First, Last & All Books)

According to Rick Riordan, the eponymous creator of the Riordanverse book series, Percy’s age is as described in the books. Percy has no specific birth year because the books themselves occur in a loosely-defined present day. However, we do know that he’s 12 years old at the start of the first book, The Lightning Thief.

In each book, Percy is described as having aged in some way. That’s why we’ve compiled an archive of how old Percy is during each book in which he’s had a major role. 

In the novels, Percy began the story as a twelve-year-old, but he was aged up for the 2010 film adaptation of The Lightning Thief. In the film adaptation, he appeared as a sixteen-year-old.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians follow Percy each year from his time in Camp Half-Blood up to his sixteenth birthday. He also makes appearances in The Heroes of Olympus series and The Trials of Apollo.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In Percy Jackson And The Olympians?

Percy Jackson and The Olympians stars Percy as the main character, accompanied by a host of other main characters. It’s also the first part of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles series. At the beginning of the series, Percy is twelve years old, and it is revealed that he may be a part of a prophecy when he turns sixteen.

Throughout the series, each book takes place roughly a few months or a year after the other and follow up on the main cast’s adventures and disputes with the many godly figures in the series.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In the First Book, The Lightning Thief?

Percy makes his debut in the series’ first book, The Lightning Thief, as a twelve-year-old. However, he is almost thirteen during this time because the story itself takes place in June. However, his birthday is on the 18th of August. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Sea of Monsters?

Taking place almost a year after the first book, Percy is a thirteen-year-old in The Sea of Monsters. The story begins while he is still attending school, and so the summer vacation has yet to begin.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Titan’s Curse?

Percy Jackson appears as a fourteen-year-old in The Titan’s Curse, occurring six months after The Sea of Monsters. Unlike the previous books, The Titan’s Curse takes place in winter. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Battle Of The Labyrinth?

Percy starts the Battle of the Labyrinth as a fourteen-year-old but has his fifteenth birthday party at the end of the novel. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Last Book, The Last Olympian?

In the last book of the Percy Jackson series, The Last Olympian, Percy is still fifteen-years-old, but it takes place leading up to his sixteenth birthday. The novel then ends with Percy turning sixteen as it gets to the end of the novel.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Heroes Of Olympus?

The Heroes of Olympus is the second series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. Percy plays a significant role in the series, which takes place within one year.

Set only a few months after The Last Olympian, Percy is sixteen years old during the year this series takes place. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Lost Hero?

Although Percy doesn’t appear in this book, he is sixteen years old as The Lost Hero takes place a few months after The Last Olympian.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Son Of Neptune?

Percy appears as one of the protagonists in The Son of Neptune, where he is still sixteen years old. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Mark Of Athena?

As one of the protagonists in The Mark of Athena, Percy appears as a sixteen-year-old. However, Annabeth notes that he is two months away from turning seventeen. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The House Of Hades?

The House of Hades takes place only a few days after the end of Mark of Athena, so Percy is still sixteen during the novel. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Blood Of Olympus?

As the finale of the Heroes of Olympus series, Percy is still sixteen. However, he is two weeks away from turning seventeen at the end of the novel. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Trials Of Apollo?

The Trials of Apollo is the third series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. Percy doesn’t play as significant a role throughout the series as he does in the previous two. However, he does make appearances throughout the entire Percy Jackson book series.

How Old Is Percy Jackson?

As it takes place six months after Blood of Olympus, it begins with Percy at the age of seventeen, and he is about to turn eighteen by the end of the series. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Hidden Oracle?

Set roughly six months after The Blood of Olympus, this is the first book in The Trials of Apollo series. Percy is seventeen years old and one of the novel’s main characters.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Dark Prophecy?

Percy doesn’t appear in The Dark Prophecy, but it can be assumed that he is still seventeen.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Burning Maze? 

Although Percy is mentioned in The Burning Maze, he doesn’t actually make an appearance. Therefore, he is still seventeen.

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Tyrant’s Tomb?

Once more, Percy doesn’t make an appearance, but he is a source of inspiration for Apollo when fighting Stymphalian Birds. At this point, Percy is still seventeen-years-old. 

How Old Is Percy Jackson In The Tower of Nero?

Percy makes an appearance towards the end of The Tower of Nero, and it’s revealed that he’s just graduated from high school. He and Annabeth are both going to New Rome University. He is just about to turn eighteen at the end of the novel. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, throughout the series Percy does age through each book. These are all the main series of books in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. Most of these books cover Percy’s adolescence, with the later books having Percy step away from being the main character as he grows older and so grows with the audience.

However, there is no specific year that he was born, as specified by Rick Riordan himself. This isn’t all that odd. Other books like Percy Jackson meant for kids do this as a way to help readers transpose themselves in the main character’s shoes.

Sophie Andrea