12 Fun and Tricky Age Riddles That Will Throw You for a Loop

Whether it's an intimate gathering with close loved ones or a big event, birthdays hold great significance for many people. If you’re heading to a birthday party soon and you want to bring something unique to the celebration, armor yourself with a party trick by memorizing these age riddles.

Did you know that the oldest person to ever live is reported to have reached 169 years of age? His name was Henry Jenkins and he was an English man who was claimed to have been born in 1501. Henry was buried in December 1670.

Not many people live beyond a hundred years; it's what makes each one as we age count. Plus, we never really know when we're celebrating our last birthday.

A group of you people celebrating their friend's birthday | Source: Shutterstock

Initially, only the esteemed and well-known citizens in society celebrated birthdays. Many ordinary citizens didn’t even know when theirs were, but these celebrations became more widespread during the 1900s.

From then onward, each year, people around the globe mark another 365 days around the sun, beginning a new age, and hoping to achieve more of whatever they desire as they grow older. With all these sentiments in mind, enjoy these 12 age-related riddles below.

A young boy surrounded by his loved ones makes a wish before blowing out his birthday candles | Source: Shutterstock

12 Age Riddles

1. A girl was ten on her last birthday and will be twelve on her next birthday. How is this possible?

• Answer: Today is her 11th birthday.

A birthday cake with unlit number candles | Source: Shutterstock

2. What goes up and doesn’t come back down?

• Answer: Your age

An old couple enjoying the sunset at a park | Source: Shutterstock

3. It is just something that everybody does at the same time. What is that?

• Answer: Grow older

A portrait of women from different generations in a family | Source: Shutterstock

4. If a boy is 12 and his brother is 13, how is the 12-year-old older than his brother?

• Answer: His brother is 13 months.

A yong boy holding his baby brother | Source: Shutterstock

5. Paul is 20 years old in 1980, but only 15 years old in 1985. How is this possible?

• Answer: The years are in B.C., not A.D. as you probably assumed. Based on the system we use to number the years, the years counted down in B.C. (but they weren't counting backward back then)

A teen boy playing with a radio during the 1980s | Source: Getty Images

6. How many birthdays does the average human have?

• Answer: One, and we celebrate it every year

A teen girl celebrating her birthday | Source: Shutterstock

7. You’re driving a bus, and at the first stop 8 people get on, and two people get off. At the 2nd stop, 4 people get on and 7 people get off. At the 3rd stop, 9 people get off and 3 people get on. How old is the bus driver?

• Answer: Your age (since you’re driving the bus!)

A bus driver standing at the doorway of the bus | Source: Shutterstock

8. A woman was born in 1986 and died in 1964, at the age of 42! How can this be?

• Answer: She was born in Room 1986, and died in Room 1964, of the same hospital.

An empty hospital bed | Source: Getty Images

9. The ages of a father and son add up to 66. The father’s age is the son’s age reversed. How old are they? (There are 3 possible solutions for this one.)

• Answer(s): Father 51, son 15
• Father 60, son (0)6
• Father 42, son 24

A son and his father spending quality time | Source: Shutterstock

10. I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?

A melted wax candle | Source: Shutterstock

11. The person who makes it, sells it. The person who buys it never uses it. The person who uses it never knows they’re using it. What is it?

• Answer: A coffin

A mourner placing a white rose over a coffin | Source: Shutterstock

12. I am not alive, but I can grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air; What am I?

• Answer: Fire

A small campfire beside a lake | Source: Shutterstock

Hopefully, these age riddles will add an extra touch of humor to your day or that birthday party you’re invited to. For more fun word puzzles, here are 17 riddles about time.