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In the original animated Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang is physically 12 when the story begins, though 112 years have passed since he was frozen. Katara is 14, Sokka is 15, Toph is 12, Zuko is 16, and Azula is 14. Some characters—including Mai, Ty Lee, and Iroh—do not have a firmly established exact age in the original series.
This guide covers the original three-book animated series, which aired from 2005 to 2008—not the 2010 live-action film or the later live-action adaptation. Ages below refer to the characters at the start of the animated story unless otherwise noted. The series does not supply a complete birthday calendar, so exact ages for later points in the journey are not available for every character.
Main characters
| Character | Age at the beginning | What the age means |
|---|---|---|
| Aang | 12 biologically; 112 chronologically | He was 12 when he entered the iceberg and remained frozen for 100 years. The elapsed century does not mean he aged physically through it. |
| Katara | 14 | She is the younger sibling of Sokka. |
| Sokka | 15 | He is Katara’s older brother. |
| Toph Beifong | 12 | She is generally identified as 12 during the main events. |
| Zuko | 16 | He is two years older than his sister Azula. |
| Azula | 14 | Franchise reference material gives her age; the television series does not state it directly. |
Character descriptions and ages are summarized in the character list for the series; additional age distinctions and qualifications are discussed in this age overview. For Azula’s stated age, see the franchise reference entry.
Other notable characters
| Character | Age status |
|---|---|
| Princess Yue | 16; described as 16 in Book One. |
| Mai | No securely established exact age in the original series. She is often estimated to be around 14–15. |
| Ty Lee | No securely established exact age in the original series. She is often estimated to be around 14–15. |
| Uncle Iroh | Unknown. Exact numbers commonly given online are estimates, not a confirmed age from the original show. |
| Appa | No exact official age is established in the original series. |
| Momo | No exact official age is established in the original series. |
The estimates for Mai and Ty Lee should not be mistaken for confirmed character ages. Likewise, Iroh’s maturity, history, and family role do not establish a precise number of years.
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Why Aang’s age is easy to misread
Aang’s two age figures count different things. He was 12 when he disappeared and was preserved in the iceberg for a century. Thus, 112 describes the time elapsed by the beginning of the story, while 12 describes his biological age and physical development. Saying only that he is “112” leaves out the distinction that matters most when comparing him with the other children in the group.
The 100-year interval applies to Aang’s suspended-animation history. It should not be added to Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Azula, Mai, or Ty Lee: they were born into the world after Aang vanished.
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Do the characters get older during the series?
The story unfolds over a relatively short period, but the show does not provide a complete set of birthdays or a canonical age-by-age ledger for every character. Some online lists assign everyone a precise later age by assuming that a year has passed; unless a particular age is directly stated, that is an inference rather than a confirmed figure. The safest comparison is to use the known ages at the beginning and label uncertain later ages as estimates.
In short: Aang is 12 physically (112 chronologically), Katara 14, Sokka 15, Toph 12, Zuko 16, Azula 14, and Yue 16. Mai, Ty Lee, Iroh, Appa, and Momo do not have firmly established exact ages in the original animated series.
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