How Old Is Goku in Each Dragon Ball Series/Arc

This question about Goku’s age has been circulating among Dragon Balls fans for quite a while now. Well, the whole anime keeps on wondering about the same question.

Because why not?

Goku has hardly aged since the ending of Dragon Ball Z, whereas everyone else got married and had kids, who have grown old enough to have their kids, but our man Goku is still in his prime.

While everyone is researching Goku’s age, I am busy looking for the anti-aging cream Goku uses to look so young. 

Jokes aside, I have made this article with a detailed timeline that mentions Goku’s age from the very beginning of the Dragon Ball till the latest anime adaptation of Dragon Ball Super, and hey, Dragon Ball GT is also a part of this timeline. 

So, let’s go through Goku’s journey in all of Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball (1986-1989)

Goku’s Age: (11-18) years old

The first-ever Dragon Ball series has nine arcs with a total of 153 episodes. This series shows the growth of Son Goku from an 11-year-old naive boy to an 18-year-old winner of the World Martial Arts Tournament who ends up marrying Chi-Chi at the end of the series. 

#1 Emperor Pilaf Saga

Release Date: February 26, 1986
Goku’s Age: 11 years old

Emperor Pilaf Saga is the first arc of the Dragon Ball universe. In this arc, a curious Bulma comes across a naive Son Goku, who’s quite strong for his age. 

Bulma joins Goku on her journey to find the Dragon Balls, which have other pursuers. This is when Goku meets Master Roshi and encounters the first villain of this ever-growing universe, Pilaf, and his followers. 

#2 Tournament Saga

Release Date: May 28, 1986
Goku’s Age: 12 years old

The 21st World Martial Arts Tournament is where the strongest fighters in the world will participate. 

Goku and Krillin train with Master Roshi at the Kame house for the upcoming tournament. After a year and a half of grueling training, they participate in the Martial Arts Tournament, where Goku loses to Jackie Chun in the finals. In reality, Jackie Chun is Master Roshi in disguise. 

#3 Red Ribbon Army Saga

Release Date: September 10, 1986
Goku’s Age: 12 years old

During his break from training, Goku goes on an adventure to find the four-star Dragon Ball. 

Unknown to him was that a criminal organization named Red Ribbon Army is also searching for the Dragon Balls, and not for any noble cause. In this arc, Goku will encounter an android for the first time.

Note: The Red Ribbon Army is making a comeback with their two new android models in the upcoming movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, which will release in Japan on April 22, 2022, and in North America on June 11, 2022. 

#4 General Blue Saga

Release Date: January 14, 1987
Goku’s Age: 12 years old

After several officers of the Red Ribbon Army got defeated by Goku, General Blue has been given the task of finding the Dragon Balls. 

Meanwhile, Krillin and Bulma join Goku to track down the Four-Star Dragon Ball. After facing General Blue in an underwater Cave, Goku decides to go to Master Roshi. But he is unaware that General Blue is following him to that very island. 

#5 Commander Red Saga

Release Date: April 15, 1987
Goku’s Age: 12 years old

As the last resort to get his hands on the Dragon Balls, Commander Red, the main antagonist of the Red Ribbon Army, hires Mercenary Tao to bring back the dragon balls from Upa’s father in the Sacred Land of Korin. 

Tao assassinated Upa’s father in front of Goku. He knocked out Goku, but Son Goku climbs the Korin tower to attain more strength to defeat Tao and finally put an end to the Red Ribbon Army. 

#6 Fortuneteller Baba Saga

Release Date: July 8, 1987
Goku’s Age: 12 years old

The dragon balls are needed to revive Upa’s father, but Goku cannot track them down. Goku goes to Master Roshi for advice, who suggests they visit the Fortuneteller Baba. 

Goku and his friends meet the Baba, who asks them to defeat his five fighters before revealing the location. 

Later in the arc, Goku defeats them and resurrects Upa’s father. Following this, he begins his new training for the next tournament. 

#7 Tien Shinhan Saga

Release Date: October 14, 1987 
Goku’s Age: 15 years old

After completing his training, Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha participate in the World Tournament. 

There they face Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu, who are the students of Master Shen, who is Master Roshi’s rival. 

Like the previous tournament, Master Roshi enters this tournament as Jackie Chun. Goku is unable to defeat Tien but becomes friends after this tournament. 

#8 King Piccolo Saga

Release Date: February 24, 1988
Goku’s Age: 15 years old

Following the tournament, Krillin is found dead. Master Roshi soon realizes that the Demon King Piccolo has returned once again to search for the dragon balls to become young. 

That will eventually lead to his ultimate plans of world domination. 

Goku climbs the Korin Tower and drinks the divine water to get stronger. In the end, Goku defeats him, but Piccolo spits out an egg with a reincarnated version of himself. 

#9 Piccolo Jr. Saga

Release Date: August 17, 1988
Goku’s Age: 18 years old

After his training at Kami’s Temple, Goku returns to participate in The 23rd World Martial Tournament. 

This time the objective is not to win but rather to defeat the reincarnation and save the planet. 

Though he manages to defeat Piccolo and win the tournament at the same time, Goku doesn’t kill Piccolo, instead gives him a Senzu bean. 

And, thus the last arc of the Dragon Ball series ends with the wedding of Goku and Chi-Chi. 

Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)

Goku’s Age: (23-37) years old

Dragon Ball Z has 19 arcs with a total of 291 episodes. In this series, Goku begins as a 23-year-old father and ends up as a 37 year old grandfather. 

The age after Cell Saga doesn’t change as he was in the afterlife until Old Kai gives his life energy to Goku and revives him after defeating Kid Buu. And after defeating Buu, a decade passed, and that’s when he aged after nearly two decades.

#1 Raditz Saga

Release Date: April 26, 1989
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

After 5 years of his marriage to Chi-Chi, Goku now has a 4 years old son, Gohan, who isn’t as adventurous as Goku. 

This arc takes the first step into the Saiyan legacy with the introduction of Raditz, who came to earth in search of Goku. Goku and Piccolo Jr. team up to fight them and save Gohan from their hands. 

#2 Vegeta Saga

Release Date: June 14, 1989
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

Both Raditz and Goku are dead. While Goku is training with King Kai in the afterlife, Master Roshi gathers the dragon balls to revive Goku. 

Meanwhile, two Saiyans Vegeta and Nappa arrive on earth to find the dragon balls. While Goku is brought back to the earth, the earth’s fighters try their best against the stronger Saiyan blood. 

#3 Namek Saga

Release Date: February 14, 1990
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin go to planet Namek to search for the dragon balls. Frieza, the evil incarnate, is also looking for the dragon balls in Namek. 

This arc not only introduces another key figure like Frieza, but it also gives us a hint about a potential power-up of our Saiyan protagonist Goku. 

#4 Captain Ginyu Saga

Release Date: November 21, 1990
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

Goku faces Frieza’s elite henchman, Captain Ginyu. While fighting, Ginyu swaps his body with Goku to get the upper hand in the battle. 

But not knowing how to use the power in Goku’s body just leads him to his doom. On the other hand, Vegeta is facing other subordinates of Frieza. 

#5 Frieza Saga

Release Date: January 23, 1991
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

A revived Piccolo with Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin, fights Frieza, who keeps on transforming to best all of them. 

It was not until Frieza killed Krillin that triggered power-up of Goku into a Super Saiyan. 

#6 Garlic Jr. Saga

Release Date: September 18, 1991
Goku’s Age: 23 years old

Garlic Jr. from the movie Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone returns once again for this filler arc. This time Garlic Jr. uses the black water mist to turn the whole planet into demons. 

Without Goku, Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan have to protect the earth from the stinky garlic. 

#7 Trunks Saga

Release Date: November 27, 1991
Goku’s Age: 24 years old

King Cold and Frieza land on earth with the hope of getting revenge. But their revenge was cut short when Trunks from the future came and wiped them out within a matter of seconds. 

The Future Trunks also warned Goku about the return of the Red Ribbon Army and Dr. Gero, who has developed killer androids. And their target is Goku. Once again. 

#8 Androids Saga

Release Date: February 5, 1992
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

After three years of preparation, Goku and his friends finally face Dr. Gero and his four androids, Android 16, 17, 18 & 19. 

Surprisingly Dr. Gero is revealed to be Android 20. Future Trunks returns to help them, while Krillin and Android 18 seem to have something blooming between them.  

#9 Imperfect Cell Saga

Release Date: May 20, 1992
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

In this arc, another formidable enemy appears through a time machine. Cell is an artificial being that absorbs other living organisms to evolve. 

Cell’s eyes are on the androids, especially Android 17 and Android 18. Amidst all the chaos, Goku and Gohan train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to become stronger.  

#10 Perfect Cell Saga

Release Date: August 19, 1992
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

Cell absorbs Android 17 and Android 18 to reach its perfect form. 

As Goku and Gohan are still training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta and Future Trunks have to face the perfect form of Cell. To do that, both of them turn into Super Saiyans. 

#11 Cell Games Saga

Release Date: November 25, 1992
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

To celebrate his perfect form, Cell holds a martial arts tournament. Both Goku and Gohan have attained the maximum potential of Super Saiyan. 

Gohan fights Cell and kicks Android 18 out of his body, literally. Following this, as Cell plans to destroy the earth, our beloved hero Goku sacrifices himself for his planet. 

A stubborn Cell survives, but an enraged Gohan properly wipes his, you know what. 

#12 Other World Saga

Release Date: July 28, 1993
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

This arc is another transitional filler arc that shows Goku taking part in a grand tournament held by the Grand Kai in the afterlife. 

In the tournament, Goku finds another formidable opponent in Pikkon. 

#13 Great Saiyaman Saga

Release Date: September 8, 1993
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

In this arc, the world of Dragon Ball Z changes drastically. Gohan is a high school student and a superhero named the Great Saiyaman. 

Gohan now has a younger brother named Goten. Krillin and Android 18 are married with a daughter. And, Goku can return to earth, but only for a day. 

#14 World Tournament Saga

Release Date: December 15, 1993
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

The World Tournament begins, and Goku can finally enter it with the one-day permission granted to him. 

Goten and Trunks enter the junior division. Another competitor is the Supreme Kai, who has an eye out for two suspicious competitors in the tournament.

#15 Babidi Saga

Release Date: March 9, 1994
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

Just like the Supreme Kai suspected, Babidi has set his foot on earth to release Majin Buu. 

Majin Buu is the pure evil created millions of years ago by his father Bibidi. Babidi turns Vegeta into Majin Vegeta to fight against Goku. 

#16 Majin Buu Saga

Release Date: July 6, 1994
Goku’s Age: 27 years old

This arc shows how an antagonist can be cute and evil at the same time. Majin Buu has been freed, and the one thing he loves is eating. So, he keeps on turning everyone into chocolate. 

Vegeta sacrifices himself, but Buu regenerates. Goten and Trunks learn the fusion dance from Goku, who levels up to Super Saiyan 3 to face the most formidable enemy ever. 

#17 Fusion Saga

Release Date: February 1, 1995
Goku’s Age: 27 years old 

Evil Buu appears and eats the Good (Cute) Buu. With Vegeta dead and Goku’s one-day permit ending soon, Gohan and a fused Gotenks fight Buu to no avail. 

Meanwhile, Old Kai decides to give up on his life to send Goku back to earth with an alive tag. 

Vegeta also gets a one-day permit to go back to earth. Goku and Vegeta fuse into Vegito and give Buu a hard time even after being turned into a candy. 

Note: As Goku was in the afterlife for the past few years, he didn’t age.

#18 Kid Buu Saga

Release Date: August 23, 1995
Goku’s Age: 27 years old 

Goku and Vegeta release Gohan and others from Super Buu’s body. Super Buu transforms into Kid Buu and destroys earth without hesitation. 

With their child and friends losing their lives, Goku, Vegeta, and Good Buu fight against Kid Buu. 

Goku generates a Spirit Bomb created by the entire revived human population and obliterates Kid Buu for good. 

#19 Peaceful World Saga

Release Date: January 10, 1996
Goku’s Age: 37 years old

This is the last arc of Dragon Ball Z which brings a ton of new beginnings. A decade has passed since Kid Buu’s defeat. Vegeta and Bulma have another daughter, Gohan, and Videl is married with a daughter named Pan. 

Dragon Ball Z ends with Goku meeting with the reincarnation of Buu, Uub in the 28th World Martial Arts Tournament. 

Seeing great potential in him, Goku bids farewell to his close ones and flies off with Buu to train him into the next protector of Earth. 

Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997)

Goku’s Age: (42-44) years old

Dragon Ball GT has 4 arcs with a total of 64 episodes. Referred to as “a grand side-story of the original Dragon Ball” by Akira Toriyama himself, Dragon Ball GT shows a 42-year-old Goku stuck in the body of his 11 years old self at the beginning. 

In the end, Goku decides to remain as a 44 years-old stuck in a 13-year-old body of himself. 

#1 Black Star Dragon Ball Saga

Release Date: February 7, 1996
Goku’s Age: 42 years old

Emperor Pilaf, Mai and Shu are back. In the events taking place five years after the completion of Dragon Ball Z, Goku and Uub finish their training. 

Pilaf searched for the Black Star Dragon Balls, which were hidden due to the danger they possessed. 

He summons the Red Dragon from those suspicious dragon balls and accidentally wishes Goku to be a child, and voila, his wish gets granted. 

#2 Baby Saga

Release Date: June 26, 1996
Goku’s Age: 42 years old

Goku meets Dr. Myuu’s greatest creation ever, Baby. In reality, Baby is the last survivor of the Tuffle race, which was completely wiped out by the Saiyans ages ago. 

To exact revenge, Baby wants to wipe out the remaining Saiyans, and Goku cannot let that happen. 

#3 Super 17 Saga

Release Date: March 12, 1997
Goku’s Age: 43 years old

Even in hell, Dr. Nero and Dr. Myuu can’t forget their forever enemy Goku. So they come up with a plan. Goku rushes to hell to stop the plan but gets trapped instead. 

The duo developed Super Android 17, Android 17 but a super one, and sent him to destroy the earth. 

#4 Shadow Dragon Saga

Release Date: June 11, 1997
Goku’s Age: 44 years old

Overusing Dragon Balls have led to the accumulation of negative energy. And thus, the Shadow Dragons are born. 

Goku feels responsible and goes to defeat those dragons and collect the dragon balls. Both Goku and Vegeta face the ultimate antagonist Omega Shenron who has absorbed all seven dragon balls.

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Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)

Goku’s Age: (44-47) years old

Dragon Ball Super anime has six arcs with a total of 131 episodes. The sequel arc is adapted into a movie, while two arcs are yet to get an anime adaptation.

In the arcs adapted into an anime, Goku starts as a 44-year-old enjoying his peaceful days and ends as a 47-year-old fighting another Saiyan (not Vegeta) who questions his strength built up to this day. 

Dragon Ball Super takes place seven years after the events of Dragon Ball Z. 

#1 God of Destruction Beerus Saga

Release Date: July 5, 2015
Goku’s Age: 44 years old

After waking up from a slumber of nearly four decades, The God of Destruction Beerus is looking for the Super Saiya God, whom he had a dreamed of. 

Eventually, Beerus ends up on the earth, and Goku has to save the earth from getting destroyed by him. A new form of Goku awaits. 

#2 Golden Frieza Saga

Release Date: November 8, 2015
Goku’s Age: 45 years old

Sorbet, a lifelong loyal subject of Frieza, resurrects him using the Dragon Balls. And what does Frieza have in his mind? 

Revenge against Goku. 

This time, Frieza trains for four months to fight Goku on equal grounds with his new form. 

#3 Universe 6 Saga

Release Date: January 24, 2016
Goku’s Age: 45 years old

The God of Destruction, Beerus, and Champa are twin brothers. 

Both of them are gods of Universe 7 and Universe 6, respectively. Over the conflict of Super Dragon Balls, both gods decide to hold a tournament where five fighters from each universe will participate. 

The grand prize is Universe 7’s Earth and the finger-licking food that comes with it. 

#4 Copy-Vegeta Saga

Release Date: May 22, 2016
Goku’s Age: 45 years old

The troublesome duo, Goten and Trunks, accidentally travel to the planet Potaufeu. After hearing that, Vegeta travels to that planet to find them. 

On his way, Vegeta encounters the Superhuman Water (Miracle Water) that can create near-perfect copies of anyone. Now, Vegeta stands face to face against his copy. 

#5 “Future” Trunks Saga

Release Date: June 12, 2016
Goku’s Age: 45 years old

When the future of humanity is on the brink of extinction, and even the Super Saiyan is not of any use, Future Trunks appears once again in front of Goku and Vegeta to help him fight against Black, an enemy who looks exactly like Goku but is absolute evil.

#6 Universe Survival Saga

Release Date: February 5, 2017
Goku’s Age: 46 years old

Grand Zeno, the ruler of all multiverses, decides to hold a tournament after enjoying the tournament between Universe 6 and Universe 7. 

The Tournament of Power will have all universes participate in it with ten fighters each, and once all players of a universe lose, it will get erased by Zeno. 

Meanwhile, Goku is excited to fight the strong competitors of the different universes. 

#7 Broly Saga

Release Date: December 14, 2018
Goku’s Age: 47 years old

The Broly Saga got skipped in the manga except for a panel mentioning Frieza causing the conflict in Dragon Ball Super Chapter 42: Page 33. 

However, an anime film titled Dragon Ball Super: Broly was released months after the end of Dragon Ball Super anime. 

The film introduced Broly, the most destructive Saiyan among the current ones. Goku and Vegeta have to fight him with all their might to overpower the beast.

Dragon Ball Super Manga

The two arcs named Galactic Patrol Prisoner and Granolah the Survivor have yet to get an anime adaptation. 

Though the age of Goku in these arcs is not mentioned (as always), all I can say is Goku is in his late 40s. 

#1 Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga

In this arc, Goku and Vegeta join the Galactic Patrol to capture Moro, a prisoner who escaped from his prison after ten million years. 

Moro wants to collect the dragon balls and follow his sinister plans. 

#2 Granolah the Survivor Saga

In this arc, a bounty hunter named Granolah seeks revenge against Frieza for wiping out his race. 

Granolah is looking for the dragon balls to become the strongest warrior to do that. The currently publishing arc of the Dragon Ball Super is still ongoing, and Bardock reappears in the past of Granolah. 

Conclusion

What Goku has been through all this time is extraordinary. From his arrival on the earth as a child to growing up as an 11-year-old monkey, Goku has now become the protector of the earth in his late 40s. His growth throughout each arc has been nothing short of incredible.  

With concepts like Dragon Balls, Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and Afterlife being a place of training for Goku, it is hard to say his exact age without consulting directly with Akira Toriyama. 

But as we all know, some secrets are better left unsolved. 

As I conclude my article here, I hope you have a clear idea about Goku’s current age. And the fact is that he isn’t dying anytime soon, at least not from aging. 

That’s all for today folks. See you again with another interesting topic. In the meanwhile, Visit averagebeing.com to read more awesome anime content.