Summary

• Yoda, the Jedi Grandmaster of centuries, keeps many secrets about his true age and early training.
• Despite mysteries about his history, Yoda was born 896 BBY and ed the Jedi Temple around 893 BBY.
• The saga sees Yoda from 500 BBY as young as 396, to his death at 900 and a later ghost appearance.

Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, High Republic Era.

There are still many mysteries about Grandmaster Yoda; even the name of his species has yet to be revealed, and vast parts of his timeline remain shrouded in secrecy. But that just means there's ever more excitement to learn more about the being who shaped the Jedi for centuries. Here's how old Yoda was in every Star Wars movie, as well as in The Acolyte, the prequel to the prequels.

When Did Yoda Become A Jedi?

According to the official Star Wars Timelines reference guide, Yoda was born in the year 896 BBY (BBY standing for Before the Battle of Yavin as seen in A New Hope). The book also confirms that Yoda began training Jedi 100 years later in 796 BBY. As such, the future Grandmaster of the Jedi Order must have been initiated into the Jedi Order before this period.

Assuming the Jedi Order's traditional practices were in effect when it came to bringing Force-sensitive children to the Jedi Temple for training, it can be estimated that Yoda came to the Jedi Temple between the ages of 1-3 but before the age of 6. This means Yoda was likely brought to the Temple around the year 893 BBY. While it's unknown when exactly Yoda achieved the rare rank of Jedi Grandmaster, it was a title he shared with Xo Lahru, Pra-Tre Veter, and Jedi Master Ry Ki-Sakka as early as 232 BBY during the High Republic Era.

How Old Is Yoda In Star Wars: The High Republic?

The High Republic Era - the Golden Age of the Jedi, when their light shone brightly across the entire galaxy - ran from 500 BBY to roughly 100 BBY. Yoda was 396 at the start of this new age of peace and prosperity, when the relationship between the Republic and Jedi Order couldn't have been better. Lucasfilm Publishing's Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative leaps around the timeline a little, though, meaning Yoda has been seen at different ages.

How Old Is Yoda In The Acolyte?

It's currently unknown whether Yoda will appear in The Acolyte, the prequel to Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. This is set a century before the events of the Skywalker saga, meaning Yoda should still be heavily involved with the Jedi Council at this time. Yoda would be 764 years old in The Acolyte.

Yoda Is 864 Years Old In The Phantom Menace

The events of The Phantom Menace take place in the year 32 BBY, meaning the death of Qui-Gon Jinn and the Battle of Naboo take place when Yoda was 864, as well as Anakin Skywalker becoming Obi-Wan Kenobi's Padawan. 10 years later, the Clone Wars officially began and the Jedi became generals and commanders of the Republic's new clone army when Yoda was 874. Tragically, the end of the Clone Wars and the Jedi Purge brought on by Order 66 occurs in 19 BBY when Yoda is around 877, as seen in Revenge of the Sith.

Yoda began his exile on Dagobah when he was 877, with Obi-Wan Kenobi becoming a hermit on Naboo and watching over Luke Skywalker. Luke's Jedi path would not begin until he was 19 years old, with the Empire ruling the galaxy for almost two decades. Yoda would sometimes use the Force vergence on Dagobah to mentor young Jedi at a long distance, as seen in Star Wars Rebels.

Yoda Is 896 Years Old When The Original Trilogy Begins

In 0 BYY, Yoda is 896 years old during the events of the Battle of Yavin and the Death Star's destruction. However, his role in the original trilogy of Star Wars films wouldn't truly begin until 3 ABY when he was 899. This was the year in which Luke came to Dagobah, following the guidance of Obi-Wan Kenobi's Force ghost just prior to the Battle of Hoth as seen in Empire Strikes Back.

Finding Yoda, Luke's official Jedi training began under the Grandmaster's teaching and instruction, learning the ways of the Force while also facing his inner darkness in the vergence known as the Cave of Evil. However, Luke would eventually leave to go save his friends who'd been captured by Darth Vader on Cloud City. Continuing his Jedi training alone in the year that followed using Jedi texts and more relics he'd discovered, Luke would eventually return to Yoda in the year 4 ABY as seen in Return of the Jedi.

Yoda Is 900 Years Old When He Dies In Return Of The Jedi

Luke returned to Dagobah in the year 4 ABY when Yoda was 900 years old. This was the year in which Yoda died, having lived only 100 years short of a full millennium. However, he also revealed that Luke was not the only child of Anakin Skywalker with his last breath, a truth Obi-Wan's Force ghost later confirmed with the reveal that Leia was Luke's sister.

Despite his death, Yoda had learned how to retain his identity despite becoming one with the Force, something he learned from Qui-Gon's spirit during the Clone Wars and had subsequently taught to Obi-Wan. As such, Yoda's Force ghost is seen alongside both Obi-Wan and Anakin's Force ghosts at the end of Return of the Jedi following the second Death Star's destruction, Emperor Palpatine's initial demise, and Darth Vader's redemption as Anakin Skywalker.

Yoda's Last Jedi Appearance Was 30 Years After His Death

Although Yoda became one with the Force at the end of the original trilogy of Star Wars films, the diminutive Jedi Master does make a posthumous appearance as a Force ghost in the sequel trilogy's The Last Jedi, providing Luke Skywalker with a final lesson about the past, failure, and what it truly means to be both a Jedi master and teacher. This reunion takes place 30 years after Yoda's death in the year 34 ABY. Had he been alive, Yoda would have been 934 years old according to the Star Wars canon.