Shakira age. She was born on February 2nd 1977, meaning she is currently 49 years old (November 2026). She will turn 50 on the 2nd February 2027.
While this provides a straightforward answer to the question, it does become more interesting when we look at the figures in context. Having written songs as a child, signed her first record deal as a young teenager and performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on her 43rd Birthday. This article will provide information on her age, where she is from, her heritage, and how she has built up a career spanning over 3 decades.
How Old Is Shakira Right Now?
Shakira’s real name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (Born 2nd Feb 1977). Her age is:
- 49 Years Old Between 2nd Feb 2026 until 1st Feb 2027.
- 50 Years Old On 2nd Feb 2027.
Her birthday is under the zodiac sign Aquarius.
The age of people online can often be outdated. Many pages will have her age from a couple of years ago. However, if you ever need to check how old she really is, take away 1977 from the current year and take away another one if her birthday hasn’t occurred yet.
Where Was Shakira Born?
Shakira was born in Barranquilla (Colombia)
Why is Barranquilla important? Well, it’s a port city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, which answers 2 of the most common questions for those searching for Shakira.
Barranquilla is famous for holding the Carnival, one of the biggest festivals in Latin America. It also has a rich musical heritage with cumbia, vallenato, and Afro-Caribbean music. This has influenced Shakira throughout her career. You can see influences of this through the drum beats and hip movements used in her performances.
Shakira’s Nationality
She is Colombian. She was born, raised, started her career, and has played for Colombia throughout her career. However, she has spent significant amounts of time living overseas, firstly in the USA, then Spain. She moved back to the USA in 2023, to Miami. This does not change her nationality.
Her connection with Colombia can also be seen through her extra musical achievements. In 1997, she created the Pies Descalzos Foundation (Barefoot Foundation), focusing on providing education for children in vulnerable communities in Colombia. The foundation has been an important part of her persona for almost as long as she has been famous.
What Ethnicity Is Shakira?
This can’t be answered with just one word. Nationality refers to a country you’re a citizen of. Whereas ethnicity refers to your heritage and culture.
Shakira is Colombian by nationality. But her family background is mixed.
- Shakira’s father, William Mebarak Chadid, was born to a family with Lebanese heritage in New York City. However, he moved to Colombia and worked as a jeweller and writer. This is where her Arab heritage comes from.
- Shakira’s mother, Nidia Ripoll Torrado, is Colombian, with her family said to have come from Spain.
If someone were to ask what ethnicity Shakira is, the most accurate answer would be to say she is a Colombian with Lebanese and Spanish (Colombian) heritage. She has an Arabic first ,,name which is commonly translated as ‘thankful’ or ‘a woman of grace’.
Throughout the ,years, she has spoken about her mixed heritage in interviews. This can be seen through her work,, as her belly dancing influences became a trademark of her shows. Often this is attributed to her Lebanese heritage. Some sources of her biography give more information on her heritage. If you need specific family tree details,,, then make sure to cross-reference with a reliable biography or interview source.
Shakira Biography: The Early Years
Shakira was the youngest child of her parents and grew up in an environment where music, boo,ks,, and performance were highly prized. Some key points about her early life include:
- Her first ever song “Tus gafas oscuras” (Your Dark Glasses) was written when she was around 8 years old.
- She used to perform music at school shows and local competitions.
- When she was around 13 years ol,,d, she signed to Sony Music Colombia.
Her first album, Magia was released when she was 14 and contained songs she had written between around aged 8-13. Her second al,bum,, Peligr,o,, was released just 2 years later in 1993. These albums didn’t become massive hit,s, but, notably, she was so young. Although Shakira wasn’t made famous by her early albums, they gave her years of experience in a studio and on stage.
Shakira Relationship Status
Shakira has never been married. She and Gerard Pique were together for over a decade, but never got married. The same goes for her previous long-term relationship with Antonio de la Rua. So it is incorrect to say that she is married or was married to someone in the headline. Pique and Shakira are raising their two sons together, but have separate lives. She said lovely things about him in May 2026 before her World Cup ga,,me, and reports say that their relationship has improved.
The Breakthrough Years in Latin America
The turning point came in the mid-90s with her debut album Pies Descalzos. Her album was released when she was only 18 years old and was her first major success throughout Latin America. This album gave an insight into what the artist was going to be known for: writing her own songs, having a rock sound, and having authentic lyrics.
Her next album, Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998) made her a top star within the Spanish-speaking world. She also gained her reputation as a serious musician by recording an MTV Unplugged album in 2000.
Therefore, by her early 20s, she was already one of the biggest names in Latin music, contrary to many people’s knowledge based on English media, where she seems to burst onto the scene in 2001.
Crossing Over: The English-Language Era
Her first English-language album Laundry Service (2001) released when she was 24 years old. The leading single “Whenever helped introduce her to the world. As she already had an existing career, she had to work hard to learn English well enough to write songs in it; “I worked at it,” she stated.
Key moments after that include:
| Year | Her age | Milestone |
| 1991 | 14 | Releases first album, Magia |
| 1995 | 18 | Pies Descalzos becomes a major Latin American success |
| 2001 | 24 | Laundry Service launches her English-language career |
| 2006 | 29 | “Hips Don’t Lie” reaches number one in the U.S. |
| 2010 | 33 | “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” becomes the World Cup anthem |
| 2020 | 43 | Performs at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show |
| 2024 | 47 | Releases Las mujeres ya no lloran |
“Hips Don’t Lie,” from 2006, is often the song people associate most with her. It topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and helped cement her as a mainstream international artist. “Waka Waka” later became one of the most recognizable football tournament songs ever recorded.
Shakira’s Age and Longevity: Why It Stands Out
From looking at the table above, we can see that Shakira hasn’t had a one-hit wonder. She has had several relevant moments throughout her career, in her teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and late 40s.
For example:
- She performed the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show alongside Jennifer Lopez. This was also her 43rd birthday. This proves that even in her 40s, she still has a strong appeal to perform on stage.
- Her resurgence in 2023 and 2024. After having a high-profile time in her personal life, she released music that really resonated with her audience; this included a collab with Argentinian producer Bizarrap in 2023 and an album called ‘Las mujeres ya no lloran’ in 2024. This proves she can remain relevant while staying true to herself.
She has also won many awards, including multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was awarded the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 2023. The number of awards she has will vary depending on how many she wins, so it would be best to look up an official source like the Recording Academy website.
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Family and Personal Life
Shakira has 2 beautiful sons, Milan (2013) and Sasha (2015), from her relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. The couple were together from around 2011 until 2022. When they split, she moved to Miami with her boys in 2023.
She has spoken publicly about how this has affected her, and there are some references in her recent songs. However, her personal life makes up a smaller part of her story. It is best to stick to what she has said herself or what has been confirmed by the media.
Final Thought
It would be easy to tell you that shakira age is 49 years old, as she was born on February 2nd 1977. She turned 50 in February 2027. What makes her age such an interesting statistic is that she wrote songs as a child. Then recorded music as a teenager. Then went on to make her breakthrough in Latin America in her late teens. She then made the jump to English at age 24. Yet she is still headlining massive stages in her late 40s.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How old was Shakira when she became famous?
Depending on what you mean by famous! She started recording music as a teen, around 18 when she hit it big in Latin America and 24 when she started her English career.
What country is Shakira from? Is she Spanish or Colombian?
Shakira is Colombian. Sometimes people get confused because her partner is from another country and she has spent many years living in Spain. However, she was born in Colombia, so she is a Colombian national.
Is Shakira an Arab?
Shakira is of Lebanese descent due to her father; however, she is a Colombian national. Descent and Nationality are two different things, so it is correct to say that she is a Colombian with Lebanese descent.
Which language does Shakira sing in?
Shakira sings in Spanish and English. She has also sung songs in other languages such as Portuguese and Italian.
When will Shakira’s next birthday be?
February 2nd 2027 (she will be 50).
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