Romeo is generally portrayed as being about 16 years old in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This age is supported by various sources including Britannica and SparkNotes, which describe him as a young man of about sixteen, handsome, intelligent, and sensitive
. While Shakespeare does not explicitly state Romeo's exact age in the play, the consensus among scholars and adaptations places him in his mid to late teens, often around 16 or 17 years old
. This aligns with Juliet's age, who is explicitly stated to be 13, almost 14 years old
. The age difference is notable because Juliet is quite young, and Romeo's age reflects a typical teenage youth, emphasizing their youthful impulsiveness and immaturity, which are central themes in the play
. Some interpretations suggest Romeo might be slightly older than Juliet but still very young, reinforcing the tragic nature of their story
. In summary, Romeo is about 16 years old in Romeo and Juliet , while Juliet is 13, nearly 14
