Use PROC FCMP to create a user defined function to calculate a person's age. User defined functions created by PROC FCMP can be used in the DATA Step beginning in SAS 9.2.

Additional Documentation

For more information on PROC FCMP click on the link below to go to a 2007 SAS Global Forum paper about the procedure.

User-Written DATA Step Functions


Click on the link below to go to the SAS 9.2 documentation about PROC FCMP

SAS 9.2 PROC FCMP Documentation

Link to another note about calculating age.

Sample 24567: Calculate a person's age




          These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute
          Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including
          but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
          particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall
          not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material.
          In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.
        

---

/* Use the INTCK function to count the number of months between       */
/* the date of birth and the current date.  Divide the number of      */
/* months by 12 to produce the number of years.  Use the MONTH        */
/* function to determine if the month of the birthday and the current */
/* date are the same.  If they are, determine if the birthday has     */
/* occurred this year.  If it hasn't, adjust the age by subtracting   */
/* one year.                                                          */


proc fcmp outlib=work.functions.samples;
function sas_age(Birthday,Current);
   age=int(intck('month',birthday,current)/12);
   if month(birthday)=month(current) then 
      age = age-(day(birthday)>day(current));
   return(age);
endsub; 
run;


options cmplib=work.functions;

data birth;
  input name $ bday :mmddyy10.;
datalines;
Miguel      12/31/1973
Joe         02/28/1976
Rutger      03/29/1976
Broguen     03/01/1976
Susan       12/12/1976
Michael     02/14/1971
LeCe        11/09/1967
Hans        07/02/1955
Lou         07/30/1960
;
run;
                                                          


data ages;
  set birth;
  retain current;
  if _n_=1 then current=today();
  format bday current worddate20.;
  actualage=sas_age(bday,current);
run;

---

These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

Obs    name                       bday                 current    actualage

 1     Miguel        December 31, 1973          August 7, 2009        35
 2     Joe           February 28, 1976          August 7, 2009        33
 3     Rutger           March 29, 1976          August 7, 2009        33
 4     Broguen           March 1, 1976          August 7, 2009        33
 5     Susan         December 12, 1976          August 7, 2009        32
 6     Michael       February 14, 1971          August 7, 2009        38
 7     LeCe           November 9, 1967          August 7, 2009        41
 8     Hans               July 2, 1955          August 7, 2009        54
 9     Lou               July 30, 1960          August 7, 2009        49

Use PROC FCMP to create a user defined function to calculate a person's age. User defined functions created by PROC FCMP can be used in the DATA Step beginning in SAS 9.2.

Type:	Sample
Topic:	SAS Reference ==> Procedures ==> FCMP

Date Modified:	2009-08-25 13:36:54
Date Created:	2009-08-07 15:36:39

Operating System and Release Information

Product Family	Product	Host	SAS Release
			Starting	Ending
SAS System	Base SAS	z/OS	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft® Windows® for 64-Bit Itanium-based Systems	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter 64-bit Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 64-bit Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft® Windows® for x64	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows XP Professional	9.2 TS1M0
		Windows Vista	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled AIX	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled HP-UX	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled Solaris	9.2 TS1M0
		HP-UX IPF	9.2 TS1M0
		Linux	9.2 TS1M0
		Linux for x64	9.2 TS1M0
		OpenVMS on HP Integrity	9.2 TS1M0
		Solaris for x64	9.2 TS1M0