Why Certain Numbers Are Considered Lucky or Unlucky Around the World

  Numbers are everywhere in our lives, but some carry meanings far beyond mathematics. Across cultures, people have long believed certain numbers bring luck, fortune, or misfortune. Let’s explore the history, psychology, and traditions behind a few of the most famous numbers.

7 – The Lucky Number in Many Cultures

Seven is considered lucky in Western cultures. From the seven days of creation in the Bible to the seven wonders of the ancient world, the number has long been associated with perfection and completeness. Psychologically, the number 7 also feels “balanced” and is easy to remember, which may explain why it frequently appears in traditions and games.

13 – The Notorious Unlucky Number

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of 13, common in Western societies. Some historians trace this back to the Last Supper, where Judas was the 13th guest, betraying Jesus. Many hotels skip the 13th floor, and Friday the 13th is considered particularly unlucky. Interestingly, in some cultures, 13 is actually lucky, showing how meaning varies across the globe.

8 – Luck and Prosperity in Asia

In Chinese culture, 8 is extremely lucky because it sounds like the word for wealth or prosperity (ba sounds like fa). Businesses, addresses, and phone numbers with the number 8 are highly sought after. The Beijing Olympics, for example, famously started at 8:08:08 on 08/08/2008.

4 – The Number to Avoid in Some Cultures

In East Asia, 4 is often avoided because it sounds like the word for death in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Hospitals and elevators may skip the 4th floor, and license plates or phone numbers avoid it. This fear, called tetraphobia, shows how phonetics can influence superstition.

Other Notable Numbers

• 3: Considered lucky in many cultures because of balance (past, present, future; birth, life, death).

• 9: In Norse mythology, 9 is sacred, while in some Asian cultures, it’s avoided because it sounds like “suffering.”

• 666: Famous in Western culture as the “number of the beast,” often linked with superstition and fear.

Numbers, while mathematical, carry cultural and psychological weight. What one culture sees as unlucky, another may treasure as a symbol of prosperity. These beliefs show the fascinating ways humans assign meaning to abstract concepts and how history, language, and psychology intertwine.