If you did not know Ranma's age how old would you say he is?

[antimatterenergy]

I was browsing the manga earlier today while looking for a specific page and thought to myself that if I did not already know Ranma's age I'd have guessed by actions that Ranma was in junior high and not highschool and would probably have said that he was 14.
So if you did not know Ranma's age how old would you say he was?

[Nekomata-sensei]

Yes, the Ranma as a prodigy genius who skipped grades and learns martial arts moves super fast theory actually works out quite well for several reasons. First, it explains the common reaction of jealousy towards Ranma, after all, who can understand someone two or more years younger than them being stronger and smarter than them.
It helps explain some of Ranma's debatable ignorance a bit better.
Timeline wise, Ukyo seemed older and more mature in the flashbacks with the two of them, Ranma left Ryoga's Jr. High school for China, and in the flashbacks seems to be about 12 or 13, and it seems unlikely they were in China for very long, otherwise they'd have learned Chinese, or at least more Chinese, even if it's just through exposure. Kasumi's comments about Ranma's youth, Ranma's often childish attitude is better explained if he's a couple years yonger than Akane, how he keeps up in school at all when he's so lazy about schoolwork and has such a chaotic lifestyle, and so on.
Just because he's a genius doesn't mean he has good social skills and is well educated though, because of his focus on martial arts and skills appropriate to a traveling martial artist.
Thus, I agree with your theory that Ranma is about 14 years old. He could have easily gotten into Furinkan with how low it's standards seem to be, and the fathers would have wanted him in Akane's class rather than a Jr. High Student if possible. As far as I know, Ranma's age in the series is never explicitly stated. It would be humorous for someone to point out in a fanfiction taking place after the failed wedding that Ranma isn't old enough to get married legally anyway!

[antimatterenergy]

It is said in the manga at least once that Ranma is 16 or at least thinks he is since he wants to get the 16 cm mushroom during the mushrooms of aging storyline. But it is possible that Ranma doesn't know when exactly he was born and just for some reason thinks that he is 16. If for no other reason it could be because when he went to school he just assumed that he was the same age as everyone else and Genma never bothered to correct him and Nodoka doesn't know that he doesn't know how old he is.
Of course that means when he got the 16 cm mushroom he lost two years of his life unless Genma somehow switched the mushrooms or Akane knew he was 14 and cooked him a 14 inch one. Which now that I think about it is possible because that does seem to be a thing Genma might do and Nodoka is going along with it so that Ranma marries younger.
The anime out right states that he is 16 I think.

[Zwzn]

Yes, the Ranma as a prodigy genius who skipped grades and learns martial arts moves super fast theory actually works out quite well for several reasons. First, it explains the common reaction of jealousy towards Ranma, after all, who can understand someone two or more years younger than them being stronger and smarter than them.
It helps explain some of Ranma's debatable ignorance a bit better.
Timeline wise, Ukyo seemed older and more mature in the flashbacks with the two of them, Ranma left Ryoga's Jr. High school for China, and in the flashbacks seems to be about 12 or 13, and it seems unlikely they were in China for very long, otherwise they'd have learned Chinese, or at least more Chinese, even if it's just through exposure. Kasumi's comments about Ranma's youth, Ranma's often childish attitude is better explained if he's a couple years yonger than Akane, how he keeps up in school at all when he's so lazy about schoolwork and has such a chaotic lifestyle, and so on.
Just because he's a genius doesn't mean he has good social skills and is well educated though, because of his focus on martial arts and skills appropriate to a traveling martial artist.
Thus, I agree with your theory that Ranma is about 14 years old. He could have easily gotten into Furinkan with how low it's standards seem to be, and the fathers would have wanted him in Akane's class rather than a Jr. High Student if possible. As far as I know, Ranma's age in the series is never explicitly stated. It would be humorous for someone to point out in a fanfiction taking place after the failed wedding that Ranma isn't old enough to get married legally anyway!

I was thinking something similar the last time I was looking at the flash back of Genma signing the plege so he could take Ranma on the training trip. I can't remember Ranma walking in those scenes, and he seems on the small side. During the manga Ranma is some what small when compared to his mother and father.

[DCG]

Ranma's 16-17.

[Lioconvoy]

I'm not sure where you're getting the 17 from, there really isn't any evidence to support even a year had past since Ranma arrived. One could argue the changing of the season, but in Manga they go with whatever season they're being writen in.
So if the fourteen year old theory were true, does that mean he was four when he met Ukyo? It did take her ten years to catch up.

[antimatterenergy]

This topic is not asking what age Ranma is. (we know he is 16) The question is based on behavior and if you did not know he was 16 how old would you say he is.

[Zwzn]

This topic is not asking what age Ranma is. (we know he is 16) The question is based on behavior and if you did not know he was 16 how old would you say he is.

How do we know he is 16?
Genma will say or do just about anything if the pay off is big enough. A Dojo is a pretty nice pay off if you ask me.
Ranma is the only other source that I can think of, and his memory of his past is not that good. He didn't even remember his mom, he didn't know if she was dead or alive, or if he even had a mother to begin with. He also seemingly had a hard time remembering Ukyo and Ryoga. Both of whom he seemed to have spent a lot of time with. He had left Ryoga maybe about year ago when the manga started it seemed to me.
Ranma's grade during the manga also does not tell us his age. There really doesn't seem to be any way Genma could have enrolled Ranma in the high school. So, Ranma might just go there, sit in class, and do the work, but not be enrolled there. It basicly seems that Genma just said go to school with Akane.
Now that I am thinking about this, we don't have enough reliable information to tell us how old Ranma actually is. You run into the same problems when trying to figure out how old Hotaru/Sailor Saturn is in both the Sailor Moon anime and manga

[antimatterenergy]

Actually Ranma's memory is pretty good when he really tries to remember since he did remember the way to ryoga's house, events that happened when he was six with ukyo (remembered destroying the sauce and betting the dojo to the gambling king.), was easily able to remember times genma stole his food even though it was years ago. Him not remembering his mom is understandable since he left her at a time before he could walk if the flashbacks are to be believed and Genma always avoided the subject if the comment Nabiki made at the tendo mom's grave site is to be believed. (I don't know about you but I can't remember things that happened when I was a toddler.) His needing a little time to remember Ryoga and Ukyo is also understandable since he hadn't seen Ukyo for over 10 years and she did grow up (I don't remember that many specific incidents that happened 10 years ago either.). As for Ryoga Ranma did remember him after he thought about it for awhile and to be fair Ranma probably pissed off alot of people like he did Ryoga. (remembered all the types of bread at lunch and getting them before Ryoga did.)
But I will concede that it is possible that Ranma is not 16 and only believes himself to be 16.

[bissek]

In terms of maturity, I'd say that most of the people in Nerima, Ranma included, are at an emotional age of 14 or less, probably less. There are a lot of 14 year olds in other animes far more mature and responsible than the NWC.

[Cyber_Skaarj]

In terms of physical appearance, Ranma looks too old to be 14. No way any 14 year old has a body that looks that mature.

[Atlan]

Thats not quite true. Once, when I was 16, I met my best friends brother. His older one, who towered over me. I guessed him to be at about 18 ish.
Later on i found out he was my friends YOUNGER brother, and had only just turned 14!
But getting back on topic, he does act 14 in the manga, dosent he? Infact, I bet the only reason they were written as being age 16 was because it wouldnt be as wrong as forcing 14 year olds to marry each other.

[Togashi Gaijin]

Infact, I bet the only reason they were written as being age 16 was because it wouldnt be as wrong as forcing 14 year olds to marry each other.

You'd lose.
Atlan, this is Japan you're referring to. A place in which - up until the fall of 1994, which was near the end of the manga publishing - the legal age of marriage (with parental consent) was 16 for boys and 13 for girls. A place in which a certain percentage of thirty-plus year-old women dress up in school fuku and Hello Kitty gear because it's considered "kawaii". A place in which a noticable number of late jr high and high school girls today turn "tricks" to fund their shopping habits and think nothing of it. A place in which "sexual harassment" is damned difficult to prosecute, let alone be acknowledged publicly.
Saying that relations with a fourteen year old would be "unacceptable" at the time either Ranma or Sailor moon was published in Japan is viewing the culture with a set of American/European blinders on and takes no account of the actual cultural values in question. Sorry for being a bit harsh here, but you simply cannot view Japanese society with Western social values, even today, and far too many American & European anime fans try to do exactly that.
-Togashi Gaijin-

[Atlan]

Well, I stand corrected. (Actually, I slouch in a chair corrected, but it amounts to the same thing.)
Gaijin, i've noticed that you know a blatently ridickulus amount about japanese culture. Are you japanese? (Dont awnser if you dont wanna, i'm just nosey)
Thinking about Ranma as a manga, EVERYONE acts 14. Ranma, Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, Ryoga, Mousse, Happosai, Cologne, Genma, Soun. Knuo: brother, sister, and father.
About the only people who dont are Pantyhose and Kusami and Tofu.

[Nekomata-sensei]

It is said in the manga at least once that Ranma is 16 or at least thinks he is since he wants to get the 16 cm mushroom during the mushrooms of aging storyline. But it is possible that Ranma doesn't know when exactly he was born and just for some reason thinks that he is 16. If for no other reason it could be because when he went to school he just assumed that he was the same age as everyone else and Genma never bothered to correct him and Nodoka doesn't know that he doesn't know how old he is.
Of course that means when he got the 16 cm mushroom he lost two years of his life unless Genma somehow switched the mushrooms or Akane knew he was 14 and cooked him a 14 inch one. Which now that I think about it is possible because that does seem to be a thing Genma might do and Nodoka is going along with it so that Ranma marries younger.
The anime out right states that he is 16 I think.

I just wanted to derail some arguments by quoting that post. It makes for some interesting fanfiction possibilities. And like Atlan, I've seen a similar situation with a friend's younger brother looking much older than he really was. (I think the guy was 16 and I had believed him to be in his 20s based on appearance and initial guaging of his behavior)
Although it's hard to judge the characters sizes in the manga, Ranma, to me at least, seemed to get miraculously bigger after the mushroom arc. Which supports the theory of the 16 inch mushroom making him older. Ranma's body warps around so much he might not have noticed.
But yeah, the aging mushrooms are a wonderful plot device, they're one of the things that make the Ranma 1/2 universe so easy to write fanfiction crossovers for.