Issue with converting a pandas column from int64 to datetime64

Question

I’m trying to convert a column of Year values from int64 to datetime64 in pandas. The column currently looks like

However the data type listed when I use dataset['Year'].dtypes is int64.

That’s after I used pd.to_datetime(dataset.Year, format='%Y') to convert the column from int64 to datetime64. How do I get around this?

Asked By: EcoHealthGuy

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Source

Answer 1

You should be able to convert from an integer:

df = pd.DataFrame({'Year': [2003, 2022]})

df['datetime'] = pd.to_datetime(df['Year'], format='%Y')

print(df)

Output:

   Year   datetime
0  2003 2003-01-01
1  2022 2022-01-01

Answered By: mozway

Answer 2

You have to assign pd.to_datetime(df['Year'], format="%Y") to df['date']. Once you have done that you should be able to see convert from integer.

df = pd.DataFrame({'Year': [2000,2000,2000,2000,2000,2000]})

df['date'] = pd.to_datetime(df['Year'], format="%Y")

df

The output should be:

    Year    date
0   2000    2000-01-01
1   2000    2000-01-01
2   2000    2000-01-01
3   2000    2000-01-01
4   2000    2000-01-01
5   2000    2000-01-01

So essentially all you are missing is df['date'] = pd.to_datetime(df['Year'], format="%Y") from your code and it should be working fine with respect to converting.

The pd.to_datetime() will not just return the Year (as far as I understood from your question you wanted the year), if you want more information on what .to_date_time() returns, you can see the documentation.

I hope this helps.

Answered By: Nameer1811

Issue with converting a pandas column from int64 to datetime64

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