Your place in the Universe on 1979
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Get your map!The Highlights of 1979: A Year That Shaped the Future
1979 (MCMLXXIX in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1979th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1979 a year special to you? Discover what 1979 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1979, 1979 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1979, how old is someone born in 1979 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1979.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1979 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1979 known for ?
- Key World Leaders of 1979
- Who was the U.S. President in 1979?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979?
- Who was the Pope in 1979?
- 1979: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1979?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1979?
- What was the most popular movie in 1979?
- What was the best selling book in 1979?
- How old is someone born in 1979?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1979?
What was 1979 known for ?
- The USA was guided by the steady hand of Jimmy Carter as the world population rose to roughly 4.4 billion.
- For newly-minted parents, the most popular names were Michael and Jennifer. Included amongst that sea of Mikes and Jens were some notable figures: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Heath Ledger, Kate Hudson, Kevin Hart, and Pink. While we gained those vocalists and thespians, 1979 also witnessed the curtains closing on the founder of Hilton Hotels, Conrad Hilton; the Canadian-American steel magnate, Cyrus Eaton; the American actor, John Wayne; and the President of Afghanistan, Nur Mohammed Taraki.
- Douglas Adams surged to the top of library ordering lists with the first printing of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The movies were awash with popular and classic titles like Alien, The Warriors, and The Amityville Horror. Read on to discover how 1979 changed the world.
- The year 1979 saw some notable firsts: the first person killed by a robot, the first gay and lesbian civil rights march on Washington, the first female prime minister of the UK, the first discovery of an extraterrestrial volcano, and the first recorded instance of a comet hitting the sun.
- Meanwhile, the world’s inventors brought ideas like fleece, rollerblades, and the Walkman to life. While the US and China began diplomatic relations, the relationships between the People’s Republic and Vietnam soured with the start of the Sino-Vietnam war. Meanwhile, in the US, the government approved the development of a Department of Education. This year also marked the 100-millionth guest to visit the happiest place on earth (Walt Disney World).
- If you reminisce of all those jogs spent with your Walkman at your side, you better write a thank-you note to the year 1979.
- The world population in 1979 was 4,380,506,100 people according to data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. This figure includes both urban and rural populations. The urban population at that time accounted for 39.0% of the total population, which is roughly 1.7 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1979 was an increase of +75.8 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.76% over the previous year.The average population density in 1979 was 18 persons per square mile (or 29 persons per square kilometer).
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Key World Leaders of 1979
Who was the U.S. President in 1979?
In 1979, Jimmy Carter (Democrat) was the President of the United States. His term spanned from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. His administration brokered the Camp David Accords, achieving a historic peace between Egypt and Israel.
Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979?
In 1979, James Callaghan (Labour) was the UK Prime Minister until May 04, 1979; on May 04, 1979 Margaret Thatcher (Conservative) was appointed as the new UK Prime Minister.
Who was the Pope in 1979?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1979 was Pope St John Paul II who had held the papacy since 1978. During his long pontificate, he played a key role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, expanded interfaith dialogue, and was a strong advocate for human rights.
1979: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
Ruhollah Khomeini
In 1979, Ruhollah Khomeini was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution, establishing himself as Supreme Leader.
What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1979?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1979, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Hot Stuff by Donna Summer
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1979?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1979, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel
What was the most popular movie in 1979?
The most popular movie and box office hit was The Dark by John Fawcett
What was the best selling book in 1979?
How old is someone born in 1979?
Someone born in 1979 is 46 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:
What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1979?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1979 was the Year of the Goat.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Goat sign.