The Highlights of 1983: A Year That Shaped the Future

1983

1983 (MCMLXXXIII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1983th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.

Is 1983 a year special to you? Discover what 1983 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1983, 1983 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1983, how old is someone born in 1983 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1983.

On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1983 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.

history

What was 1983 known for ?

  • Characterized by big hair bands and great socioeconomic change, the 1980s laid the foundation for many things we now take for granted.
  • While 1983 follows many of these trends, the year possesses some notable events all its own. To set the scene, imagine a year with a population of just under 4.7 billion and a lot of babies named Michael or Jennifer. Stephen King’s horror novelsChristine and Pet Sematary dominated the bookshelves and The Color Purple took home the Pulitzer.
  • On the big screen, Flashdance, Star Wars Episode VI, Scarface, and A Christmas Story garnered the highest ticket sales.
  • In the world of music, David Bowie hit the number one chart with his single ‘“Let’s Dance”. In 1983, while we gained Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse, we lost both playwright Tennessee Williams and professional boxer Jack Dempsey. Outside of media and births, 1983 offered plenty of interesting events.
  • The year was marked by a variety of firsts: Sally Ride became the first woman in space. The UK introduced its first one pound coin. The US Congress initiated its War Powers Act for the first time. India launched its first rocket. The world also saw its first reconstruction of the human head via a CT scan.
  • In 1963, the Supreme Court also struck down many abortion restrictions. In a bit less of a controversial move, the US government established Martin Luther King Jr Day. To allow Japanese families to take a different kind of holiday, Tokyo opened its own version of Disneyland on April 15th. In one of the world’s biggest illusion acts, David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty vanish in front of an audience on April 8th. Basically, whether you love Flashdance or have been helped by a CT scan, 1983 had plenty to offer the world.
  • The world population in 1983 was 4,699,569,304 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 41.0% of the total population, which is roughly 1.9 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1983 was an increase of +82.2 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.78% over the previous year.The average population density in 1983 was 20 persons per square mile (or 32 persons per square kilometer).

1983 historical events  Famous people born in 1983  Famous deaths in 1983Popular Baby Names in 1983

Your place in the Universe on 1983

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history

Key World Leaders of 1983

Who was the U.S. President in 1983?

In 1983, Ronald Reagan (Republican) was the President of the United States. His term spanned from January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989. During his presidency, he revitalized the economy through supply-side economics and helped end the Cold War through diplomacy with the Soviet Union.

Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1983?

In 1983 the UK Prime Minister was Margaret Thatcher (Conservative). During her premiership, she pursued free-market reforms, privatization, and was known for her firm leadership during the Falklands War.

Who was the Pope in 1983?

The leader of the Catholic Church in 1983 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.

world population

1983: Who was Time's Person of the Year?


Ronald Reagan
In 1983, Ronald Reagan was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. In 1983, as President of the United States, Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada and championed the Strategic Defense Initiative.
vinyl songs

What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1983?

The number 1 song in the USA in 1983, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Flashdance...What A Feeling by Irene Cara

What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1983?

The number 1 song in the UK in 1983, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was IOU by Freeez

cinema movies

What was the most popular movie in 1983?

The most popular movie and box office hit was Tenebre by Dario Argento

Tenebre
cinema movies

What was the best selling book in 1983?

Different Seasons
cinema movies

How old is someone born in 1983?

Someone born in 1983 is 42 years old this year.

Discover 1983 calendar

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Pig chinese zodiac sign

What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1983?


According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1983 was the Year of the Pig.

Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Pig sign.