Your place in the Universe on 1997
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Get your map!The Highlights of 1997: A Year That Shaped the Future
1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1997th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1997 a year special to you? Discover what 1997 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1997, 1997 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1997, how old is someone born in 1997 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1997.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1997 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1997 known for ?
- Key World Leaders of 1997
- Who was the U.S. President in 1997?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1997?
- Who was the Pope in 1997?
- 1997: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1997?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1997?
- What was the most popular movie in 1997?
- What was the best selling book in 1997?
- How old is someone born in 1997?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1997?
What was 1997 known for ?
- With the 20th Century coming to a close and a new century on the horizon, the year 1997 was full of notable events.
- There was one highly notable event in the field of literature this year – J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the United Kingdom. It was Rowling’s debut novel and it was the first book in the famous Harry Potter series. This fantasy series of seven books became a global phenomenon, launching a massively popular franchise of film adaptations, prequels, and even theme park attractions.
- In the field of television, The Simpsons aired its 167th episode, making it the longest running animated series in history. This was the year that Australian animal expert Steve Irwin’s show, The Crocodile Hunter, premiered. 1997 was also the year that the famous animated series, South Park, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, made its debut on Comedy Central. The show quickly became a national, and international, sensation and steadily developed into a great medium of social satire and commentary on life in America.
- There was a very important scientific advancement made this year as well. Scientists in Scotland announced the first cloned mammal, cloned from an adult cell: a sheep called Dolly. While the announcement sparked intense debate on the ethical limits of science in general, and on cloning in particular, the significance of the achievement is undeniable.
- While there were many noteworthy events this year, 1997 will no doubt always be remembered, in part, due to two major deaths that shook the world. This was the year that Diana, Princess of Wales, and wife of Charles, Prince of Wales (Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest child and heir apparent) died tragically in an automobile crash. Diana had captured the imagination of the world with her beauty, grace, and her prolific charity work. Another passing also shook the world. This was the year that Mother Teresa of Calcutta died after struggling with heart problems for many years. Mother Teresa was known around the world for her piety and especially for her charity work in some of the most impoverished corners of the world. The Roman Catholic Church canonized her as a saint in 2016, and she officially became Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
- The world population in 1997 was 5,905,045,788 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 46.0% of the total population, which is roughly 2.7 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1997 was an increase of +80.4 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.38% over the previous year.The average population density in 1997 was 25 persons per square mile (or 40 persons per square kilometer).
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Key World Leaders of 1997
Who was the U.S. President in 1997?
In 1997, Bill Clinton (Democrat) was the President of the United States. His term spanned from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. During his presidency, the U.S. experienced its longest peacetime economic expansion, though he was impeached over a personal scandal.
Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1997?
In 1997, Sir John Major (Conservative) was the UK Prime Minister until May 02, 1997; on May 02, 1997 Tony Blair (Labour) was appointed as the new UK Prime Minister.
Who was the Pope in 1997?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1997 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.
1997: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
Andrew Grove
In 1997, Andrew Grove was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. In 1997, Grove was Chairman and CEO of Intel, recognized as a pioneer in the semiconductor industry.
What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1997?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1997, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1997?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1997, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
What was the most popular movie in 1997?
The most popular movie and box office hit was Funny Games by Michael Haneke
What was the best selling book in 1997?
How old is someone born in 1997?
Someone born in 1997 is 28 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:
What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1997?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1997 was the Year of the Ox.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Ox sign.