The Highlights of 1952: A Year That Shaped the Future


1952 (MCMLII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1952th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1952 a year special to you? Discover what 1952 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1952, 1952 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1952, how old is someone born in 1952 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1952.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1952 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1952 known for ?
- Born in 1952? Get Your Birth Year Poster!
- Key World Leaders of 1952
- Who was the U.S. President in 1952?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1952?
- Who was the Pope in 1952?
- 1952: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1952?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1952?
- What was the most popular movie in 1952?
- What was the best selling book in 1952?
- How old is someone born in 1952?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1952?

What was 1952 known for ?
- By 1952, West Germany had over 7 million refugees inside its borders. The Greatest Show on Earth was the highest grossing film starring Betty Hutton and Cornel Wilde.
- Pope Pius XII placed André Gide’s works on the Catholic Church’s index of forbidden books. Percy Faith’s Delicado dominated the major charts in the USA and Europe.
- United Kingdom and its Dominions, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Ceylon, and Pakistan, lost King George VI who died at the age of 56 on February 6, 1952. His daughter Princess Elizabeth, the Duchess of Edinburgh, became queen shortly after the Kings Death while on a visit to Kenya. King George VI funeral took place at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle. Now known as Queen Elizabeth II, she is one of the oldest monarchs in the world.
- By the 1950s, the rock and roll genre was taking root in people’s hearts. On March 21, 1952, thousands of people most of them teenagers had lined up outside the Cleveland Arena, top attend the first major rock-and -roll concert. The show dubbed the Moondog Coronation Ball tickets sold out in a single day and set the bar for an ever-growing rock scene.
- On December 4, thick smog started to hover over London. At least 4000 people had died by the time it lifted. As per the meteorological reports, high-pressure air mass had stalled over River Thames Valley when cold air came in from the west. This caused the stagnation of the air in London resulting in very low temperatures. The to keep warm the residents burnt extra coal which when coupled with soot, smoke and sulfur oxide from the industries, caused extra thick smog which reduced visibility to a few yards. This went on to cause a train collision, rail accidents, respiratory problems in humans and animals.
- Finally, in Science, the Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Selman Abraham Waksman; Physics went to Felix Bloch, Edward Mills Purcell and for Chemistry went to Archer John Porter Martin, Richard Laurence Millington Synge. This was the year that Norman J. Woodland patented the barcode in the USA.
- The world population in 1952 was 2,630,861,562 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 30.0% of the total population, which is roughly 789.3 million individuals.The annual population change in 1952 was an increase of +46.8 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.81% over the previous year.The average population density in 1952 was 11 persons per square mile (or 18 persons per square kilometer).

Key World Leaders of 1952
Who was the U.S. President in 1952?
In 1952, Harry S. Truman (Democrat) was the President of the United States. His term spanned from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953. His administration ended World War II by using atomic bombs and launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe.
Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1952?
In 1952 the UK Prime Minister was Sir Winston Churchill (Conservative).
Who was the Pope in 1952?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1952 was Pope Pius XII who had held the papacy since 1939. During his papacy, he led the Church through World War II, maintaining neutrality while secretly aiding Jewish refugees and opposing totalitarianism.

1952: Who was Time's Person of the Year?


What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1952?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1952, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Comes A-Long A-Love by Kay Starr
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1952?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1952, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was The Isle Of Innisfree by Bing Crosby

What was the most popular movie in 1952?
The most popular movie and box office hit was High Noon by Fred Zinnemann


What was the best selling book in 1952?


How old is someone born in 1952?
Someone born in 1952 is 74 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:

What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1952?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1952 was the Year of the Dragon.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Dragon sign.