The Highlights of 1987: A Year That Shaped the Future
1987 (MCMLXXXVII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1987th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1987 a year special to you? Discover what 1987 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1987, 1987 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1987, how old is someone born in 1987 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1987.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1987 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1987 known for ?
- Key World Leaders of 1987
- Who was the U.S. President in 1987?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1987?
- Who was the Pope in 1987?
- 1987: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1987?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1987?
- What was the most popular movie in 1987?
- What was the best selling book in 1987?
- How old is someone born in 1987?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1987?
What was 1987 known for ?
- In 1987, the world saw several developments across politics and in various fields of the entertainment industry.
- On the political front, 1987 was the year that American President Ronald Reagan made a trip to Berlin, giving a speech in which he famously challenged Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, ending the heavily guarded partition between the eastern and western parts of the city.
- As Ronald Reagan made his challenge to the Soviet Union, Europe was moving to greater centralization of power. This was the year that the Single European Act was passed by the European Community. The Act, as a revision to the 1957 Treaty of Rome, set out to establish a single market in Europe by 1992, and also put forth language aimed at a single monetary and foreign policy for the Community members.
- 1987 was a major year for gaming as well. This was the year that Konami released their action-adventure game, Metal Gear for the MSX2 computer system in Japan. The game would eventually be released in North America and Europe through various systems throughout the years, but the innovative stealth aspect of the game was revolutionary and sparked a series of games that have entertained gamers across the world for many years. This was also the year that The Legend of Zelda was released in North America by Nintendo.
- In television developments this year, Full Houseaired its first episode. This sitcom would build a devoted fan base, and would eventually inspire a nostalgic sequel series, Fuller House. The second Star Trek series, The Next Generation premiered in syndication this year, as well. In another major development in television history, the iconic animated series, The Simpsons, first appeared on television, albeit these first appearances were in shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show.
- In music, U2 released their famous album, The Joshua Tree. This was also the year that the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, released what was then his first album in five years, Bad. The highly anticipated album was a hit, living up to expectations with songs like “Bad,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.”
- The world population in 1987 was 5,052,522,147 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 42.0% of the total population, which is roughly 2.1 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1987 was an increase of +91.8 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.85% over the previous year.The average population density in 1987 was 21 persons per square mile (or 34 persons per square kilometer).
Key World Leaders of 1987
Who was the U.S. President in 1987?
In 1987, 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 1987?
In 1987 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 1987?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1987 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.
1987: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
Mikhail Gorbachev
In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. As General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev oversaw Perestroika political reforms in 1987.
What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1987?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1987, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) by Whitney Houston
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1987?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1987, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
What was the most popular movie in 1987?
The most popular movie and box office hit was The Untouchables by Brian De Palma
What was the best selling book in 1987?
How old is someone born in 1987?
Someone born in 1987 is 39 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:
What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1987?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1987 was the Year of the Rabbit.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Rabbit sign.