The Highlights of 1988: A Year That Shaped the Future
1988 (MCMLXXXVIII in Roman Numerals) was the year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1988th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations.
Is 1988 a year special to you? Discover what 1988 was famous for, Key World Leaders of 1988, 1988 Time’s Person of the Year, the #1 song, movie and book in 1988, how old is someone born in 1988 and what Chinese zodiac sign is associated to 1988.
On this page we will address all your questions and curiosities about 1988 to help you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
Table of contents
- What was 1988 known for ?
- Key World Leaders of 1988
- Who was the U.S. President in 1988?
- Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1988?
- Who was the Pope in 1988?
- 1988: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
- What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1988?
- What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1988?
- What was the most popular movie in 1988?
- What was the best selling book in 1988?
- How old is someone born in 1988?
- What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1988?
What was 1988 known for ?
- 1988 was a year of many important shifts in global affairs, especially in the Middle East. This was the year that the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw troops from Afghanistan under the Geneva Accords. After years of bitter fighting, the quagmire that the Soviets found themselves in became too costly and they eventually withdrew from Afghan territory, reminding the world once again that Afghanistan is the Graveyard of Empires.
- In a related development, this is also the year that the international terrorist group, Al Qaeda, was formed by Osama bin Laden and other veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War.
- At the same time that the Soviet-Afghan conflict was drawing to a close, another war was coming to an end. In August of 1988, the brutal Iran-Iraq War came to an end after eight years of fighting. While it is difficult to say with any certainty how many people died in the war, the figure is likely well into the hundreds of thousands. The political result was a stalemate, and would set the stage for future conflict in the region as both of the rival countries vied for superior geopolitical positioning.
- The Cold War was, at this point, beginning to come to a close, and some Soviet leaders saw the need for a change in economic policy. Dubbed “perestroika” or “restructuring,” the idea was to begin the restructuring process of the political and economic system of the Soviet Union. Led by Mikhail Gorbachev, these liberalizing reforms were meant to provide some semblance of a market economy that could allow for greater productivity in the Soviet economy, thereby increasing the standard of living for the average Soviet consumer. As the reforms went on, however, it seemed that people saw this as the beginning of the end of the old command economy. Indeed, it is possible that this restructuring helped bring down the Soviet system.
- The world population in 1988 was 5,145,426,008 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 2.2 billion individuals.The annual population change in 1988 was an increase of +93.0 million people, representing a percentage increase of +1.84% over the previous year.The average population density in 1988 was 22 persons per square mile (or 35 persons per square kilometer).
Key World Leaders of 1988
Who was the U.S. President in 1988?
In 1988, 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 1988?
In 1988 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 1988?
The leader of the Catholic Church in 1988 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.
1988: Who was Time's Person of the Year?
The Endangered Earth
In 1988, The Endangered Earth was named by TIME magazine as Person of the Year. Planet of the Year, involving an aspect of Mother Nature.
What was the number 1 song in the USA in 1988?
The number 1 song in the USA in 1988, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Roll With It by Steve Winwood
What was the number 1 song in the UK in 1988?
The number 1 song in the UK in 1988, i.e. the best selling and most popular song of tha year, was Got To Be Certain by Kylie Minogue
What was the most popular movie in 1988?
The most popular movie and box office hit was Die Hard by John McTiernan
What was the best selling book in 1988?
How old is someone born in 1988?
Someone born in 1988 is 38 years old this year.
Try out our age, time and generation calculators:
What was the Chinese Zodiac sign associated with the year 1988?
According to the Chinese Zodiac and Astrology 1988 was the Year of the Dragon.
Discover Zodiac Sign Characteristics and Personality Traits of people born under the Dragon sign.