1961: what happened around the world

In 1961, 113 events recorded on Erask's globe began — Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Eritrean War of Independence and Portuguese Colonial War among the best known. 76 more were already under way, such as Algerian War and The Troubles. 136 things were founded or built that year, from Berlin Wall and Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

113events began
76already under way
136founded or built
See 1961 on the globe →

Accidents and fires46

+6 less-known, on the globe.

Wars, battles and sieges40

Revolts, massacres and attacks17

Disasters5

Treaties, councils and politics3

Expeditions2

Already under way in 196176

Came to an end in 19616

Founded or built in 1961136

+106 more, on the globe.

Stories that pass through 1961

Volcanic EruptionsEvery significant eruption on record since 1500 How America Filled UpEvery American city of 60,000 people, in the year it began Women's SuffrageA map filling in, one country at a time, 1893-2012 DecolonisationHow a third of the world stopped belonging to somebody else, 1945–1990 Nuclear detonationsEvery recorded nuclear test, 1945–1998

Nearby years

1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 All of the 20th century →

Every entry comes from Wikidata and links to its Wikipedia article; entries are ordered by how many language editions of Wikipedia cover them. Only things with a date are listed, and dates before the modern era are often approximate. How this is made →