1980: what happened around the world

In 1980, 161 events recorded on Erask's globe began — Iran–Iraq War, Gwangju Uprising and Bologna massacre among the best known. 85 more were already under way, such as Soviet-Afghan War and Lebanese Civil War. 149 things were founded or built that year, from Zimbabwe and Tuol Sleng torture center.

161events began
85already under way
149founded or built
See 1980 on the globe →

Revolts, massacres and attacks68

+28 less-known, on the globe.

Accidents and fires40

Wars, battles and sieges39

Disasters8

Treaties, councils and politics4

Expeditions2

Already under way in 198085

Came to an end in 19804

Founded or built in 1980149

+119 more, on the globe.

Stories that pass through 1980

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

1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 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 →