Century overview
The world in the 21st century
2001 – 2100. 173 events across 10 regions. Below, the century’s most significant events by region — what each part of the world was doing during the same stretch of time.
Europe
Showing 6 of 43 events from this century
- Introduction of the euro currency
In 2002, the euro was officially introduced as the common currency of the European Union, becoming legal tender in 21 member states. This marked the culmination of the Economic and Monetary Union, replacing national currencies to foster economic integration and financial stability. The launch of the euro area was a milestone in post-war European integration with far-reaching implications for the global monetary system.
- Founding of the International Criminal Court
In 2002, the International Criminal Court was established under the Rome Statute in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first permanent international court empowered to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, complementing national justice systems.
- Completion of the Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project was declared complete on 14 April 2003, covering about 92% of the human genome. Initiated officially in 1990, the international project involved universities and research centers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, China, and others. Its goal was to determine the base pairs of human DNA and map all genes, paving the way for deciphering human genetic information.
- Confirmation of the Higgs Boson
In 2012, the existence of the Higgs boson was confirmed through experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. This particle is a key component of the Standard Model, responsible for giving mass to other elementary particles.
- Adoption of the Paris Agreement
On 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. The treaty was negotiated by nearly 200 parties to address climate change.
- Brexit referendum
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar held a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. A majority voted to leave, triggering the UK's withdrawal process.
North America
Showing 6 of 34 events from this century
- September 11 attacks
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists carried out coordinated attacks in the United States. Nineteen hijackers seized four airliners, crashing two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon, and one into a rural field in Pennsylvania following a passenger revolt. The Twin Towers subsequently collapsed. The attacks caused massive casualties and prompted the United States to launch a global war on terror.
- War on Terror begins
The United States launched the global War on Terror in 2001, following the September 11 attacks, a military campaign spanning multiple theaters.
- Development of the CRISPR-Cas Gene Editing Technique
The CRISPR-Cas gene editing technique is a molecular biology method that can modify the genomes of living organisms, based on a simplified version of the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 antiviral defense system. By delivering the Cas9 nuclease complexed with a synthetic guide RNA (gRNA) into a cell, the genome can be cut at a desired location, allowing genes to be removed or new ones added in vivo. This breakthrough provided a transformative tool for genetic engineering.
- Edward Snowden reveals global surveillance programs of the NSA
In June 2013, top secret documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden were first published, revealing systematic global surveillance of communication networks by the U.S. and its Five Eyes allies. The disclosures covered both foreign and domestic nationals and sparked widespread debate on privacy and security.
- First landing of an orbital rocket first stage (Falcon 9 Flight 20)
On 22 December 2015, the Falcon 9 rocket's 20th flight successfully delivered 11 Orbcomm-OG2 satellites into orbit and achieved the first successful return and vertical landing of an orbital rocket first stage.
- First Detection of Gravitational Wave GW150914
On 14 September 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected the gravitational wave signal GW150914 from a binary black hole merger, marking the first direct observation of gravitational waves. The signal matched predictions of general relativity. The detection was announced on 11 February 2016 by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations.
East Asia
Showing 6 of 21 events from this century
- Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
On 11 March 2011, a major earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, disabling cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and causing reactor core meltdowns. The accident released radioactive materials and was rated Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, making it the worst nuclear incident since Chernobyl.
- 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
On 11 March 2011, a Mw 9.0 megathrust earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, Japan, with its epicenter east of Sendai. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami, with run-up heights reaching 40.1 meters, causing widespread destruction along the northeastern coast.
- AlphaGo versus Lee Sedol
In March 2016, Google DeepMind's Go program AlphaGo played a five-game match against top Korean professional Lee Sedol in Seoul. AlphaGo won four to one, marking a milestone in AI's mastery of complex board games, comparable to Deep Blue's chess victory over Garry Kasparov in 1997.
- Global COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, began in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and spread globally by early 2020. The WHO declared it a pandemic on 11 March 2020. By early 2025, over 777 million confirmed cases and more than 7 million deaths had been reported worldwide.
- Construction of Tiangong Space Station Begins
In 2021, China began in-orbit construction of the Tiangong space station, the first newly built large space laboratory of the 21st century, comprising the Tianhe core module, Wentian and Mengtian experiment modules, to host experiments in bioastronautics and microgravity.
- White Paper Protests erupt
In late November 2022, nationwide protests against China's zero-COVID policy erupted, triggered by a memorial for Urumqi fire victims. Protesters held up blank sheets of paper as a symbol; the movement began at the Communication University of China, Nanjing, then spread across the country. It is considered the largest anti-government demonstration since 1989.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Showing 6 of 18 events from this century
- Establishment of the African Union
In 2002, the African Union was launched in Durban, South Africa, replacing the Organisation of African Unity, with the aim of promoting democracy, human rights, and economic integration across the continent.
- Establishment of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area
A transfrontier conservation area was established in 2001 across the Drakensberg mountains on the border of South Africa and Lesotho, linking South Africa's uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Lesotho's Sehlabathebe National Park. The area is known for its spectacular basaltic buttresses, golden sandstone ramparts, and a wealth of ancient rock paintings, harboring several endangered species and representing one of the largest concentrations of San rock art in sub-Saharan Africa.
- 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état
Between 14 and 21 November 2017, the Zimbabwean military detained President Robert Mugabe and seized key government facilities in Harare. Mugabe resigned under impeachment pressure, ending his decades-long rule. The military and ruling party denied it was a coup.
- 2020 Malian coup d'état
On 18 August 2020, members of the Malian Armed Forces mutinied at the Soundiata military base in Kati, quickly escalating into a coup d'état. The soldiers arrested several government officials, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who later resigned and dissolved both the government and parliament. This was Mali's second coup in less than ten years, and it ended a period of nearly six years without an undemocratic change of government in West Africa, which had lasted since the 2014 Burkina Faso uprising.
- Outbreak of the Tigray War
In early November 2020, a civil war broke out between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, primarily in the Tigray Region, later spreading to Oromia, Amhara, and Afar. The conflict lasted about two years, with significant implications for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
- 2021 Malian coup d'état
On the night of 24 May 2021, the Malian Armed Forces staged a coup, arresting interim President Bah N'daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Defence Minister Souleymane Doucouré. Assimi Goïta, head of the junta that led the 2020 coup, announced the stripping of their powers and pledged new elections for 2022. It was Mali's third coup in a decade.
South Asia
Showing 6 of 16 events from this century
- 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake Strikes
On 26 December 2004, a powerful undersea earthquake struck off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The Mw 9.2–9.3 megathrust event was caused by a rupture along the boundary between the Burma and Indian plates. It reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX in some areas, with a focal depth of approximately 30 km.
- Establishment of Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park
Phong Nha–Kẻ Bàng National Park was established in 2001 in Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. Located about 500 km south of Hanoi, it spans the Bố Trạch and Minh Hóa districts and borders Laos's Hin Namno National Park. The park's core zone covers over 850 km² and features one of Asia's oldest karst landscapes, with extensive cave systems and underground rivers. It was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 2002 Bali bombings
On 12 October 2002, a series of terrorist attacks struck the tourist district of Kuta in Bali, Indonesia, killing 202 people and injuring 209. It became the deadliest terrorist act in Indonesian history, profoundly impacting local tourism and international counterterrorism efforts.
- Start of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In 2004, an armed conflict erupted in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, triggered by resistance from local Pashtun tribes amid the Pakistani army's pursuit of Al-Qaeda elements. Centered initially in Waziristan, the conflict later spread nationwide, with attacks occurring in major cities. It involved Islamist militant groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and organized crime elements.
- Establishment of the French Southern Lands National Nature Reserve
France established the French Southern Lands National Nature Reserve in the southern Indian Ocean, encompassing the Crozet Archipelago, Kerguelen Islands and other sub-Antarctic lands and surrounding seas, covering over 166 million hectares. The reserve hosts the world's largest populations of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses, serving as a unique site for biological evolution and scientific research. Since 2019, this area has been inscribed as the 'French Austral Lands and Seas' UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Killing of Osama bin Laden
On May 2, 2011, U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Bin Laden, who masterminded the September 11 attacks, had been pursued for nearly a decade.
West Asia
Showing 6 of 16 events from this century
- China's accession to the World Trade Organization
In 2001, after years of negotiations, the People's Republic of China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a member. The agreement was reached at the Ministerial Conference, and China formally became a member that December. The accession required significant reforms to the Chinese economy and had broad economic and political effects on other countries.
- Outbreak of the Syrian Civil War
In March 2011, large-scale anti-government protests demanding democratic reforms broke out in Syria as part of the Arab Spring. The Assad regime's lethal crackdown led to the formation of armed opposition groups, turning the uprising into a civil war. The conflict lasted nearly 14 years until the regime's fall in December 2024.
- Fall of the Assad regime
In December 2024, a major offensive by Syrian opposition forces led to the rapid collapse of the Ba'athist regime. On 8 December, the capital Damascus fell to opposition groups, ending over five decades of rule by the Assad family, which had governed Syria since the early 1970s. This event marked a turning point in the Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
- Outbreak of the Iraq War
The Iraq War broke out in 2003 and lasted until 2011. The armed conflict began with a US-led coalition invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein's government. The invasion was followed by a prolonged insurgency.
- 2006 Lebanon War
A 34-day armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah fought in northern Israel and Lebanon from July to August 2006. The war began with a Hezbollah cross-border raid and ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire on 14 August 2006. It marked Israel's third invasion of Lebanon since 1978 and caused widespread destruction.
- 2009 Iranian Presidential Election
On 12 June 2009, Iran held its tenth presidential election, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running for re-election. Official results gave Ahmadinejad around 60 percent of the vote, while his main opponent Mir-Hossein Mousavi received about one-third. Mousavi's camp alleged electoral fraud, sparking mass protests across Iran and the emergence of the Iranian Green Movement.
Central & South America
Showing 6 of 10 events from this century
- Event Horizon Telescope reveals first black hole image
In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project released the first-ever image of a black hole, showing the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87. By linking radio telescopes worldwide using very-long-baseline interferometry, the EHT creates a virtual telescope with an effective aperture equal to Earth's diameter, achieving angular resolution fine enough to observe event-horizon-scale structures. This breakthrough provided the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole, enabling tests of Einstein's general relativity in strong gravitational fields and advancing the study of accretion disks and jets. It marked the beginning of an observational era for black hole physics.
- Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope
On December 25, 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Developed by NASA, ESA, and CSA, it is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, designed to conduct infrared astronomy with higher resolution and sensitivity. Its mission includes observing the first stars and galaxies in the early universe and characterizing the atmospheres of potentially habitable exoplanets.
- Establishment of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Alejandro de Humboldt National Park was established in the Cuban provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo, encompassing a large area with diverse terrain and rich endemic flora and fauna. It was named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt, who visited the region in the early 19th century. The park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the same year.
- Opening of the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory as a Former Clandestine Detention Center
The former Officers' Quarters of the Navy School of Mechanics in Buenos Aires served as the Argentine Navy's principal secret detention center during the 1976–1983 dictatorship, where abducted opponents were held, interrogated, tortured, and killed. The site was later converted into a memorial museum.
- 2018 Venezuelan presidential election
The 2018 Venezuelan presidential election was held on 20 May. Incumbent Nicolás Maduro was declared reelected for a second six-year term. The election was widely disputed because major opposition parties were barred from participating, leading some analysts to describe it as a sham election; voter turnout was the lowest in Venezuela's democratic era.
- 2022 Colombian presidential election
The 2022 Colombian presidential election held its first round on 29 May, and a runoff on 19 June after no candidate secured a majority. Left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro defeated Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, becoming the country's first left-wing president. His running mate, Francia Márquez, became the first Afro-Colombian vice president and the second female vice president.
Oceania
Showing 6 of 7 events from this century
- Establishment of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
In 2006, the United States established a large marine protected area in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, initially covering about 360,000 km². The site comprises ten islands and atolls and holds deep cosmological and traditional significance for Native Hawaiian culture, along with pre-European archaeological remains. The monument was later expanded to become one of the world's largest marine protected areas.
- Establishment of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area was established in Kiribati, a large marine protected area in the central Pacific. Covering around 408,250 sq km, it is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, aiming to conserve an intact coral archipelago ecosystem and rich marine life.
- Christchurch mosque shootings
On 15 March 2019, two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand were attacked during Friday prayer. An Australian gunman shot at worshippers at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, killing 51 people and injuring dozens. This lone‑wolf terrorist attack drew global attention.
- Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
On March 11, 2025, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from Hong Kong. The Philippine National Police and Interpol carried out the arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity related to the Philippine drug war. He was later transferred to The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial.
- Establishment of the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
In 2004, the Mount Hamiguitan area in Davao Oriental, Philippines, was designated as a wildlife sanctuary. The site is renowned for its unique pygmy forest on ultramafic soil, rich biodiversity, and numerous endemic species such as the Philippine eagle and several Nepenthes pitcher plants. The sanctuary covers approximately 2,000 hectares of forest, providing critical habitat for endangered flora and fauna.
- Ningaloo Coast inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 2011, the Ningaloo Coast in Australia was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Located in the north west coastal region of Western Australia, approximately 1,200 kilometres north of Perth, the heritage-listed area covers 705,015 hectares. The site is distinguished by the Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's longest near-shore reefs, stretching 260 kilometres as Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only extensive reef situated very close to a continent. It is renowned for exceptional marine and terrestrial biodiversity, including seasonal whale shark aggregations, abundant sea turtles, and an extensive karst system with networks of underground caves.
North Africa
Showing 5 of 5 events from this century
- 2011 Egyptian Revolution Begins
On 25 January 2011, Egyptians launched mass street demonstrations demanding President Mubarak's ouster. Organized by youth groups to coincide with Police Day, the protests decried police brutality. They were fiercest in Cairo and Alexandria, drawing millions nationwide. The revolution led to the fall of Mubarak's regime.
- Multinational military intervention begins in Libya
On 19 March 2011, a NATO-led multinational coalition began military intervention in Libya, enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973 to establish a no-fly zone and protect civilians. The resolution, adopted with ten votes in favour and five abstentions, called for an immediate ceasefire and tightened sanctions against the Gaddafi regime. The action was a direct response to the government's crackdown on opposition forces during the Libyan Civil War.
- 2013 Egyptian coup d'état
On July 3, 2013, the Egyptian military, led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, suspended the 2012 constitution, and appointed Adly Mansour as interim president. The coup occurred amid widespread national protests and was followed by clashes between supporters and opponents.
- 2019 Sudanese coup d'état
On 11 April 2019, after months of popular protests, the Sudanese Armed Forces staged a coup that ousted President Omar al-Bashir, ending his three-decade rule. The military dissolved the government and legislature, suspended the constitution, declared a three-month state of emergency, and established a military council to oversee a two-year transition. Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf initially led the council but resigned the next day, succeeded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The coup ultimately led to a power-sharing deal between the military and civilian forces.
- Construction of Bab Berdieyinne Mosque Begins
A mosque in the old city of Meknes, Morocco, built in the early 18th century by order of Khnata bent Bakkar, the first female minister. Constructed of rammed earth, it takes its name from a nearby gate and forms part of the UNESCO-listed medina.
Central Asian steppe
Showing 3 of 3 events from this century
- July 2009 Ürümqi riots
On 5 July 2009, large-scale violent riots broke out in Ürümqi, Xinjiang. A protest escalated into indiscriminate attacks mainly targeting Han people, resulting in heavy casualties and property damage. Chinese authorities deployed armed police; state media reported at least 197 dead and 1,721 injured. Human Rights Watch documented disappearances during subsequent police sweeps.
- Establishment of the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism
In 2009, the BRICS cooperation mechanism was formally established. Its founding members were Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The organization consists of emerging market economies and aims to foster cooperation and dialogue among its members.
- Launch of the Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, the Chinese government launched the Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and economic development strategy to connect Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. The initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, evoking the historic trade routes. It has since involved agreements with numerous countries and organizations for global connectivity projects.
Years in the 21st century
21 years in this century have enough records for a page of their own.
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