Top 24 Biggest Historic Events of Each Year (2000 - 2023)

These events dominated news headlines, influenced government policies, and forever changed the way we see the world. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most impactful event of each year across the 21st century. Our countdown of the most historic events of each year includes 9/11, the Founding of Facebook, the Fukushima Earthquake & Nuclear Disaster, Brexit, Trump, & the Rise of Right-Wing Populism, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and more! Filtering an entire year into a single world-defining event is an impossible task. Were there major historical events that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments below!

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[WatchMojo]

Filtering an entire year into a single world-defining event is an impossible task. Were there major historical events that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments below!

[jhaarbur]

I think you totally missed 2004 - I think the biggest event that year was the tsunami at the end of it that effected a huge part of the Indian Ocean and killed 250, 000 people. Yes, FB was big, but I think this event was much more significant.

[peedipiper]

From Kobe Bryant's death, COVID-19 pandemic, and the roits that broke out on George Floyd's death, 2020 was a rather depressing year.

[justinguidroz]

Hurricane Katrina should have at least gotten a mention for 2005.

[atran]

The 2019–20 bushfire season was terrible for Australians, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III are significant.

[TheDas]

Yeah, that housing crisis in 2008 really f’d my parents. Never recovered from that.

[joshuahecht]

2020 changed everything forever
I graduated in 2020 and felt its effects even after all these years. No one should forget it but we must be better than the ones before to not repeat the mistakes of our past.

[GuremaManaba]

I was born in 2000, the 90s people feared about the Y2K, but that year 2000 has it's true meaning to me, the new millennium and time is evolved...

[cenexxis]

2004 was the Seaquake in the Indian Ocean which caused 232.000 Deaths.

[Dewald]

It's notable how desensitized we've become to mass shootings and school shootings, given that none of them have made it onto this list.

[jacobdrolet]

Amazing video Rebecca from watch mojo of the human historic event throughout the different years in human history, fantastic job. Happy new year watch mojo

[BigFella]

I graduated from high school in 2020, but everything that happened that year made it sadder than it should have been.

[mr.twists]

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if aliens came down this year.

[danieln]

2016 was crazy really. Seems like when Fandoms and things started getting infected by bs.

[gamingwithscottie]

To be honest, especially as a CT resident, I actually think the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown was 2012's most famous story, not that discovery. Not only was it Christmastime, nor it right being in my area, but it was super young kids, which still disgusts me even to this day, especially because one of the victims, Victoria Soto, was from my town.

[samuelmelendez]

You just listed everything that happened in my entire lifetime up to this point

[emiebex]

The COVID-19 Pandemic was Life Altering for everyone, but it was a Learning experience.

[Jeremiah_Rivers]

The Paris terror attacks were hard for me to watch while waiting for pizza that day. That’s right: I saw them unfold while I was at a Pizza Hut a few minutes from my grandparents’ house.

[K.J.S.est]

For 2019, you didn’t even choose the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand or the Notre Dame Cathedral Fire?

[kieranfrancke]

I have to argue for hurricane katrina in 2005. It was very historic as well. So was queen Elizabeth’s death.