The almanac
The 1971 Edition
Limited to about 124 million copies: the babies born worldwide in 1971. About 91 million are still in circulation.
Estimates from the UN World Population Prospects 2024. How we count
What happened in 1971
- Golf shots on the MoonApollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls before leaving the lunar surface.February 6 · Source: BBC On This Day
- Britain switches to decimal moneyThe pound was split into 100 new pence, replacing shillings and old pence.February 15 · Source: BBC On This Day
- Frazier beats Ali in title fightJoe Frazier won a unanimous 15-round decision at Madison Square Garden, handing Ali his first loss.March 8 · Source: Philly Boxing History
- First Starbucks opens in SeattleThree partners opened a coffee bean shop near Seattle's Pike Place Market.March 30 · Source: HistoryLink.org
- Willy Wonka reaches movie theatersThe musical about a candy maker and his golden tickets opened in theaters.June 30 · Source: NPR
- Walt Disney World opens in FloridaThe resort opened with the Magic Kingdom, two hotels, golf courses and a campground.October 1 · Source: D23 (The Walt Disney Company)
- Mariner 9 orbits MarsThe NASA probe became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.November 14 · Source: NASA Science
- First microprocessor ad appearsIntel advertised the 4004, a computer processor on a single small chip.November 15 · Source: Computer History Museum
Famous people born in 1971
- Anna NetrebkoRussian and Austrian operatic soprano · born September 18
- Julian AssangeAustralian editor, publisher, and activist · born July 3
- Tupac ShakurAmerican rapper and actor · born June 16
- Jeremy RennerAmerican actor · born January 7
- Winona RyderAmerican actress · born October 29
- Mark WahlbergAmerican actor · born June 5
- Snoop DoggAmerican rapper · born October 20
- Pep GuardiolaSpanish association football manager and player · born January 18
From Wikidata, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages write about them. Spotted a mistake?
No. 1 songs of 1971
- My Sweet Lord/Isn't It A PityGeorge Harrison · first week at No. 1: January 2, 1971
- Knock Three TimesDawn · first week at No. 1: January 23, 1971
- One Bad AppleThe Osmonds · first week at No. 1: February 13, 1971
- Me And Bobby McGeeJanis Joplin · first week at No. 1: March 20, 1971
- Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)The Temptations · first week at No. 1: April 3, 1971
- Joy To The WorldThree Dog Night · first week at No. 1: April 17, 1971
- Brown SugarThe Rolling Stones · first week at No. 1: May 29, 1971
- Want AdsThe Honey Cone · first week at No. 1: June 12, 1971
- It's Too Late/I Feel The Earth MoveCarole King · first week at No. 1: June 19, 1971
- Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)The Raiders · first week at No. 1: July 24, 1971
- You've Got A FriendJames Taylor · first week at No. 1: July 31, 1971
- How Can You Mend A Broken HeartBee Gees · first week at No. 1: August 7, 1971
- Uncle Albert/Admiral HalseyPaul & Linda McCartney · first week at No. 1: September 4, 1971
- Go Away Little GirlDonny Osmond · first week at No. 1: September 11, 1971
- Maggie May/Reason To BelieveRod Stewart · first week at No. 1: October 2, 1971
- Gypsys, Tramps & ThievesCher · first week at No. 1: November 6, 1971
- Theme From ShaftIsaac Hayes · first week at No. 1: November 20, 1971
- Family AffairSly & The Family Stone · first week at No. 1: December 4, 1971
- Brand New KeyMelanie · first week at No. 1: December 25, 1971
Billboard Hot 100, chart weeks of 1971. Spotted a mistake?
If you were born in 1971
- Older than the handheld cell phoneMotorola's Martin Cooper showed the first handheld cellular phone in public, on a New York street on April 3, 1973.
- Older than the barcode scanA barcode (UPC) was scanned at a store checkout for the first time, in Troy, Ohio on June 26, 1974.
- Older than MicrosoftBill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 4, 1975.
- Older than Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live premiered on NBC (then titled NBC's Saturday Night) on October 11, 1975.
- Younger than Earth DayThe first Earth Day was held across the United States on April 22, 1970.
- Younger than Sesame StreetSesame Street aired its first episode on November 10, 1969.
- Younger than the Internet's first messageThe first message was sent over ARPANET, the network that grew into the Internet on October 29, 1969.