The almanac
The 1996 Edition
Limited to about 134 million copies: the babies born worldwide in 1996. About 119 million are still in circulation.
Estimates from the UN World Population Prospects 2024. How we count
What happened in 1996
- Pokemon Red and Green came outThe first Pokemon games launched for Game Boy in Japan.February · Source: The Pokemon Company
- A computer beat a chess championIBM's Deep Blue won a game against Garry Kasparov, though he took the match.February 10 · Source: Computer History Museum
- Independence Day opened in theatersWill Smith fought off alien invaders in the summer's biggest blockbuster.July 2 · Source: The Numbers
- Dolly the sheep was bornShe was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, at Scotland's Roslin Institute.July 5 · Source: The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
- Atlanta hosted the Centennial OlympicsThe Summer Games marked 100 years since the first modern Olympics in 1896.July 19 · Source: Olympedia
- The Macarena reached No. 1Los del Rio's dance hit topped the Billboard Hot 100 and filled dance floors.August 3 · Source: Billboard
- Mars Global Surveyor launchedNASA sent an orbiter to map the Red Planet in detail.November 7 · Source: NASA
Famous people born in 1996
- Tom HollandEnglish actor · born June 1
- ZendayaAmerican actress and singer · born September 1
- Dove CameronAmerican actress and singer-songwriter · born January 15
- JennieSouth Korean singer-songwriter and rapper · born January 16
- LordeNew Zealand singer, songwriter and producer · born November 7
- RodriSpanish association football player · born June 22
- Hailee SteinfeldAmerican actress and singer · born December 11
- Sophie TurnerBritish actress · born February 21
From Wikidata, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages write about them. Spotted a mistake?
No. 1 songs of 1996
- One Sweet DayMariah Carey & Boyz II Men · first week at No. 1: January 6, 1996
- Because You Loved Me (From "Up Close & Personal")Celine Dion · first week at No. 1: March 23, 1996
- Always Be My BabyMariah Carey · first week at No. 1: May 4, 1996
- Tha CrossroadsBone Thugs-N-Harmony · first week at No. 1: May 18, 1996
- How Do U Want It/California Love2Pac Featuring K-Ci And JoJo · first week at No. 1: July 13, 1996
- You're Makin' Me High/Let It FlowToni Braxton · first week at No. 1: July 27, 1996
- Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)Los Del Rio · first week at No. 1: August 3, 1996
- No DiggityBLACKstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre) · first week at No. 1: November 9, 1996
- Un-Break My HeartToni Braxton · first week at No. 1: December 7, 1996
Billboard Hot 100, chart weeks of 1996. Spotted a mistake?
If you were born in 1996
- Older than Deep BlueIBM's Deep Blue became the first computer to beat a reigning world chess champion (month only; the day is not given by the source) on May 1, 1997.
- Older than the first Mars roverMars Pathfinder landed on Mars, carrying Sojourner, the first rover on Mars on July 4, 1997.
- Older than the Space StationZarya, the first module of the International Space Station, was launched on November 20, 1998.
- Older than the euroThe euro was launched as a currency (for accounting at first; cash came in 2002) on January 1, 1999.
- Younger than Toy StoryToy Story, the first Pixar film, was released in theaters on November 22, 1995.
- Younger than Windows 95Microsoft launched Windows 95, which introduced the Start menu on August 24, 1995.
- Younger than AmazonAmazon.com opened as an online bookseller (month only; the day is not given by the source) on July 1, 1995.