December 31 in history — What Happened Today in History
Curious what December 31 in history holds? From 2020 back through the centuries, our timeline gathers everything that happened on December 31 — events, birthdays and deaths on one cozy page.
On this page, December 31 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about December 31 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on December 31 in History 40
- 2020
The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine.
- 2019
The World Health Organization is informed of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause, detected in Wuhan. This later turned out to be COVID-19, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2018
Thirty-nine people are killed after a ten-story building collapses in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, Russia.
- 2015
A fire breaks out at the Downtown Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located near the Burj Khalifa, two hours before the fireworks display is due to commence. Sixteen injuries were reported; one had a heart attack, another suffered a major injury, and fourteen others with minor injuries.
- 2014
A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others.
- 2011
NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.
- 2010
Tornadoes touch down in midwestern and southern United States, including Washington County, Arkansas; Greater St. Louis, Sunset Hills, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma, with a few tornadoes in the early hours. A total of 36 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the deaths of nine people and $113 million in damages.
- 2009
Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur.
- 2004
The official opening of Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper at that time in the world, standing at a height of 509 metres (1,670 ft).
- 2001
Rwanda adopts a new national flag and anthem.
- 1999
The first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President and successor.
- 1999
The U.S. government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties.
All entries for December 31（+28）
- 1999
Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking ends after seven days with the release of 190 survivors at Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan.
- 1998
The European Exchange Rate Mechanism freezes the values of the legacy currencies in the Eurozone, and establishes the value of the euro currency.
- 1995
The final comic of Calvin and Hobbes is published.
- 1994
This date is skipped altogether in Kiribati as the Phoenix Islands and Line Islands change time zones from UTC−11:00 to UTC+13:00 and UTC−10:00 to UTC+14:00, respectively.
- 1994
The First Chechen War: The Russian Ground Forces begin a New Year's storming of Grozny.
- 1992
Czechoslovakia is peacefully dissolved in what is dubbed by media as the Velvet Divorce, resulting in the creation of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
- 1991
All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date, five days after the Soviet Union is officially dissolved.
- 1986
Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history.
- 1983
The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government.
- 1983
Benjamin Ward is appointed New York City Police Department's first ever African American police commissioner.
- 1983
In Nigeria, a coup d'état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari ends the Second Nigerian Republic.
- 1981
A coup d'état in Ghana removes President Hilla Limann's PNP government and replaces it with the Provisional National Defence Council led by Flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings.
- 1968
The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the first civilian supersonic transport in the world.
- 1968
MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 crashes near Port Hedland, Western Australia, killing all 26 people on board.
- 1965
Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begin a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.
- 1963
The Central African Federation officially collapses, subsequently becoming Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia.
- 1961
RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service.
- 1956
The Romanian Television network begins its first broadcast in Bucharest.
- 1955
General Motors becomes the first U.S. corporation to make over US$1 billion in a year.
- 1951
Cold War: The Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than US$13.3 billion in foreign aid to rebuild Western Europe.
- 1946
President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II.
- 1944
World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major Wehrmacht offensive on the Western Front, begins.
- 1942
USS Essex, first aircraft carrier of a 24-ship class, is commissioned.
- 1942
World War II: The Royal Navy defeats the Kriegsmarine at the Battle of the Barents Sea. This leads to the resignation of Grand Admiral Erich Raeder a month later.
- 1907
The first ever ball drop in Times Square.
- 1906
Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar signs the Persian Constitution of 1906.
- 1879
Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
- 1878
Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.
Famous Birthdays on December 31 in History 25
- 2002
Ryan Flamingo, Dutch footballer
- 2002
Sophia Laforteza, Filipino-American singer
- 2002
Joe Scally, American soccer player
- 2001
Katie Volynets, American tennis player
- 2000
Alycia Parks, American tennis player
- 1999
Calvin Bassey, Italian-Nigerian footballer
- 1999
Leif Davis, English footballer
- 1997
Ludovic Blas, French footballer
- 1997
Cameron Carter-Vickers, English-American soccer player
- 1997
Bright Osayi-Samuel, Nigerian footballer
- 1996
J. J. Arcega-Whiteside, Spanish-American football player
- 1995
Gabby Douglas, American gymnast
All entries for December 31（+13）
- 1995
Edmond Sumner, American basketball player
- 1992
Amy Cure, Australian track cyclist
- 1992
Karl Kruuda, Estonian racing driver
- 1991
Dennis Everberg, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1991
Djené, Togolese footballer
- 1991
ND Stevenson, American cartoonist
- 1991
Brandon Tanev, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1989
Ryo Aitaka, Japanese kickboxer and professional wrestler
- 1989
Kelvin Herrera, Dominican baseball player
- 1988
Michal Řepík, Czech ice hockey player
- 1987
Javaris Crittenton, American basketball player
- 1987
Seydou Doumbia, Ivorian footballer
- 1987
Danny Holla, Dutch footballer
Notable Deaths on December 31 in History 25
- 2024
Arnold Rüütel, Estonian politician, 3rd President of Estonia (born 1928)
- 2024
Johnnie Walker, British radio DJ (born 1945)
- 2023
Cale Yarborough, American Hall of Fame racing driver and founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978) (born 1939)
- 2022
Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope (2005–2013) and archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) (born 1927)
- 2022
Barry Lane, English golfer (born 1960)
- 2021
Betty White, American actress, comedian and producer (born 1922)
- 2018
Kader Khan, Indian actor (born 1937)
- 2016
William Christopher, American actor (born 1932)
- 2015
Natalie Cole, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1950)
- 2015
Wayne Rogers, American actor and investor (born 1933)
- 2014
Edward Herrmann, American actor (born 1943)
- 2014
Abdullah Hussain, Malaysian author (born 1920)
All entries for December 31（+13）
- 2014
Norm Phelps, American author and activist (born 1939)
- 2014
S. Arthur Spiegel, American captain, lawyer, and judge (born 1920)
- 2014
Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, British soldier and politician (born 1915)
- 2013
James Avery, American actor (born 1945)
- 2013
Roberto Ciotti, Italian guitarist and composer (born 1953)
- 2013
Bob Grant, American radio host (born 1929)
- 2013
Irina Korschunow, German author and screenwriter (born 1925)
- 2012
Tarak Mekki, Tunisian businessman and politician (born 1958)
- 2012
Jovette Marchessault, Canadian author and playwright (born 1938)
- 2012
Günter Rössler, German photographer and journalist (born 1926)
- 2010
Raymond Impanis, Belgian cyclist (born 1925)
- 2010
Per Oscarsson, Swedish actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927)
- 2009
Cahal Daly, Irish cardinal and philosopher, Archbishop of Armagh (born 1917)
That is the story of December 31 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on December 31 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on December 31 in history?
The biggest event on December 31 in history is: 2020 — The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on December 31?
25 famous people were born on December 31 in history, the best known being 2002 — Ryan Flamingo, Dutch footballer.
Who died on December 31?
25 notable people died on December 31 in history, including 2024 — Arnold Rüütel, Estonian politician, 3rd President of Estonia (born 1928).
Why should I read about December 31 in history?
Exploring December 31 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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