1990 facts for kids

From top-left, clockwise: the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy; the Human Genome Project begins; The Pale Blue Dot image from Voyager 1; Germany reunites; British police during the poll tax protests; Iraq invades Kuwait, starting the Gulf War; an earthquake in Iran; the Hubble Space Telescope is launched.

This article is about the year 1990.

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s – 1990s – 2000s 2010s 2020s
Years:	1987 1988 1989 – 1990 – 1991 1992 1993

1990 in various calendars
Gregorian calendar	1990 MCMXC
Ab urbe condita	2743
Armenian calendar	1439 ԹՎ ՌՆԼԹ
Assyrian calendar	6740
Bahá'í calendar	146–147
Balinese saka calendar	1911–1912
Bengali calendar	1397
Berber calendar	2940
British Regnal year	38 Eliz. 2 – 39 Eliz. 2
Buddhist calendar	2534
Burmese calendar	1352
Byzantine calendar	7498–7499
Chinese calendar	己巳年 (Earth Snake) 4686 or 4626 — to — 庚午年 (Metal Horse) 4687 or 4627
Coptic calendar	1706–1707
Discordian calendar	3156
Ethiopian calendar	1982–1983
Hebrew calendar	5750–5751
Hindu calendars
- Vikram Samvat	2046–2047
- Shaka Samvat	1911–1912
- Kali Yuga	5090–5091
Holocene calendar	11990
Igbo calendar	990–991
Iranian calendar	1368–1369
Islamic calendar	1410–1411
Japanese calendar	Heisei 2 (平成２年)
Javanese calendar	1922–1923
Juche calendar	79
Julian calendar	Gregorian minus 13 days
Korean calendar	4323
Minguo calendar	ROC 79 民國79年
Nanakshahi calendar	522
Thai solar calendar	2533
Tibetan calendar	阴土蛇年 (female Earth-Snake) 2116 or 1735 or 963 — to — 阳金马年 (male Iron-Horse) 2117 or 1736 or 964
Unix time	631152000 – 662687999

1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1990th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 990th year of the 2nd millennium, the 90th year of the 20th century, and the 1st year of the 1990s decade.

The year 1990 was a time of big changes around the world. Germany, which had been divided since World War II, became one country again. Yemen also united. Important scientific projects began, like the Human Genome Project, which aimed to map all human genes. The amazing Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space, allowing us to see the universe more clearly than ever before.

In Africa, Namibia gained its independence from South Africa. Also, the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) started declaring their independence from the Soviet Union, which was a huge step towards the end of the Cold War. In Yugoslavia, the communist government began to fall apart, leading to new elections and the start of its breakup.

A major crisis began in 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait. This event led to the Gulf War in 1991. Many countries joined together to demand that Iraq leave Kuwait. In South Africa, a very important moment happened when Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. Also, Margaret Thatcher, who had been the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for over 11 years, resigned.

The year 1990 was also a key time for the early Internet. Tim Berners-Lee created the very first web server and laid the groundwork for what we now know as the World Wide Web. Testing of the web began in December 1990. The ARPANET, an early version of the Internet, was officially shut down, and the first search engine, Archie, was introduced.

On September 14, 1990, the first successful gene therapy was performed on a patient. This was a big step in medical science. Due to economic changes and the fall of socialist governments in Eastern Europe, birth rates in many countries either stopped rising or decreased.

Major Events of 1990
World Population in 1990
Nobel Prizes in 1990
Fields Medal in 1990

Major Events of 1990

January Highlights

On January 1, Poland became the first country in Eastern Europe to start moving away from its state-controlled economy.
Glasgow, Scotland, began its year as the European Capital of Culture.
The first companies offering Internet access to businesses, PSINet and EUnet, started in the United States and the Netherlands.
The popular comedy show Mr. Bean, starring Rowan Atkinson, first aired in the United Kingdom.
On January 3, General Manuel Noriega, the leader of Panama, surrendered to American forces.
On January 11, in Lithuania, 300,000 people protested for independence from the Soviet Union.
On January 13, Douglas Wilder became the first elected African American governor in the United States, taking office in Virginia.
On January 15, Bulgaria's National Assembly voted to end one-party rule by the Communist Party.
Also on January 15, thousands of people stormed the Stasi (secret police) headquarters in East Berlin to see their government records.
On January 20, Soviet troops entered Baku, Azerbaijan, and many protesters were killed. The Nakhichevan region declared independence from the Soviet Union.
On January 25, Avianca Flight 052 crashed in New York, killing 73 people.
On January 31, the first McDonald's restaurant opened in Moscow, Russia.

February Highlights

In February, smoking was banned on all cross-country flights in the United States.
On February 2, South African President F. W. de Klerk announced that the African National Congress (ANC) was no longer banned and promised to release Nelson Mandela. This was a huge step towards ending apartheid.
On February 7, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union voted to end its monopoly on power, opening the door for multi-party elections.
On February 10, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who agreed that Germans had the right to choose reunification.
On February 11, Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa after 27 years. This was a historic moment for human rights.
On February 13, East and West Germany agreed on a two-step plan to reunite their country.
On February 14, the Voyager 1 probe sent back the famous "Pale Blue Dot" photograph of Earth from billions of miles away.
On February 15, the United Kingdom and Argentina restored diplomatic relations after eight years, following the Falklands War.
On February 25, Violeta Chamorro was elected president of Nicaragua, becoming the first woman elected as a head of state in the Americas.
On February 26, the Soviet Union agreed to remove all its troops from Czechoslovakia by July 1991.

March Highlights

On March 1, the U.S. Secret Service raided Steve Jackson Games, which later led to the creation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization that protects digital rights.
On March 3, a group of six explorers completed the first dog sled crossing of Antarctica.
On March 8, the Nintendo World Championships began, a gaming competition across 29 American cities.
On March 11, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
On March 13, the Soviet Union approved changes to its constitution to create a strong presidency. Mikhail Gorbachev was elected the first President of the Soviet Union on March 15.
On March 15, the Soviet Union declared Lithuania's independence invalid.
On March 18, East Germany held its first free elections.
On March 21, Namibia became independent after 75 years of South African rule.
On March 24, Bob Hawke's Labor government was re-elected in Australia.
On March 25, a fire at an illegal social club in New York City killed 87 people.
On March 30, Estonia declared that Soviet rule had been illegal since 1940 and began a transition period towards full independence.
On March 31, a large protest against the "poll tax" in Trafalgar Square, London, turned into a riot, injuring many people.

April Highlights

On April 1, the "poll tax" took effect in England and Wales, leading to widespread protests.
Also on April 1, the longest prison riot in British history began at Strangeways Prison in Manchester.
On April 7, the ferry MS Scandinavian Star caught fire, killing 158 people.
On April 8, Nepal lifted a ban on political parties after violent protests.
On April 12, Lothar de Maizière became prime minister of East Germany, supporting German reunification.
On April 13, the Soviet Union apologized for the Katyn massacre, a mass killing of Polish officers during World War II.
On April 22, Earth Day 20 was celebrated by millions worldwide, raising awareness about environmental protection.
On April 24, West and East Germany agreed to merge their currencies and economies on July 1.
Also on April 24, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.
On April 25, Violeta Chamorro was sworn in as President of Nicaragua.

May Highlights

On May 4, Latvia declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
On May 8, Estonia restored its formal name, the Republic of Estonia, and its national symbols.
On May 17, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases, a significant step for LGBTQ+ rights.
On May 18, East and West Germany signed a treaty to merge their economic and social systems, effective July 1.
On May 19, the US and the USSR agreed to stop producing chemical weapons and destroy most of their existing stockpiles.
On May 22, the leaders of North and South Yemen announced the unification of their countries, forming the Republic of Yemen.
On May 29, Boris Yeltsin was elected as the first president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
On May 30, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev began a four-day summit in Washington, D.C.

June Highlights

On June 1, the US and Soviet Union signed a treaty to end chemical weapon production.
On June 8, the 1990 FIFA World Cup began in Italy. West Germany won the tournament on July 8.
On June 11, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam killed over 600 unarmed police officers in Sri Lanka.
On June 12, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic declared its sovereignty.
On June 13, the official destruction of the Berlin Wall began, seven months after it was opened.
On June 21, a major earthquake in northern Iran killed between 35,000 and 50,000 people.
On June 22, Checkpoint Charlie, a famous crossing point in the Berlin Wall, was dismantled.
On June 24, Kathleen Margaret Brown and Irene Templeton became the first female Anglican priests in the United Kingdom.

July Highlights

On July 1, East and West Germany merged their economies, and the West German currency became official in the East. The border between them also stopped functioning.
On July 2, a stampede in a pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca killed 1,426 people.
On July 3, Angola's ruling party agreed to allow opposition parties and multi-party elections.
On July 5, riots broke out in Kenya against the ruling party's control.
On July 8, West Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
On July 10, UEFA lifted the five-year ban on English football teams competing in Europe, which had been in place since the Heysel Stadium disaster.
On July 16, an earthquake in the Philippines killed over 2,400 people.
On July 26, U.S. President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects disabled Americans from discrimination.
On July 27, a coup attempt occurred in Trinidad and Tobago, lasting five days and resulting in deaths and injuries.
On July 30, British politician Ian Gow was assassinated by a car bomb.

August Highlights

On August 1, Zhelyu Zhelev was elected the first non-Communist President of Bulgaria in 40 years.
On August 2, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War.
On August 6, the United Nations Security Council ordered a global trade embargo against Iraq in response to its invasion of Kuwait.
On August 8, Iraq formally announced its annexation of Kuwait.
On August 10, Egypt, Syria, and 10 other Arab states voted to send military forces to Saudi Arabia to deter an Iraqi invasion.
On August 12, "Sue," the best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever found, was discovered in South Dakota, United States.
On August 23, East and West Germany announced they would unite on October 3.
On August 24, the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
Also on August 24, Northern Ireland writer Brian Keenan was released from Lebanon after being held hostage for nearly five years.
On August 28, the Plainfield Tornado, an F5 tornado, struck towns in Illinois, killing 29 people.

September Highlights

On September 2, Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova, though it was not recognized by any government.
On September 9, U.S. President Bush and Soviet President Gorbachev met in Helsinki to discuss the Persian Gulf crisis.
Also on September 9, Liberian president Samuel Doe was captured and killed by rebel forces.
On September 10, the first Pizza Hut opened in the Soviet Union.
On September 11, U.S. President George H. W. Bush threatened the use of force to remove Iraqi soldiers from Kuwait.
On September 12, the two German states and the Four Powers (US, UK, France, USSR) signed a treaty in Moscow, paving the way for German reunification.
On September 18, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta.
On September 24, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union granted Gorbachev special powers to help the Soviet Union transition to a market economy.
On September 29, the Washington National Cathedral was completed.
On September 29-30, the United Nations World Summit for Children brought together over 70 world leaders.

October Highlights

In October, Tim Berners-Lee began his work on the World Wide Web.
On October 1, the Rwandan Patriotic Front invaded Rwanda from Uganda, starting the Rwandan Civil War.
Also on October 1, the Soviet Union passed a law allowing religious freedom.
On October 2, two commercial planes collided on the runway at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China, killing 128 people.
On October 3, East and West Germany officially reunited into a single Germany. This was a major event marking the end of the Cold War.
On October 8, Israeli police killed 17 Palestinians near the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem.
Also on October 8, the first McDonald's restaurant opened in Mainland China, in Shenzhen.
On October 13, Syrian military forces invaded and occupied Mount Lebanon, effectively ending the Lebanese Civil War.
On October 15, South Africa ended segregation in public facilities like libraries, trains, and swimming pools.
On October 24, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti revealed the existence of Operation Gladio, a secret NATO operation during the Cold War.
On October 27, Askar Akayev was selected as the first president of Kyrgyzstan.
On October 30, the first transatlantic fiber optic cable, TAT-8, failed, slowing down Internet traffic between the United States and Europe.

November Highlights

In November, the earliest known portable digital camera was sold in the United States.
On November 2, British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television merged to form BSkyB.
On November 7, Mary Robinson became the first female President of Ireland.
On November 9, a new constitution came into effect in Nepal, establishing a multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy.
On November 12, Akihito was enthroned as the 125th emperor of Japan.
Also on November 12, Tim Berners-Lee published a more formal proposal for the World Wide Web.
On November 13, the first known web page was written.
On November 14, Germany and Poland signed a treaty confirming their border.
On November 15, President Bush signed a new Clean Air Act in the United States, focusing on urban pollution.
On November 19-21, leaders from Canada, the United States, and 32 European states met in Paris to formally mark the end of the Cold War.
On November 21, Nintendo released the Super Famicom (Super Nintendo) in Japan.
On November 22, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced she would resign.
On November 28, Margaret Thatcher resigned after 11 years and was replaced by John Major.
On November 29, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 678, allowing military action against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.

December Highlights

On December 1, Channel Tunnel workers from the UK and France met 40 meters beneath the English Channel, creating the first land connection between Great Britain and mainland Europe in about 8,000 years.
On December 2, Helmut Kohl won the first German federal election held since reunification, remaining Chancellor of Germany.
On December 3, a plane collision on the runway at Detroit Metropolitan Airport killed 8 passengers and 4 crew members.
On December 6, President Hussain Muhammad Ershad of Bangladesh was forced to resign after large protests.
On December 9, Lech Wałęsa won Poland's first presidential election.
On December 11, Albania announced that free national elections would be held in 1991, allowing political parties other than the ruling Party of Labour.
On December 16, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti, ending three decades of military rule.
On December 20, Tim Berners-Lee completed the test for the first webpage at CERN.
On December 22, the first constitution of Croatia was adopted.
Also on December 22, the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia became independent.
On December 23, Slovenia held a referendum where 88.5% of voters supported independence from Yugoslavia.
On December 30, Garry Kasparov won the World Chess Championship against Anatoly Karpov.

World Population in 1990

World population
	1990	1985			1995
World	5,263,593,000	4,830,979,000	432,614,000	+8.95%	5,674,380,000	410,787,000	+7.80%
Africa	622,443,000	541,718,000	80,629,000	+14.88%	707,462,000	85,019,000	+13.66%
Asia	3,167,807,000	2,887,552,000	280,255,000	+9.71%	3,430,052,000	262,245,000	+8.28%
Europe	721,582,000	706,009,000	15,573,000	+2.21%	727,405,000	5,823,000	+0.81%
Latin America	441,525,000	401,469,000	40,056,000	+9.98%	481,099,000	39,574,000	+8.96%
North America	283,549,000	269,456,000	14,093,000	+5.23%	299,438,000	15,889,000	+5.60%
Oceania	26,687,000	24,678,000	2,009,000	+8.14%	28,924,000	2,237,000	+8.38%

Nobel Prizes in 1990

A Nobel Prize medal.

Physics – Jerome Isaac Friedman, Henry Way Kendall, and Richard Edward Taylor
Chemistry – Elias James Corey
Physiology or Medicine – Joseph Murray, E. Donnall Thomas
Literature – Octavio Paz
Peace – Mikhail Gorbachev
Economic Sciences – Harry Markowitz, Merton Miller, William F. Sharpe

Fields Medal in 1990

Vladimir Drinfeld, Vaughan Jones, Shigefumi Mori, Edward Witten

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