Year by year · 20th century

1980

1980 in world history: 11 events, 3 births, 18 deaths and 2 states that came to an end. 199 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 22 February

    US amateurs beat the Soviet Union in the 'Miracle on Ice'

    A team of American college players defeated the Soviet Union, four-time Olympic champions, 4-3 at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. The US went on to win the gold medal.

    Soviet Union

  2. 27 March

    Mount St Helens erupts for the first time in 123 years

    A steam explosion blasted a crater in the summit of the Washington volcano after a week of earthquakes. On 18 May a massive eruption tore away its north face and killed 57 people.

  3. 18 May

    Mount St Helens erupts in Washington State

    An earthquake triggered a vast landslide and lateral blast that tore away the mountain's north face. Fifty-seven people died in the deadliest eruption in US history.

  4. 1 June

    CNN launches as the first 24-hour news channel

    Ted Turner's Cable News Network began broadcasting from Atlanta. Its round-the-clock coverage created the modern continuous news cycle.

  5. 22 September

    Iraq invades Iran

    Saddam Hussein's forces invaded Iran, starting an eight-year war of trenches, missile attacks and poison gas. Hundreds of thousands died before a ceasefire in 1988 left borders unchanged.

  6. 8 December

    John Lennon is shot dead in New York

    Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon outside the Dakota building in Manhattan. The killing of the former Beatle prompted vigils around the world.

    New York

  7. Event

    Mariel boatlift

    The Mariel boatlift was the mass emigration of about 125,000 Cubans from the port of Mariel to Florida between April and October 1980.

ProfileState195 states with a known seat in 1980Open the atlas at 1980 →

In the profiles

  • SurinameSergeants led by Desi Bouterse seize power in a coup
  • Republic of El SalvadorArchbishop Óscar Romero is assassinated while saying mass
  • LiberiaSamuel Doe’s coup ends True Whig Party rule

Wars and longer events

Born in 1980 3

Died in 1980 18

States that came to an end 2

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1980. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1980
MLA
“1980.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1980. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1980.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1980.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1980’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1980 (Accessed: ).