BestOfDate

How many years ago was 1981?

1981 was 43 years ago.

43 years have passed between December 5th, 1981, and December 5th, 2024. It was 15,706 days ago.

How long ago was 1981?

To put into perspective how long ago 1981 was:

  • The teenagers that existed in 1981 are now 56–62 years old.
  • Four decades have passed since then.
  • Movies came on VHS tapes.
  • Most offices were still using typewriters. It wasn't until the nineties that PCs began to take over.
  • The Internet wasn't invented yet.
  • Motorists had to rely on printed maps and directions to get to places. GPS systems didn't appear until more than a decade later.
  • The Moon is moving away from Earth at roughly 1.49 inches per year. That means that it has moved away by about 64 inches since 1981.
  • There have been roughly 2,236 weekends since then.
  • Names such as Madonna, Phil Collins, Michael Jordan, Demi Moore, George Michael, Tom Hanks, Michael Keaton, and Diego Maradona were not famous at the time.
  • Popular songs that year included the likes of "Starting Over" by John Lennon, "The Tide Is High" by Blondie, "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang, "9 To 5" by Dolly Parton, "I Love A Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt, and "Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon.
  • Films such as "Neighbors", "Rollover", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Time Bandits", "Halloween II", and "The French Lieutenant's Woman" were playing at movie theaters in 1981.
  • Ronald Reagan was still the President of the United States.
  • Margaret Thatcher was still the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
  • The Earth has travelled 194 billion miles through space since 1981.
  • Most cars didn't have electric windows.
  • Costco didn't exist.
  • There was no such thing as "Chicken McNuggets."
  • Although TV remote controls existed, many homes did not have them.
  • Microwave ovens were only starting to become a common fixture in kitchens.
  • There was no such thing as "Gangsta rap".
  • John Belushi was still alive.
  • Due to the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean, the distance between the United States and Europe has grown 108 centimeters since 1981.
  • A person who was born that year has had roughly 86–129 colds in their lifetime.
  • The world has gone through 172 seasons of weather.
  • Camcorders weren't a thing yet. Video cameras were heavy and often had to be mounted on special supports.
  • "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends", "Only Fools and Horses", "The Greatest American Hero", "Dynasty", and "Hill Street Blues" were among the TV shows that started airing that year.

Other years

Check out some of the other "years ago" stats!