The World in 1996
A snapshot of the world your baby was born into
1996
yourduedate.com
World Population
5.8 billion
Growing by 80 million per year
#1 Song
Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)
Los del Rio
Top Movie
Independence Day
$817 million worldwide
Top Baby Names
Emily & Michael
Most popular in the US
Hot Tech
Motorola StarTAC
First clamshell flip phone, 3.1 oz
Space Milestone
Possible Mars life
NASA finds signs of life in Martian meteorite
New Dictionary Words
GOAT, Smartphone, DVR
First known use per Merriam-Webster
US President
Bill Clinton
42nd President, re-elected November
Gas Price
$1.23/gallon
National average
Grocery Prices
Milk $2.61 · Eggs $1.11
Per gallon / per dozen
First-Class Stamp
$0.32
USPS first-class letter
Median Home Price
$118,200
Existing homes (NAR)
Minimum Wage
$4.75/hour
Raised from $4.25 on October 1
S&P 500
741
Year-end close, up 20%
Super Bowl XXX
Cowboys 27-17 Steelers
January 1996, Tempe
World Series
New York Yankees
4-2 over Braves, first title since 1978
Best Picture
Braveheart
68th Academy Awards, 5 Oscars
Then vs Now
1996 compared to 2025
Gas Price
1996
$1.23/gal
→
2025
$3.10/gal
+152%
Milk (per gallon)
1996
$2.61
→
2025
$4.07
+56%
Eggs (per dozen)
1996
$1.11
→
2025
$3.59
+223%
First-Class Stamp
1996
$0.32
→
2025
$0.78
+144%
Minimum Wage
1996
$4.75/hr
→
2025
$7.25/hr
+53%
Median Home Price
1996
$118,200
→
2025
$414,400
+251%
S&P 500
1996
741
→
2025
6,000
+710%
World Population
1996
5.80B
→
2025
8.09B
+39%
Sources
Data compiled from official government sources, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Billboard, Box Office Mojo, SSA, NASA, and Merriam-Webster.
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