The World in 1997
A snapshot of the world your baby was born into
1997
yourduedate.com
World Population
5.9 billion
Growing by 80 million per year
#1 Song
Candle in the Wind 1997
Elton John (Princess Diana tribute)
Top Movie
Titanic
$1.84 billion worldwide
Top Baby Names
Emily & Michael
Most popular in the US
Hot Tech
DVD Player
First US launch, fastest-selling electronics ever
Space Milestone
Mars Pathfinder & Sojourner
First Mars rover, landed July 4
New Dictionary Words
Emoji, Weblog, Auto-Tune
First known use per Merriam-Webster
US President
Bill Clinton
42nd President, 2nd term
Gas Price
$1.24/gallon
National average
Grocery Prices
Milk $2.61 · Eggs $1.07
Per gallon / per dozen
First-Class Stamp
$0.32
USPS first-class letter
Median Home Price
$124,100
Existing homes (NAR)
Minimum Wage
$5.15/hour
Raised from $4.75 on September 1
S&P 500
970
Year-end close, up 31%
Super Bowl XXXI
Packers 35-21 Patriots
January 1997, New Orleans
World Series
Florida Marlins
4-3 over Indians, walk-off Game 7
Best Picture
The English Patient
69th Academy Awards, 9 Oscars
Then vs Now
1997 compared to 2025
Gas Price
1997
$1.24/gal
→
2025
$3.10/gal
+150%
Milk (per gallon)
1997
$2.61
→
2025
$4.07
+56%
Eggs (per dozen)
1997
$1.07
→
2025
$3.59
+236%
First-Class Stamp
1997
$0.32
→
2025
$0.78
+144%
Minimum Wage
1997
$5.15/hr
→
2025
$7.25/hr
+41%
Median Home Price
1997
$124,100
→
2025
$414,400
+234%
S&P 500
1997
970
→
2025
6,000
+519%
World Population
1997
5.90B
→
2025
8.09B
+37%
Sources
Data compiled from official government sources, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Billboard, Box Office Mojo, SSA, NASA, and Merriam-Webster.
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