World Events in 2004
Indian Ocean Tsunami
On 26 December, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra triggered a devastating tsunami that struck coastlines across the Indian Ocean. Over 230,000 people were killed in 14 countries, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
Madrid Train Bombings
On 11 March, coordinated bomb attacks on commuter trains in Madrid killed 193 people and injured over 2,000. The attacks, carried out by an al-Qaeda-inspired cell, occurred three days before Spain's general election and led to a change of government.
Beslan School Siege
In September, Chechen militants seized a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, taking over 1,100 people hostage, most of them children. The three-day siege ended in a chaotic battle that killed 334 hostages, including 186 children.
EU Expands by 10 Countries
On 1 May, the European Union welcomed 10 new member states — primarily former Eastern Bloc nations including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It was the largest single expansion in EU history, bringing membership to 25 countries.
Greece Wins Euro 2004
In one of football's greatest upsets, Greece won the European Championship in Portugal, beating the hosts 1-0 in the final. Managed by Otto Rehhagel, the unfancied team had been 80-1 outsiders at the start of the tournament.
George W. Bush Re-elected
President Bush defeated Democratic challenger John Kerry to win a second term, with the War on Terror and 'values' issues dominating the campaign. Bush won the popular vote by 3 million, unlike the contested 2000 election.
Music in 2004
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Band Aid 20
A new version of the 1984 charity single was recorded to mark 20 years since the original, featuring artists including Dido, Robbie Williams, and Dizzee Rascal. It became the Christmas number one and best-selling single of the year.
"Yeah!"
Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris
The crunk-pop anthem spent 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the defining sound of 2004, helping Usher's 'Confessions' album sell over 10 million copies in the US.
#1 Film of 2004
Shrek 2
Box Office: $928 million worldwide
The animated sequel surpassed the original in every way commercially, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2004 worldwide and proving that DreamWorks Animation could compete with Pixar at the very top.
Born in 2004
Lamine Yamal
Spanish footballer who became the youngest ever goalscorer at a European Championship, starring for FC Barcelona
Coco Gauff
American tennis prodigy who became the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam fourth round since 1991 and won the US Open in 2023
North West
Daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, one of the most famous celebrity children of the era
Endrick
Brazilian footballer signed by Real Madrid as a teenager after sensational performances for Palmeiras
Lost in 2004
Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States who helped end the Cold War
Age 93
Ray Charles
Pioneering American musician known as 'The Genius', who blended soul, R&B, and jazz
Age 73
Marlon Brando
Iconic American actor of The Godfather and A Streetcar Named Desire
Age 80
Christopher Reeve
American actor who defined Superman on screen, later a spinal cord injury advocate after a horse-riding accident
Age 52
Technology in 2004
Facebook launched from Mark Zuckerberg's Harvard dorm room on 4 February — initially restricted to students. Gmail launched by invitation, offering an unheard-of 1GB of storage. Flickr pioneered photo sharing, and podcasting emerged as a new medium.
- ● Facebook launched on 4 February at Harvard University
- ● Google launched Gmail with 1GB of free storage
- ● Flickr pioneered online photo sharing
- ● Mozilla Firefox 1.0 released as an alternative to Internet Explorer
Cost of Living in 2004
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £148,000 | $185,000 |
| Average salary | £22,000 | $43,000 |
| Pint of milk | £0.28 | $0.39 |
| Loaf of bread | £0.60 | $1.07 |
| Dozen eggs | £1.42 | $1.25 |
| Pint of beer | £2.15 | $3.25 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £3.65 | $1.88 |
| Cinema ticket | £5.10 | $6.21 |
Shop 2004 memorabilia on eBay/Amazon
The Zeitgeist of 2004
Cultural confidence returned as the economy recovered — metrosexual fashion was in full swing, with David Beckham as its poster boy. TV was transformed by Lost and Desperate Housewives. Greece's stunning Euro 2004 victory was one of football's greatest upsets. The iPod Mini made Apple cool with a younger demographic, and everyone was playing GTA: San Andreas.
In the News in 2004
Spain suffered the Madrid train bombings killing 193 people. The Beslan school siege in Russia killed over 330, including 186 children. Martha Stewart was convicted of insider trading. The Cassini spacecraft reached Saturn. Ken Bigley's kidnapping and murder in Iraq shocked the UK.