What Happened in 2022 — Major World Events
Russia invades Ukraine
On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war shocked the world, caused a refugee crisis, and threatened NATO. Heroic resistance from Ukraine's President Zelensky inspired the West.
Queen Elizabeth II dies
After 70 years on the throne, Britain's longest-reigning monarch died on September 8 at age 96. Charles III became king. Her funeral was watched by millions and marked the end of an era.
UK has 3 prime ministers
Boris Johnson resigned in July, replaced by Liz Truss who lasted just 49 days—the shortest tenure ever. Rishi Sunak took over in October. Political chaos erupted.
FTX crypto exchange implodes
Sam Bankman-Fried's $32 billion crypto exchange collapsed in November. Fraud, insider trading, and theft of customer funds were revealed. It was crypto's biggest scandal.
Number 1 Songs in 2022 — UK and US Charts
"As It Was"
Harry Styles
The biggest song of 2022 globally, breaking all streaming records. A nostalgic, upbeat track that dominated charts for weeks.
"As It Was"
Harry Styles
Dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks. The song's melancholic yet catchy melody made it the year's defining track.
Biggest Films of 2022 — Box Office Hits
Top Gun: Maverick
Box Office: $1.49 billion
The long-awaited sequel proved legacy sequels could work. Tom Cruise's death-defying stunts wowed audiences. It became the highest-grossing film of 2022 and revitalized the franchise.
Famous People Born in 2022
Royal babies and celebrity children
Born in 2022
Notable Deaths in 2022
Queen Elizabeth II
Longest-reigning British monarch (70 years)
Age 96
Mikhail Gorbachev
Last Soviet leader who ended the Cold War
Age 91
Jean-Luc Godard
French New Wave filmmaker and revolutionary director
Age 91
Technology and Inventions in 2022
ChatGPT launched in November and shocked the world with AI capabilities. Elon's Twitter chaos dominated tech news. NFTs became a punchline. Crypto winter hit hard with FTX's fraud collapse. AI was no longer theoretical—it was here.
- ● ChatGPT launched (November) with 1 million users in 5 days
- ● Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44 billion
- ● FTX crypto exchange collapses in fraud scandal
- ● Meta (Facebook) announces 10,000 layoffs
- ● Twitter loses advertisers after Elon takeover
By the Numbers in 2022
World Population
8.0B
UK Life Expectancy
60.4 years
US Life Expectancy
60.6 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$1,800.3
Dow Jones Index
32,978
US National Debt
30.9T
Sovereign Nations
195
How Much Did Things Cost in 2022?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £305,000 | $428,700 |
| Average salary | £33,500 | $63,184 |
| Pint of milk | £0.62 | $0.45 |
| Loaf of bread | £1.50 | $2.99 |
| Cinema ticket | £10.00 | $12.50 |
| Petrol per litre | £1.68 | $3.47 |
Shop 2022 memorabilia on eBay/Amazon
The Zeitgeist of 2022
Darkened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Elon Musk's erratic Twitter takeover captivated and horrified. Queen Elizabeth II's death marked the end of an era. Cost of living surged, strikers demanded wages keep pace. The mood was one of uncertainty and upheaval.
What Was in the News in 2022
Russia invaded Ukraine in February, shocking Europe. Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne. Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion and slashed staff. UK had 3 prime ministers. Monkeypox declared a global health emergency. Crypto collapsed with FTX implosion.