The world population on January 1, 2007, was estimated to be 6.714billion people and increased to 6.801billion people by January 1, 2008. An estimated 139.9million births and 53.4million deaths took place in 2007. The average global life expectancy was 69.0 years, an increase of 0.4 years from 2006. The estimated number of global refugees increased from 9.9million to 11.4million by the end of the year. The largest sources of refugees were Afghanistan with 3.1million people and Iraq with 2.3million people.
There were 34 conflicts in 2007 that resulted in at least 25 fatalities. Four of these resulted in at least 1,000 fatalities: the Iraqi insurgency, the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, Eelam War IV in Sri Lanka, and the War in Somalia. This was the first year since 1957 to have fewer than five such conflicts. Conflicts in 2007 trended toward fragmentation as insurgencies, criminal organizations, and terrorist groups engaged with each other.
The Iraqi insurgency against the Multi-National Force – Iraq grew in 2007. Conflict rose between Sunni and Shia populations, and sectarian militias emerged. Despite making up a small portion of the insurgency, al-Qaeda in Iraq became a major perpetrator of mass-casualty attacks. The United States escalated its presence in Iraq with a surge of soldiers and the commencement of Operation Phantom Thunder to combat Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups. American soldiers launched a new attack on the Diyala Governorate as part of the Diyala campaign.
Several conflicts emerged or resumed in 2007 as rebel groups and insurgencies became active. The ADC rebel group started an insurgency in northern Mali, reviving a 1990s insurgency for Tuareg separatism. Another Tuareg insurgency formed in Niger, the Niger Movement for Justice, but it did not promote the separatist beliefs of the ADC. Rebellion by Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi resumed in Pakistan, escalating after a siege on a mosque in July. Other conflicts that resumed in 2007 included the Cabinda War in Angola and the conflict with the Shining Path in Peru. Bundu dia Kongo, a Kongo separatist movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, abandoned its mostly-peaceful approach and formally militarized.
The gross world product increased by 3.7% in 2007, slowing after the 3.9% growth in 2006. Growth was highest in transition economies at 8.0% and developing countries at 6.9%. Inflation slowed in developed countries to an increase of only 1.9%, while developing countries saw an inflation rate of 5.6%. Unemployment rates lowered throughout the world, albeit less so in Africa.
Negotiations surrounding the Doha Development Round resumed in February, but no progress was made throughout the year. Oil prices rose as demand from developing countries exceeded the resource slack, and development of biofuel contributing to rising prices for wheat and maize.
The year 2007 was the fifth hottest year on record. January was warmed by El Niño and the final months of the year were cooled by La Niña. Heat waves occurred in Europe during May through July and in North America during August. A severe cold wave took place in the United States in April. An ongoing drought in Australia grew worse in the Murray–Darling basin. Rains and flooding caused significant displacement or crop damage in places including Bolivia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Uruguay. Approximately 500 people were killed by a magnitude 8 earthquake in Peru. The Arctic ice pack melted at ten times the annual average, and during summer the Northwest Passage was entirely clear of ice for the first time.
Fifteen tropical storms occurred in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, including six hurricanes: Hurricane Dean, Hurricane Felix, Hurricane Humberto, Hurricane Karen, and Hurricane Noel. Although the number of tropical storms was higher than average, eight of them lasted under two days and the season overall was of average intensity. Landfall of Hurricane Dean and Hurricane Felix in Central America marked the first time on record for two category five hurricanes to make landfall in one season. Twenty-five tropical storms occurred in the 2007 Pacific typhoon season, including fifteen typhoons. The most intense typhoons were Typhoon Sepat, Typhoon Man-yi, Typhoon Wipha, and Typhoon Krosa. Taiwan experienced significant damage from Typhoon Krosa and Typhoon Sepat. Typhoon Wipha caused two million people to be temporarily displaced around Fuding, China, while Tropical Storm Lekima destroyed 100,000 homes in Vietnam
Nicolas Sarkozy became president of France and worked toward several reforms, including a push to increase the 35 hour workweek. Gordon Brown became prime minister of the United Kingdom with a promise of political continuity. Turkey elected Abdullah Gül as president and reelected Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as prime minister.
President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan gave up his military position to but then brought about a period of emergency rule. He declared this was to prevent Islamist attacks, but critics alleged he was attempting to maintain power. Former prime minister of PakistanBenazir Bhutto was assassinated in an attack at the end of the year, in the days leading up to the 2008 election that may have seen her return to the office.
The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann was a story of international interest after a young girl from the United Kingdom disappeared while on vacation in Portugal.
The dinosaur Gigantoraptor erlianensis was described, with its size suggesting that dinosaurs did not necessarily get smaller as they evolved into birds.
The iPhone became a phenomenon when it was announced and lines formed around Apple Stores upon its release.
Events
January
Bulgaria and Romania (both in yellow) join the European Union
January 9 – Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the original iPhone at a Macworld keynote in San Francisco, California; starting the new era of smartphones with this invention. The phone would be released in June.[citation needed]
February 13–North Korea agrees to shut down its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon by April 14 as a first step towards complete denuclearization, receiving in return energy aid equivalent to 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil.
February 19– Microblogging social network Tumblr is launched to the public.
March 3– A total lunar eclipse occurs and is visible in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. It is the 52nd lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros series 123 occurring at the moon's descending node. The moon is just 3.2 days before apogee, making it fairly small.
March 19– The first solar eclipse of the year 2007 is a partial solar eclipse occurring just 0.7 days before perigee, making it very large. The Moon covers 87.558% of the Sun. In this partial solar eclipse, the best visibility occurs at 61º02'55" N, 55º28'04" E. It is the 20th solar eclipse of Solar Saros series 149, at ascending node. The Sun is its zenith just 83km south of the Equator, so the Northern Hemisphere was in winter and the Southern Hemisphere was in summer on March 19, 2007.
TAM Airlines Flight 3054 an Airbus A320-233 overruns the runway of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport runway 35L, flies over Avenida Washington Luís and crashes into TAM Express building and a Shell filling station adjacent to the TAM Express building. All 187 passengers and crew are killed instantly. 12 people inside the TAM Express and the Shell filling station are also killed.
October 22 – Montenegro adopts a new constitution, which among other things changes the country's official name from "Republic of Montenegro" to "Montenegro".
December 1 – At the age of 81years, 244days, Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest ever reigning British monarch, surpassing Queen Victoria who was aged 81years, 243days upon her death on January 22, 1901.
↑Bush, George W. (January 10, 2007). "President's Address to the Nation". Office of the Press Secretary. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2007.
↑Cartwright, John (August 6, 2007). "Phoenix blasts off to Mars". Physics World. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
World Population Prospects 2024 (Report). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2024. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
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