1991 felt like a hinge in history. The Cold War ended for good, the Gulf War flashed across live TV, and the World Wide Web stepped into public view. Democracies stirred, borders shifted, volcano ash dimmed the sun, and pop culture found a new, louder voice.
Global Overview: Why 1991 Mattered
USSR dissolves: December brings the Belavezha Accords, Gorbachev’s resignation, and 15 newly independent states.
Gulf War: Air campaign starts Jan 17; a ~100-hour ground offensive (Feb 24–28) liberates Kuwait.
The Web opens: Tim Berners-Lee introduces the project publicly; the first website at CERN becomes a quiet landmark.
Natural shocks: Mount Pinatubo erupts (June 15); the Bangladesh cyclone (Apr 29) kills well over 100,000.
In one year, maps, markets, and media all changed course. If the late ’80s loosened the Cold War, 1991 cut the knot.
Cold War Aftermath & New Geopolitics
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union (Dec): The USSR ends; Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and others stand up new governments, currencies, and foreign policies.
- START I (July 31): Washington and Moscow sign a sweeping nuclear arms-reduction treaty that frames early-’90s security.
- Europe’s next phase: Agreement at Maastricht (Dec) lays the political groundwork for the EU treaty signed in early 1992.
- Recognition waves: The Baltic states secure broad recognition; former Soviet republics seek international institutions and IMF entry.
Conflicts & Crises
- Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins Jan 17; a rapid ground push in late February forces Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait.
- Yugoslav Wars ignite: Slovenia and Croatia declare independence (June 25); Slovenia’s Ten-Day War ends in July while fighting deepens in Croatia.
- Somalia: The regime of Siad Barre collapses in late January, ushering in state fragmentation and humanitarian crises.
- Ethiopia & Eritrea: Rebels take Addis Ababa (May); Eritrean forces capture Asmara, setting the course for independence in 1993.
- Cambodia: Paris Peace Agreements (Oct 23) place the peace process under a UN umbrella.
Democracy, Rights & Diplomacy
- South Africa’s turn: Apartheid’s core statutes—including the Population Registration Act—are repealed; CODESA talks open in December.
- Baltic momentum: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia consolidate independence and win recognition across Europe and beyond.
- The Americas: Democratic transitions and economic coordination continue across the region, with new anti-inflation playbooks.
- Humanitarian norms: Debates on no-fly zones, sanctions, and protection of civilians shape 1990s diplomacy.
Economy & Business
- India’s 1991 reforms: Facing a balance-of-payments crisis, New Delhi devalues the rupee, cuts licensing, and opens sectors—policies steered by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh.
- Post-Soviet transitions: New states wrestle with privatization, inflation, and social safety nets in the shift toward markets.
- Energy shocks and calm: Oil prices spike around the Gulf War, then settle as supply fears ease.
- Global trade: Late-Uruguay Round negotiations foreshadow the rules-based globalization of the mid-’90s.
Science & Technology
- The Web goes public (Aug): CERN’s project—hypertext pages linked across networks—enters public consciousness and invites participation.
- Linux announced (Aug 25): A student project blossoms into a free, Unix-like OS that will power servers, phones, and hobby rigs alike.
- PGP (June): Pretty Good Privacy puts modern cryptography in citizens’ hands, igniting the “Crypto Wars.”
- Everyday computing: Multimedia PCs, desktop publishing, and portable electronics hint at always-on, always-with-you tech.
Environment & Disasters
- Mount Pinatubo (June 15): One of the century’s largest eruptions; stratospheric aerosols cool global temperatures temporarily.
- Cyclone in Bangladesh (Apr 29): A catastrophic storm kills more than 100,000; recovery reshapes disaster-preparedness debates.
- Policy momentum: Ozone recovery, emissions standards, and “sustainable development” surge toward 1992’s Earth Summit.
Culture, Media & Sports
- Music: Nirvana’s Nevermind, Metallica’s “Black Album,” U2’s Achtung Baby, and R.E.M.’s Out of Time reset the sound of radio and MTV.
- Film: Terminator 2, Beauty and the Beast, Thelma & Louise, and The Silence of the Lambs dominate box offices and awards.
- Sports: The Chicago Bulls win their first NBA title; the U.S. lifts the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup (China); Australia wins the Rugby World Cup.
- Public health & icons: Magic Johnson announces he is HIV-positive (Nov 7); Freddie Mercury dies (Nov 24), a cultural shockwave.
Month-by-Month Timeline (1991)
- January — Air war begins in the Gulf (Jan 17); Somalia regime falls late month.
- February — Ground offensive liberates Kuwait (Feb 24–28).
- March — Ceasefire frameworks and sanctions debates take shape.
- April — Bangladesh Cyclone devastates coastal regions (Apr 29).
- May — Ethiopia’s Derg falls; Rajiv Gandhi assassinated in India (May 21).
- June — Mount Pinatubo erupts (June 15); Slovenia’s Ten-Day War (June 27–July 7).
- July — START I signed (July 31).
- August — Linux announced (Aug 25); the World Wide Web reaches the public.
- September — Tokyo Worlds: Mike Powell sets the long-jump record (8.95 m).
- October — Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia (Oct 23).
- November — Magic Johnson announces HIV; Freddie Mercury dies (Nov 24).
- December — USSR dissolves (late Dec); leaders agree at Maastricht on the EU’s next chapter.
Key Takeaways
A geopolitical reset: 1991 ended a 45-year standoff and rewired global alliances.
The internet era begins: The Web, Linux, and PGP seeded today’s digital life.
Fast wars, faster media: Satellite TV changed how conflicts were seen and understood.
Nature’s reminder: Pinatubo and Cyclone Gorky exposed the stakes of preparedness.
FAQ: 1991 World Events
What was the most consequential event of 1991?
The dissolution of the Soviet Union—it redrew borders, reshaped security, and transformed global economics.
How long did the Gulf War’s ground campaign last?
Roughly 100 hours (Feb 24–28), following weeks of air operations that began on January 17.
Did the European Union start in 1991?
Leaders reached a political agreement at Maastricht in December 1991; the Treaty on European Union was signed in February 1992.
Which cultural moments defined the year?
Nirvana’s Nevermind, Terminator 2 in theaters, the first FIFA Women’s World Cup (won by the U.S.), and the global response to Freddie Mercury’s death.
What tech stories still matter today?
The World Wide Web opening to the public, the birth of Linux, and consumer encryption through PGP.
Editor’s note: This page gathers widely reported 1991 events to help readers navigate a turning-point year with clear context.