HistoryData
2003
2005

2004.

What happened in 2004?

In 2004, several notable events took place around the world. The Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, and the European football championship, UEFA Euro 2004, took place. In December, a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami, resulting in widespread destruction and significant loss of life in the affected regions. A rare astronomical event also occurred when Venus passed across the Sun, an event that occurs in pairs more than a century apart. The year included 78 recorded historical events, along with 6 notable births and 12 deaths.

Events
106
Births
6
Deaths
25
Era
2000s
Post-War / Digital Age
Context:21st CenturyThe 2000sPost-War / Digital Age

Chronology of 2004

Documented Historical Record

January

01.2004

February

02.2004

March

03.2004

April

04.2004

May

05.2004

June

06.2004

July

07.2004

August

08.2004

September

09.2004

October

10.2004

November

11.2004

December

12.2004
End of 2004 Record · 106 events

Historical Significance

Context & Impact

In 2004, several notable events took place around the world. The Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, and the European football championship, UEFA Euro 2004, took place. In December, a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami, resulting in widespread destruction and significant loss of life in the affected regions. A rare astronomical event also occurred when Venus passed across the Sun, an event that occurs in pairs more than a century apart. The year included 78 recorded historical events, along with 6 notable births and 12 deaths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What major events happened in 2004?
In 2004, several key events occurred. The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in December caused widespread devastation. Athens, Greece, hosted the Summer Olympics, and Portugal held the UEFA Euro 2004 football championship. Additionally, a rare transit of Venus across the sun took place, and the Eurovision Song Contest was held.
What was the most devastating natural disaster in 2004?
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami was the most devastating natural disaster of the year. It occurred on December 26th when a magnitude 9.1-9.3 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered massive tsunamis, resulting in the deaths of over 230,000 people across 14 countries.
Where were the 2004 Summer Olympics held?
The 2004 Summer Olympics took place in Athens, Greece, from August 13-29. This was the first time Greece had hosted the Games since the first modern Olympics in 1896, marking a return to their ancient birthplace.

Explore Related History

Navigate adjacent years, decades, and historical reference pages.

21st Century
All years and events from this century.
2003
Previous year in history.
2005
Next year in history.
Famous People
Biographies by country, category, and era.
All Years
Browse the complete chronological archive.
Events by Date
What happened on a specific day in history.