2000

The year 2000 was a leap year in the Gregorian calendar, beginning on Saturday, January 1, and ending on Sunday, December 31. It is commonly considered the final year of the 20th century and the second millennium, with the 21st century and third millennium beginning on January 1, 2001.

Global events in 2000 included widespread efforts to address the Y2K bug with relatively few serious failures. The United Nations held the Millennium Summit in New York, bringing together leaders from around the world. In space exploration, Expedition 1 arrived at the International Space Station in November, marking a milestone in long-term human presence in space. The 2000 Summer Olympics were held in Sydney, Australia from September 15 to October 1. The crash of Air France Flight 4590 near Paris in July led to the temporary grounding of the Concorde and renewed focus on aviation safety. The year also saw the dot-com bubble peak and begin a broad downturn that would continue into the following years.

In politics and economics, the United States held a contested presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, culminating in the Supreme Court ruling in Bush v. Gore in December that effectively decided the presidency. In Russia, Vladimir Putin was elected president in March, strengthening his later consolidation of power. Financial markets experienced high volatility as technology stocks peaked and then retreated.

Technological and cultural developments included the release of Microsoft Windows 2000 in February and the introduction of the Sony PlayStation 2, with the console debuting in Japan in March and expanding to other regions later in the year, signaling a shift in gaming and entertainment.