2007


2005
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.

Population

The world population on January 1, 2007, was estimated to be 6.714 billion people and increased to 6.801 billion people by January 1, 2008. An estimated 139.9 million births and 53.4 million 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 9.9 million to 11.4 million by the end of the year. The largest sources of refugees were Afghanistan with 3.1 million people and Iraq with 2.3 million people.

Conflicts

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.
The Central African Bush War ended when rebels with the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity were granted amnesty, and the First Ivorian Civil War ended with the Ouagadougou Agreement that authorized the merger of the government and the Patriotic Movement of Ivory Coast rebel group. Progress was made in the Juba talks that moved Uganda closer to peace with the Lord's Resistance Army, but a permanent ceasefire was not obtained. Israel and Palestine made progress toward peace during the Annapolis Conference. A peace agreement was reached with the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development rebellion in Chad, but the rebels broke the agreement a month later. The War in Darfur slowed slightly early in the year but then revived with a stronger inclination toward fragmentation and insurgent-style fighting over traditional warfare, including rebel groups that launched attacks out of neighboring Chad.
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.

Culture

The highest-grossing film globally in 2007 was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, followed by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Spider-Man 3. The best-selling album globally in 2007 was the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, followed by Back to Black by Amy Winehouse and Noël by Josh Groban.

Economy

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 subprime mortgage crisis occurred in the United States in late 2007 as housing prices plummeted, leading to global economic downturn.

Environment and weather

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.
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

Health

of Rift Valley fever continued in eastern Africa after breaking out at the end of 2006.

Politics and law

The war in Iraq remained central in global politics as American actions were scrutinized, including the use of private military companies and the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians. Palestine split into two governments as Hamas was able to take over the Gaza Strip while Fatah retained control of the West Bank. Although Iran was understood to have halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, the United States declared the country a nuclear threat.
Civil unrest in Bangladesh grew worse as the military attacked a Buddhist pro-democracy demonstration. President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan gave up his military position to but then brought about a period of emergency rule. The United Russia party of President Vladimir Putin retained power in the Russian legislative election, and Putin announced his intention to have First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev succeed him the following year. In Venezuela, a constitutional referendum that would have let President Hugo Chávez exceed his term limits was unsuccessful.

Events

January