The International Years List is a collection of important themes recognized by the United Nations each year to highlight global issues. These themes are celebrated worldwide to raise awareness and encourage positive change.
For students preparing for competitive exams like SSC, UPSC, RRB NTPC, and various State-level exams, knowing the International Years List is crucial as it often appears in General Knowledge (GK) sections.
This list helps you stay informed about key global topics while strengthening your exam preparation. In this article, we will provide you with a complete guide to the International Years List up to 2029, making your exam preparation more effective and insightful.
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Important International Years List 1959-2029
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 1959/60 |  World Refugee Year |
| 1961 | International Health and Medical Research Year |
| 1965 | International Cooperation Year |
| 1967 | International Tourist Year |
| 1968 | International Year for Human Rights |
| 1970 | International Education Year |
| 1971 | International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Prejudice |
| 1974 | World Population Year |
| 1975 | International Women’s Year |
| 1978-79 | International Anti-Apartheid Year |
| 1979 | International Year of the Child |
| 1981 | International Year for Disabled Persons |
| 1982 | International Year of Mobilization for Sanctions Against South Africa |
| 1983 | World Communications Year; Development of Communication Infrastructures |
| 1985 | International Youth Year: Participation, Development, PeaceYear of the United Nations |
| 1986 | International Year of Peace |
| 1987 | International Year of Shelter for The Homeless |
| 1990 | International Literacy Year |
| 1992 | International Space Year |
| 1993 | International Year for the World’s Indigenous People |
| 1994 | International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal |
| 1994 | International Year of the Family |
| 1995 | World Year of Peoples’ Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War United Nations Year for Tolerance |
| 1996 | International Year for the Eradication of Poverty |
| 1998 | International Year of the Ocean |
| 1999 | International Year of Older Persons |
| 2000 | International Year for the Culture of Peace International Year of Thanksgiving |
| 2001 | International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance International Year of Volunteers United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations |
| 2002 | International Year of Ecotourism International Year of Mountains United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage |
| 2003 | International Year of Freshwater Year of Kyrgyz Statehood |
| 2004 | International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition |
| 2005 | International Year of Physics International Year for Sport and Physical Education International Year of Microcredit |
| 2006 | International Year of Deserts and Desertification |
| 2007-2008 | International Polar Year (WMO) |
| 2008 | International Year of the Potato International Year of Sanitation International Year of Languages International Year of Planet Earth |
| 2009 | Year of the Gorilla [UNEP and UNESCO] International Year of Astronomy International Year of Natural Fibres International Year of Reconciliation |
| 2010 | International Year of the Seafarer International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures International Year of Biodiversity |
| 2011 | International Year for People of African Descent International Year of Chemistry International Year of Forests |
| 2012 | International Year of Sustainable Energy for All International Year of Cooperatives |
| 2013 | International Year of Quinoa International Year of Water Cooperation |
| 2014 | International Year of Family Farming International Year of Crystallography International Year of Small Island Developing States International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People |
| 2015 | International Year of SoilsInternational Year of Light and Light-based Technologies |
| 2016 | International Year of Pulses |
| 2017 | International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development |
| 2019 | International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements International Year of Moderation International Year of Indigenous Languages |
| 2020 | International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife International Year of Plant Health |
| 2021 | International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour International Year of Fruits and Vegetables International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development International Year of Peace and Trust |
| 2022 | International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture International Year of Glass International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development |
| 2023 | International Year of MilletsInternational Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace |
| 2024 | International Year of Camelids |
| 2025 | International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation |
| 2026 | International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable DevelopmentInternational Year of the Woman Farmer |
| 2027 | International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism |
| 2029 | International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence |
International Year of Millets 2023
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets to raise awareness about this nutritious crop and promote its benefits globally. Here are the key agendas to be covered during this year:
- Millets play an important role in growing nutritious food, especially in areas affected by climate change.
- Using modern agricultural technologies and digital tools can make the food system more sustainable. This includes improving storage, transportation, trade, processing, reducing food waste, and recycling.
- Millets have a long history of supporting food security, better nutrition, and providing incomes for small farmers.
- Efforts will be made to help small-scale farmers connect with global production and supply chains for millets, promoting sustainable production and consumption.
International Year of Camelids 2024
- The United Nations declared 2024 as the International Year of Camelids to highlight the importance of camelids like alpacas, Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas.
- The initiative emphasizes their contributions to food security, nutrition, and economic growth, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- It seeks to raise awareness about the untapped potential of camelids in various sectors.
- The declaration encourages increased investment in the camelid sector, focusing on research, capacity development, and the use of innovative practices and technologies.
- The goal is to promote the sustainable and resilient use of camelids to enhance global communities’ well-being.
Last Thoughts
In conclusion, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the United Nations’ declared International Years, shedding light on the various global issues the organization aims to address. Each year, the UN focuses on specific topics to raise awareness and take action toward solving these challenges. These initiatives highlight the UN’s dedication to addressing global challenges, step by step.
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