UK, 
US, 
Australia & 
IrelandAt A Glance
18 December 1996 at a glance
- Day of the week
- 18 December 1996 was a Wednesday.
- ARIA No. 1
- The ARIA No. 1 was “Wannabe” by Spice Girls.
- Top Film of 1996
- The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1996 was Independence Day.
- Best-Selling Vehicle of 1996
- Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 1996 was the Holden Commodore.
- Star sign
- The star sign for 18 December is Sagittarius.
- Chinese zodiac
- In the Chinese zodiac, 18 December 1996 fell in the Year of the Rat.
- Birthstone
- The birthstone for December is Turquoise.
- Moon phase
- The moon phase on 18 December 1996 was Waxing Gibbous.
On this day: 18 December
- 1999 NASA launches into orbit the Terra platform carrying five Earth Observation instruments, including ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS and MOPITT.
- 2002 California gubernatorial recall: Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier.
- 2005 The Chadian Civil War begins when rebel groups, allegedly backed by neighbouring Sudan, launch an attack in Adré.
- 2006 United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections.
- 2015 Kellingley Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Great Britain, closes.
Famous people born on 18 December
- Brad Pitt, American actor and producer (born 1963)
- Steven Spielberg, American director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded DreamWorks (born 1946)
- Jayden Daniels, American football player (born 2000)
- Billie Eilish, American singer (born 2001)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.
Events of 1996 in Australia
A selection from Wikipedia's '1996 in Australia'. Not a complete list.
- 3 February – Liberal Frank Tanti wins the 1996 Mundingburra state by-election causing Labor to lose its Parliamentary majority in Queensland.
- 24 February – A state election is held in Tasmania. The Liberal Party government of Ray Groom is re-elected; however, Groom's promise to only govern in a majority saw him resign.
- 2 March – A federal election is held. The Liberal/National coalition defeats the Labor government of Paul Keating with a landslide two-party preferred vote of 53.9% and a 45-seat majority, one of the biggest wins since World War II.
Life in Australia in 1996
Prime Minister
John Howard
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Petrol (per litre)
$0.70
Loaf of Bread
$1.85
Average House
$146,000
Weekly Wage
$710.00
Or
Browse by Year
Famous Faces Born in the 1990s
Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.
Jacob Elordi26 June 1997ActorView their day →Samara Weaving23 February 1992Actress & modelView their day →Margot Robbie2 July 1990ActressView their day →Liam Hemsworth13 January 1990ActorView their day →Elizabeth Debicki24 August 1990ActressView their day →Troye Sivan5 June 1995Singer-songwriter & actorView their day →Ben Simmons20 July 1996Basketball playerView their day →Leila George20 March 1992ActressView their day →Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About The Day You Were Born
Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.
About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →