This page offers an insight into life in 1950 and includes World news, political leaders, prices, population statistics and information about the popular culture of 1950.
The year 1950 began on a Sunday. It was not a leap year.
1950 In The News
14th February – China and the USSR signed a treaty of mutual defence.
25th June – North Korea invaded South Korea beginning the Korean War.
7th October – China invaded Tibet and made it part of the People’s Republic of China.
Life in 1950 – Prices
Average house:
UK – £1,900; USA – $8,450
Petrol per gallon:
UK – £0.15; USA – $0.20
Loaf of Bread:
UK – £0.02; USA – $0.14
Gold per ounce:
UK – $34.72, USA – $40.25
Life in 1950 – Population
World: – 2,556,506,583
Australia: – 8,267,337
Canada: – 14,011,422
China: – 562,579,776
India: – 369,880,000
Soviet Union: 101,936,816
United States: – 151,868,000
United Kingdom: – 50,127,000
Life in 1950 – Music
Best Selling Single:
UK – No data – Charts began 1952
USA – Goodnight Irene – Gordon Jenkins and the Weavers
AUS – Quicksilver – Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
CAN – No data – Charts began 1964
Best Selling Album:
UK – No data – Charts began 1956
USA – South Pacific – Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza
AUS – No data – Charts began 1966
CAN – No data – Charts began 1968
Popular Artists:
Andrew Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Frankie Lane, Frank Sinatra
On the Bookshelves
Books Published in 1950:
I Robot – Isaac Asimov
A Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
Frosty the Snowman – Annie North
A Town Like Alice – Neville Shute
At the Movies
1950 Top Movies (USA box office figures):
1. King Solomon’s Mines – $5 million
2. Annie Get Your Gun – $4.7 million
3. Cheaper by the Dozen – $4.4 million 4. Cinderella – $4.3 million
5. Born Yesterday – $5.1 million
Life in 1950 – World Leaders
Australia Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
Canada Prime Minister – Louis St Laurent
China President – Mao Zedong
India Prime Minister – Jawaharlal Nehru
Soviet Union Leader – Joseph Stalin
United States President – Harry S Truman
United Kingdom Prime Minister – Clement Attlee
Born in 1950
22nd February – Julie Walters (Actress)
11th May – Jeremy Paxman (Broadcaster)
13th May – Stevie Wonder (Musician)
18th July – Richard Branson (Businessman)
15th August – Princess Anne (Royal Family)
Died in 1950
21st January – George Orwell (Author)
11th September – Jan Smuts (Leader South Africa)
23rd October – Al Jolson (Singer)
29th October – Gustav V (King of Sweden)
12th December – Peter Fraser (Prime Minister of New Zealand)
1950 Sport Highlights
Football – World Cup – Uruguay beat Brazil
Tennis – Budge Patty USA won the French Open and Wimbledon
Cycling – Ferdinand Kubler (SUI) won the Tour de France
Golf – Ben Hogan won the US Open, Bobby Locke won the British Open
Rugby Union – Wales won the Five Nations Championship
Horse Racing – Comic Court won the Melbourne Cup, Galcador won the Epsom Derby, Middleground won the Kentucky Derby
Christmas Wishlist
Toy guns
Toy soldiers
Fisher Price Little People
Dolls and Dolls House
Fuzzy Felt
What Was New?
Diners Club – First Credit Card invented
Alan Turing published feasibility of Artificial Intelligence
Birth Control pill first developed
Antihistamines were developed
First published 2020; updated and republished Mar 23 2022 @ 7:38 pm – Updated –