Soviet-Afghan War 1979–1989

Belligerents: Soviet Union, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen, Tehran Eight

Who lived through the Soviet-Afghan War

Well-known people alive during 1979–1989:

• Barack Obama (1961–) — president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 (born 1961)
• Donald Trump (1946–) — American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
• Michael Jackson (1958–2009) — American singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer (1958–2009)
• Vladimir Putin (1952–) — 2nd and 4th President of Russia (2000–2008, 2012–present), 7th and 11th Prime Minister of Russia (1999–2000, 2008–2012)
• Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) — president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911–2004)
• Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) — President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist (1918–2013)
• George W. Bush (1946–) — President of the United States from 2001 to 2009
• Joe Biden (1942–) — 46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
• Elizabeth II (1926–2022) — Queen of the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022 (1926–2022)
• Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) — Spanish artist (1904–1989)
• Bill Gates (1955–) — American businessman, investor, and philanthropist (born 1955)
• Jimmy Wales (1966–) — co-founder of Wikipedia (born 1966)
• Pope Francis (1936–2025) — 266th pope of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025 (1936–2025)
• Steve Jobs (1955–2011) — American entrepreneur; co-founder of Apple Inc. (1955–2011)
• Bill Clinton (1946–) — President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 (born 1946)
• Basshunter (1984–) — Swedish singer, record producer, and DJ
• Angela Merkel (1954–) — chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021 (born 1954)
• Neil Armstrong (1930–2012) — American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2012)
• François Hollande (1954–) — President of France from 2012 to 2017 (born 1954)
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy (1978–) — President of Ukraine since 2019
• Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) — British stateswoman and prime minister (1925–2013)
• Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014) — Colombian writer and Nobel laureate (1927–2014)
• Fidel Castro (1926–2016) — Cuban politician, author and revolutionary (1926–2016)
• John Paul II (1920–2005) — 264th pope of the Catholic Church (1978–2005)
• Shakira (1977–) — Colombian singer, songwriter, and actress

See this war on the interactive map →

Who else was alive in 1970 →