People
Rumi
Balkh, Afghanistan
Born in or near Balkh and later settled in Konya, he wrote the Masnavi and thousands of poems about love and the search for the divine.
Lived: 1207–1273 · Known for: Persian poet and mystic
Map / People
Famous people around the world: rulers, thinkers, artists and icons
People shape places, and places shape people. This page lists the people pinned on the atlas, grouped by country: rulers and reformers, scientists and writers, artists and athletes, and well-known public figures. Each is pinned at the town or city most linked with them, never at a home address.
Open a pin on the map to read a short summary and follow the link to the full Wikipedia article. Use the Time travel tab to see who was alive in any year from 3000 BCE to today.
196 pins in 52 countries.
Jump to a country
- Afghanistan 1
- Argentina 2
- Australia 2
- Austria 1
- Bangladesh 2
- Belgium 1
- Brazil 3
- Canada 3
- Chile 1
- China 7
- Colombia 2
- Croatia 1
- Egypt 2
- France 3
- Germany 5
- Ghana 1
- Greece 3
- Haiti 1
- India 36
- Iran 1
- Iraq 1
- Ireland 2
- Italy 7
- Jamaica 2
- Japan 7
- Kenya 2
- Mali 1
- Mexico 4
- Mongolia 1
- Morocco 1
- Nepal 1
- Netherlands 2
- New Zealand 1
- Nigeria 4
- North Macedonia 1
- Pakistan 5
- Philippines 2
- Poland 1
- Portugal 1
- Russia 3
- South Africa 3
- South Korea 2
- Spain 5
- Sri Lanka 1
- Sweden 2
- Switzerland 1
- Tanzania 1
- Tunisia 1
- United Kingdom 14
- United States 37
- Uzbekistan 1
- Venezuela 1
Questions about people
Who are the most famous people in world history?
There is no objective ranking, because fame depends on the region, the era and what you count. Lists usually include rulers such as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, thinkers such as Confucius and Aristotle, scientists such as Newton and Einstein, and reformers such as Gandhi. This atlas pins people from many regions so you can browse by place instead of by a single list.
How many people are there in the world?
Roughly 8.2 to 8.3 billion in 2026, based on United Nations-style estimates. The UN said the world passed 8 billion on 15 November 2022. India and China each have about 1.4 billion people, and India has been counted as the most populous country since 2023. Figures are estimates and are revised regularly.
What does a pin for a person mean?
It marks the city or town where the person was born or is most closely associated with. Living public figures are pinned at city level only.
People: Afghanistan
People: Argentina
People
Lionel Messi
Rosario, Argentina
Raised in Rosario, he starred for Barcelona for most of his career and captained Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title.
Born: 1987 · Known for: Footballer
People
Diego Maradona
Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Born near Buenos Aires, he led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and is remembered for two goals against England in that tournament.
Lived: 1960–2020 · Known for: Footballer
People: Australia
People
Hugh Jackman
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men films, he is also a star of musical theatre and film musicals.
Born: 1968 · Known for: Actor and singer
People
Cate Blanchett
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
A two-time Academy Award winner who moves between big films and the stage, and co-ran the Sydney Theatre Company.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Actress
People: Austria
People
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Salzburg, Austria
Born in Salzburg, he began composing as a child and wrote more than 600 works in his short life, including operas, symphonies and concertos.
Lived: 1756–1791 · Known for: Composer
People: Bangladesh
People
Muhammad Yunus
Chittagong, Bangladesh
An economist who founded Grameen Bank, which offered small loans to poor borrowers, and shared the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize with the bank.
Born: 1940 · Known for: Microcredit pioneer
People
Shakib Al Hasan
Magura, Bangladesh
Bangladesh's best-known cricketer and a top-ranked all-rounder in all three formats of the game.
Born: 1987 · Known for: Cricket all-rounder
People: Belgium
People
Audrey Hepburn
Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium
Born in Brussels, she became an Academy Award-winning star and later devoted much of her time to UNICEF.
Lived: 1929–1993 · Known for: Actress and humanitarian
People: Brazil
People
Pelé
Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The only player to have won three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), he became a global ambassador for football.
Lived: 1940–2022 · Known for: Footballer
People
Neymar
Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
A skilful forward who became Brazil's second-highest scorer, and who played for Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal.
Born: 1992 · Known for: Footballer
People
Ronaldinho
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
A playmaker famous for his smile and tricks, he won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the Ballon d'Or in 2005.
Born: 1980 · Known for: Footballer
People: Canada
People
Céline Dion
Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada
The youngest of fourteen children, she became one of the best-selling singers in the world, known for My Heart Will Go On.
Born: 1968 · Known for: Singer
People
Drake
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
A former actor from Toronto who became one of the most streamed artists in the world, and helped put Toronto on the music map.
Born: 1986 · Known for: Rapper and singer
People
Wayne Gretzky
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Nicknamed The Great One, he holds almost every scoring record in the National Hockey League, and his number 99 is retired league-wide.
Born: 1961 · Known for: Ice hockey player
People: Chile
People
Pablo Neruda
Parral, Chile
Born in Parral in central Chile, he wrote love poems and epic political verse and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971.
Lived: 1904–1973 · Known for: Poet, Nobel laureate
People: China
People
Confucius
Qufu, Shandong, China
Born in the state of Lu, near present-day Qufu, his teachings on ethics, family duty and good government shaped East Asian thought for more than two thousand years.
Lived: c. 551–479 BCE · Known for: Philosopher and teacher
People
Jackie Chan
Hong Kong, China
He combined martial arts with comedy and performed his own stunts in dozens of Hong Kong and Hollywood films.
Born: 1954 · Known for: Action film star
People
Zheng He
Kunyang, Yunnan, China
He led seven large Ming-dynasty voyages across the Indian Ocean, reaching as far as East Africa, with some of the biggest wooden ships of his time.
Lived: 1371–1433 · Known for: Admiral of the Ming treasure fleets
People
Yao Ming
Shanghai, China
A 2.29-metre centre who became a star in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and helped popularise the sport in China.
Born: 1980 · Known for: Basketball player
People
Li Na
Wuhan, Hubei, China
In 2011 she became the first player from Asia to win a Grand Slam singles title, and she won a second in 2014.
Born: 1982 · Known for: Tennis player
People
Jet Li
Beijing, China
A former wushu champion who became an action star in films such as Once Upon a Time in China and Hero.
Born: 1963 · Known for: Martial artist and actor
People
Lang Lang
Shenyang, Liaoning, China
A pianist who rose from a childhood in Shenyang to play with the world's leading orchestras and inspire millions of young students.
Born: 1982 · Known for: Concert pianist
People: Colombia
People
Gabriel García Márquez
Aracataca, Colombia
Born in the small town of Aracataca, which inspired the setting of One Hundred Years of Solitude, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.
Lived: 1927–2014 · Known for: Novelist, Nobel laureate
People
Shakira
Barranquilla, Colombia
A singer and dancer from Colombia who sings in Spanish and English and became one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time.
Born: 1977 · Known for: Singer-songwriter
People: Croatia
People
Nikola Tesla
Smiljan, Croatia
Born in the village of Smiljan, he worked on alternating-current power systems and electric motors, and is known for the Tesla coil.
Lived: 1856–1943 · Known for: Electrical engineer and inventor
People: Egypt
People
Cleopatra VII
Alexandria, Egypt
She ruled from Alexandria, then a centre of learning, and formed alliances with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony.
Lived: 69–30 BCE · Known for: Last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt
People
Omar Sharif
Alexandria, Egypt
An Egyptian star who became internationally famous for Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, and was also a champion bridge player.
Lived: 1932–2015 · Known for: Actor
People: France
People
Joan of Arc
Domrémy, France
A peasant girl from Domrémy who said she was guided by visions, she helped lift the siege of Orléans in 1429 and was executed two years later.
Lived: c. 1412–1431 · Known for: French military leader and saint
People
Zinedine Zidane
Marseille, France
A playmaker who led France to the 1998 World Cup, and later coached Real Madrid to three straight Champions League titles.
Born: 1972 · Known for: Footballer and coach
People
Kylian Mbappé
Paris, France
A forward whose speed made him a World Cup winner as a teenager in 2018, and who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final.
Born: 1998 · Known for: Footballer
People: Germany
People
Albert Einstein
Ulm, Germany
Born in Ulm, he developed the theories of special and general relativity and won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for work on the photoelectric effect.
Lived: 1879–1955 · Known for: Theory of relativity
People
Ludwig van Beethoven
Bonn, Germany
Born in Bonn, he wrote nine symphonies and kept composing great works after losing most of his hearing.
Lived: 1770–1827 · Known for: Composer
People
Franz Beckenbauer
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
He won the World Cup as both captain and coach of West Germany, and redefined the role of the attacking defender.
Lived: 1945–2024 · Known for: Footballer
People
Michael Schumacher
Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
A seven-time Formula One world champion who won five titles in a row with Ferrari in the early 2000s.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Formula One driver
People
Steffi Graf
Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
She won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and in 1988 completed the Golden Slam, winning all four majors and Olympic gold in one year.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Tennis player
People: Ghana
People
Kwame Nkrumah
Nkroful, Western Region, Ghana
He led the Gold Coast to independence in 1957, making Ghana the first sub-Saharan African country to become independent from colonial rule, and championed African unity.
Lived: 1909–1972 · Known for: Led Ghana to independence
People: Greece
People
Socrates
Athens, Greece
He taught by asking questions in the streets of Athens, a method that still carries his name. He left no writings, and we know him through his students, especially Plato.
Lived: c. 470–399 BCE · Known for: Philosopher
People
Aristotle
Stagira, Chalkidiki, Greece
A student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, he wrote on logic, biology, ethics and politics and founded a school in Athens called the Lyceum.
Lived: 384–322 BCE · Known for: Philosopher and scientist
People
Alexander the Great
Pella, Macedonia, Greece
Born at Pella, he created one of the largest empires of the ancient world by the age of thirty, stretching from Greece to northwest India.
Lived: 356–323 BCE · Known for: King of Macedon
People: Haiti
People
Toussaint Louverture
Near Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
Born into slavery near Cap-Haïtien, he became the leading general of the Haitian Revolution, which led to the first independent Black-led republic in the Americas.
Lived: 1743–1803 · Known for: Leader of the Haitian Revolution
People: India
People
Mahatma Gandhi
Porbandar, Gujarat, India
Born in the coastal town of Porbandar, he led India's independence movement through nonviolent civil disobedience, an approach that influenced civil rights movements around the world.
Lived: 1869–1948 · Known for: Nonviolent resistance
People
Rabindranath Tagore
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A Bengali poet, novelist and composer, he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1913. He also wrote the words of the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.
Lived: 1861–1941 · Known for: Poet, writer, composer
People
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Born in Erode, he found deep results in number theory and infinite series with almost no formal training, and later worked with G. H. Hardy at Cambridge.
Lived: 1887–1920 · Known for: Self-taught mathematician
People
Aryabhata
Patna region, Bihar, India
He wrote the Aryabhatiya in 499 CE, covering place value, the value of pi and the idea that the Earth rotates on its axis. Tradition places his work at Kusumapura, near modern Patna.
Born: 476 CE · Known for: Mathematics and astronomy
People
Rani Lakshmibai
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
The queen of Jhansi became a leading figure in the 1857 uprising against British East India Company rule and died in battle in 1858.
Lived: 1828–1858 · Known for: Queen of Jhansi
People
Kalpana Chawla
Karnal, Haryana, India
Born in Karnal, she became the first woman of Indian origin in space in 1997 and died in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident in 2003.
Lived: 1962–2003 · Known for: Astronaut
People
Amitabh Bachchan
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India
One of the most recognised faces of Hindi cinema, he became a star in the 1970s as the 'angry young man' and is still acting more than five decades later.
Born: 1942 · Known for: Hindi film actor
People
Shah Rukh Khan
New Delhi, India
Born in Delhi, he built a worldwide following through romantic films and blockbusters, and is often called the 'King of Bollywood'.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Bollywood actor and producer
People
Lata Mangeshkar
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Her voice was heard in thousands of Hindi film songs over some seven decades. She was honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.
Lived: 1929–2022 · Known for: Playback singer
People
A. R. Rahman
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
A composer who blended electronic sound with Indian classical and folk music. He won two Academy Awards for the score and a song from Slumdog Millionaire.
Born: 1967 · Known for: Film composer
People
Sachin Tendulkar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Made his international debut as a teenager and went on to become the first player to score 100 international centuries. He retired from cricket in 2013.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Cricketer
People
M. S. Dhoni
Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
A wicketkeeper-batter from Ranchi who captained India to the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Cricket captain
People
Virat Kohli
Delhi, India
A Delhi batter known for his aggressive style and consistency in run-chasing. He led India's Test and white-ball teams for several years.
Born: 1988 · Known for: Cricketer
People
Mary Kom
Churachandpur, Manipur, India
From a farming family in Manipur, she became a six-time world amateur boxing champion and won an Olympic bronze medal in 2012.
Born: 1983 · Known for: Boxer
People
Satyajit Ray
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
His debut Pather Panchali (1955) put Indian art cinema on the world stage. He received an honorary Academy Award in 1992, shortly before his death.
Lived: 1921–1992 · Known for: Film director
People
B. R. Ambedkar
Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, India
A scholar, lawyer and reformer who campaigned against caste discrimination and chaired the committee that drafted India's Constitution.
Lived: 1891–1956 · Known for: Architect of the Indian Constitution
People
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Born on Rameswaram island, he worked on India's satellite launch vehicles and missiles, then served as President from 2002 to 2007 and was widely admired by students.
Lived: 1931–2015 · Known for: Space scientist and 11th President
People
Swami Vivekananda
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
A disciple of Ramakrishna, he became well known after a speech at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago and helped spread Vedanta internationally.
Lived: 1863–1902 · Known for: Monk and philosopher
People
Emperor Ashoka
Pataliputra (Patna), Bihar, India
He ruled most of the Indian subcontinent and, after the bloody Kalinga war, promoted a Buddhist-inspired ethic of compassion and tolerance in pillar and rock edicts.
Lived: c. 304–232 BCE · Known for: Maurya emperor
People
Shivaji
Shivneri Fort, Junnar, Maharashtra, India
Born at Shivneri Fort, he built a Maratha state in western India and developed a strong navy and a network of hill forts.
Lived: 1630–1680 · Known for: Founder of the Maratha kingdom
People
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Crowned Miss World in 2000, she became a leading Hindi film actor and later one of the first Indian stars to headline American television and films.
Born: 1982 · Known for: Actor and producer
People
Aamir Khan
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Known for choosing films carefully, he starred in hits such as Lagaan and Dangal, and Dangal became one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Actor and filmmaker
People
Salman Khan
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
One of the biggest box-office draws in Hindi cinema for over three decades, he also hosts the television show Bigg Boss.
Born: 1965 · Known for: Actor
People
Madhubala
Delhi, India
A star of the 1950s, she is remembered for Mughal-e-Azam and is often called the Venus of Indian cinema. Her career was cut short by illness.
Lived: 1933–1969 · Known for: Classic-era actress
People
Kishore Kumar
Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India
A playback singer known for his playful, versatile voice, he sang for the leading stars of the 1970s and 1980s, and also acted and composed.
Lived: 1929–1987 · Known for: Singer and actor
People
Mohammed Rafi
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Often counted among the greatest Hindi film singers, he recorded thousands of songs in many languages, from devotional pieces to romantic ballads.
Lived: 1924–1980 · Known for: Playback singer
People
Rajinikanth
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Born in Bengaluru, he rose from a bus conductor to become the best-known star of Tamil cinema, with a huge fan following in India and Japan.
Born: 1950 · Known for: Tamil film superstar
People
Kamal Haasan
Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, India
He began as a child actor and has worked in several Indian languages, winning many national film awards for roles that often reshaped his appearance.
Born: 1954 · Known for: Actor, director and writer
People
Sridevi
Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India
A child artist in Tamil and Telugu films who became one of the leading stars of Hindi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s.
Lived: 1963–2018 · Known for: Actress
People
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Winner of the Miss World title in 1994, she became a leading actress in Hindi and Tamil films and a regular on the Cannes red carpet.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Actress and former Miss World
People
Dhyan Chand
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India
A forward whose stick skills earned him the nickname the Wizard. He won Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936, and India marks his birthday as National Sports Day.
Lived: 1905–1979 · Known for: Hockey legend
People
Kapil Dev
Chandigarh, India
He captained India to its first Cricket World Cup win in 1983, a surprise victory that changed how the sport was seen in the country.
Born: 1959 · Known for: Cricket all-rounder and captain
People
Sunil Gavaskar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
He was the first batter to reach 10,000 Test runs and is admired for facing fearsome fast bowlers without a helmet in his early career.
Born: 1949 · Known for: Opening batter
People
P. V. Sindhu
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
The first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, with silver in 2016 and bronze in 2020, and a world champion in 2019.
Born: 1995 · Known for: Badminton player
People
Neeraj Chopra
Khandra, Panipat, Haryana, India
He won India's first Olympic gold in athletics at Tokyo in 2020 and followed it with a silver in Paris in 2024.
Born: 1997 · Known for: Javelin thrower
People
Viswanathan Anand
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
India's first chess grandmaster and a five-time world champion, he helped inspire a generation of Indian players.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Chess grandmaster
People: Iran
People
Omar Khayyam
Nishapur, Iran
Born in Nishapur, he worked on cubic equations and helped reform the Persian calendar. He is also famous for his four-line verses called rubaiyat.
Lived: 1048–1131 · Known for: Poet, mathematician and astronomer
People: Iraq
People
Al-Khwarizmi
Baghdad, Iraq
Working in Baghdad's House of Wisdom, he wrote a foundational book on solving equations. The word algebra comes from its title and algorithm from his name.
Lived: c. 780 – c. 850 · Known for: Mathematician
People: Ireland
People
U2
Dublin, Ireland
A rock band formed by schoolmates in Dublin, known for anthemic songs, big stadium tours and campaigning on global issues.
Formed: 1976 · Known for: Rock band
People
Conor McGregor
Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
He was the first fighter to hold titles in two UFC weight divisions at once and became one of the sport's biggest draws.
Born: 1988 · Known for: Mixed martial artist
People: Italy
People
Leonardo da Vinci
Vinci, Tuscany, Italy
Born near the Tuscan town of Vinci, he painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper and filled thousands of notebook pages with studies of anatomy, water and flying machines.
Lived: 1452–1519 · Known for: Painter, inventor, scientist
People
Galileo Galilei
Pisa, Italy
He used an improved telescope to observe the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus, and supported the idea that the Earth moves around the Sun.
Lived: 1564–1642 · Known for: Astronomer and physicist
People
Florence Nightingale
Florence, Italy
Named after her birthplace, she improved hospital hygiene during the Crimean War and founded a school for nurses in London.
Lived: 1820–1910 · Known for: Founder of modern nursing
People
Marco Polo
Venice, Italy
A Venetian who travelled across Asia and spent years in the court of Kublai Khan. An account of his journeys introduced many Europeans to Asia.
Lived: 1254–1324 · Known for: Merchant and traveller
People
Sophia Loren
Rome, Italy
She rose from a modest background in Naples to Hollywood fame, and in 1962 became the first performer to win an Oscar for a non-English-language role.
Born: 1934 · Known for: Actress
People
Federico Fellini
Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
His dreamlike films such as La Dolce Vita and 8½ made him one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema.
Lived: 1920–1993 · Known for: Film director
People
Luciano Pavarotti
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
One of the best-known opera singers ever, he brought opera to huge audiences, including through The Three Tenors concerts.
Lived: 1935–2007 · Known for: Opera tenor
People: Jamaica
People
Usain Bolt
Trelawny Parish, Jamaica
He holds the world records for the 100 m (9.58 s) and 200 m (19.19 s), set in 2009, and won eight Olympic gold medals.
Born: 1986 · Known for: Sprinter
People
Bob Marley
Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica
Born in the village of Nine Mile, he took reggae and its messages of unity and resistance to listeners around the world.
Lived: 1945–1981 · Known for: Reggae musician
People: Japan
People
Murasaki Shikibu
Kyoto, Japan
A lady-in-waiting at the Heian imperial court in Kyoto, she wrote The Tale of Genji, often called the world's first novel.
Active: Around 1000 CE · Known for: Author of The Tale of Genji
People
Katsushika Hokusai
Sumida, Tokyo, Japan
Born in what is now Sumida in Tokyo, he created The Great Wave off Kanagawa, one of the most recognised images in world art.
Lived: 1760–1849 · Known for: Ukiyo-e artist
People
Hayao Miyazaki
Tokyo, Japan
His hand-drawn films, including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away (Academy Award, 2003), are known for nature, flight and kindly spirits.
Born: 1941 · Known for: Animator, co-founder of Studio Ghibli
People
Akira Kurosawa
Tokyo, Japan
His films such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai influenced directors across the world and introduced many Western viewers to Japanese cinema.
Lived: 1910–1998 · Known for: Film director
People
Shohei Ohtani
Oshu, Iwate, Japan
A rare two-way star who both pitches and hits at the highest level, he became a global name with the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers.
Born: 1994 · Known for: Baseball player
People
Ichiro Suzuki
Kasugai, Aichi, Japan
A hitting star in both Japan and the major leagues, he broke the record for hits in a single season in 2004.
Born: 1973 · Known for: Baseball player
People
Yuzuru Hanyu
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
A two-time Olympic champion in men's figure skating, admired for his grace and for landing a very difficult jump in competition.
Born: 1994 · Known for: Figure skater
People: Kenya
People
Wangari Maathai
Nyeri, Kenya
She founded the Green Belt Movement, which has planted millions of trees, and in 2004 became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Lived: 1940–2011 · Known for: Environmental activist
People
Eliud Kipchoge
Kapsabet, Nandi County, Kenya
A two-time Olympic marathon champion who in 2019 ran a marathon in under two hours in a specially arranged event.
Born: 1984 · Known for: Marathon runner
People: Mali
People
Mansa Musa
Timbuktu, Mali
Ruler of the wealthy Mali Empire, he made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 and invested in learning and architecture in Timbuktu.
Reigned: c. 1312 – c. 1337 · Known for: Emperor of Mali
People: Mexico
People
Frida Kahlo
Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico
Born and long based at the Casa Azul in Coyoacán, she is known for vivid self-portraits that draw on Mexican folk art, identity and personal pain.
Lived: 1907–1954 · Known for: Painter
People
Salma Hayek
Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico
She began in Mexican television, moved to Hollywood, and was nominated for an Academy Award for playing the artist Frida Kahlo.
Born: 1966 · Known for: Actress and producer
People
Cantinflas
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico's best-loved comedian of the golden age of cinema, he was admired for his fast, rambling wordplay, and Charlie Chaplin called him the best comedian alive.
Lived: 1911–1993 · Known for: Comic actor
People
Saúl Álvarez
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Known as Canelo, he became the undisputed super middleweight champion and one of the biggest names in modern boxing.
Born: 1990 · Known for: Boxer
People: Mongolia
People
Genghis Khan
Khentii region, Mongolia
Born on the steppe in the Khentii region (the exact spot is uncertain), he united the Mongol tribes and founded what became the largest contiguous land empire in history.
Lived: c. 1162–1227 · Known for: Founder of the Mongol Empire
People: Morocco
People
Ibn Battuta
Tangier, Morocco
A scholar from Tangier who spent nearly three decades travelling across Africa, Asia and Europe, then dictated an account of his journeys.
Lived: 1304 – c. 1369 · Known for: Travel writer
People: Nepal
People
Gautama Buddha
Lumbini, Nepal
Tradition holds that Siddhartha Gautama was born in the gardens of Lumbini. He later taught the path to ending suffering after his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
Lived: c. 6th–5th century BCE (dates debated) · Known for: Founder of Buddhism
People: Netherlands
People
Vincent van Gogh
Zundert, Netherlands
Born in the village of Zundert, he painted swirling skies and sunflowers with bold colour. He sold little in his lifetime, and his fame came after his death.
Lived: 1853–1890 · Known for: Post-Impressionist painter
People
Johan Cruyff
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The face of Dutch Total Football, he won three European Cups with Ajax and later shaped Barcelona's style as a coach.
Lived: 1947–2016 · Known for: Footballer and coach
People: New Zealand
People
Edmund Hillary
Auckland, New Zealand
With Tenzing Norgay, he reached the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, and later helped build schools and clinics for Sherpa communities.
Lived: 1919–2008 · Known for: Climber and explorer
People: Nigeria
People
Wole Soyinka
Abeokuta, Nigeria
Born in Abeokuta, he became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1986, with plays and poems rooted in Yoruba tradition.
Born: 1934 · Known for: Playwright, Nobel laureate
People
Chinua Achebe
Ogidi, Anambra, Nigeria
His novel Things Fall Apart (1958) tells of Igbo society at the time of colonial contact and is one of the most widely read African books.
Lived: 1930–2013 · Known for: Novelist
People
Fela Kuti
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
The creator of Afrobeat, he mixed jazz, funk and Yoruba rhythms with fierce political lyrics, and stood up to military rulers.
Lived: 1938–1997 · Known for: Musician and activist
People
Burna Boy
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
A Grammy-winning artist who helped take Nigerian Afro-fusion to stadium stages around the world.
Born: 1991 · Known for: Afro-fusion singer
People: North Macedonia
People
Mother Teresa
Skopje, North Macedonia
Born in Skopje, she moved to India and spent decades caring for the poor and dying in Kolkata. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
Lived: 1910–1997 · Known for: Founder of the Missionaries of Charity
People: Pakistan
People
Chanakya (Kautilya)
Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan
Tradition links this adviser of the Maurya empire with the ancient university city of Taxila and with the Arthashastra, a treatise on governance and economy.
Lived: Around the 4th century BCE · Known for: Statecraft and economics
People
Emperor Akbar
Umerkot, Sindh, Pakistan
Born at Umerkot, he expanded the Mughal empire and is remembered for his administration, patronage of the arts and interest in debate among religions.
Lived: 1542–1605 · Known for: Mughal emperor
People
Malala Yousafzai
Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan
She spoke out for girls' schooling in Swat, survived an attack in 2012 and in 2014 became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Born: 1997 · Known for: Girls' education campaigner
People
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
A master of qawwali, the devotional music of Sufism, whose voice and long improvisations were admired by rock and film musicians worldwide.
Lived: 1948–1997 · Known for: Qawwali singer
People
Imran Khan
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
He captained Pakistan to the 1992 Cricket World Cup, then moved into politics and served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022.
Born: 1952 · Known for: Cricketer turned politician
People: Philippines
People
José Rizal
Calamba, Laguna, Philippines
Born in Calamba, he wrote novels that criticised Spanish colonial rule. His execution in 1896 helped inspire the Philippine revolution.
Lived: 1861–1896 · Known for: Writer and national hero
People
Manny Pacquiao
Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines
He won world titles in eight different weight classes, a record in boxing, and later served in the Philippine Senate.
Born: 1978 · Known for: Boxer and senator
People: Poland
People
Marie Curie
Warsaw, Poland
Born in Warsaw, she was the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences: physics in 1903 and chemistry in 1911.
Lived: 1867–1934 · Known for: Radioactivity research
People: Portugal
People
Cristiano Ronaldo
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Born on the island of Madeira, he won league titles in England, Spain and Italy and is among the leading scorers in the history of the sport.
Born: 1985 · Known for: Footballer
People: Russia
People
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Votkinsk, Udmurtia, Russia
Born in Votkinsk, he wrote the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker and the 1812 Overture.
Lived: 1840–1893 · Known for: Composer
People
Leo Tolstoy
Yasnaya Polyana, Tula, Russia
Born on the family estate at Yasnaya Polyana, he wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina and later became a moral and religious thinker.
Lived: 1828–1910 · Known for: Novelist
People
Yuri Gagarin
Klushino, Smolensk Oblast, Russia
On 12 April 1961 he orbited the Earth once aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first person to travel into space.
Lived: 1934–1968 · Known for: First human in space
People: South Africa
People
Nelson Mandela
Mvezo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
After 27 years in prison he led South Africa's transition away from apartheid and became its first Black president in 1994.
Lived: 1918–2013 · Known for: Anti-apartheid leader
People
Trevor Noah
Johannesburg, South Africa
He grew up in apartheid-era South Africa, became a stand-up star, and hosted The Daily Show in the United States for seven years.
Born: 1984 · Known for: Comedian and writer
People
Miriam Makeba
Johannesburg, South Africa
Known as Mama Africa, she brought South African music to the world and spoke out against apartheid, spending decades in exile.
Lived: 1932–2008 · Known for: Singer and activist
People: South Korea
People
BTS
Seoul, South Korea
A seven-member group that became the first Korean act to top the US charts, helping carry K-pop to a worldwide audience.
Formed: 2013 · Known for: K-pop group
People
Bong Joon-ho
Daegu, South Korea
His film Parasite won the Palme d'Or and became the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Born: 1969 · Known for: Film director
People: Spain
People
Rafael Nadal
Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
A left-hander from Mallorca, he won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 at the French Open.
Born: 1986 · Known for: Tennis champion
People
Pablo Picasso
Málaga, Spain
Born in Málaga, he co-founded Cubism and produced thousands of works, including the anti-war painting Guernica.
Lived: 1881–1973 · Known for: Painter and sculptor
People
Salvador Dalí
Figueres, Catalonia, Spain
Born in Figueres, he painted dreamlike scenes such as The Persistence of Memory. His theatre-museum in his home town is among Spain's most visited.
Lived: 1904–1989 · Known for: Surrealist painter
People
Penélope Cruz
Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
Spain's most internationally recognised actress, she won an Academy Award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and often works with director Pedro Almodóvar.
Born: 1974 · Known for: Actress
People
Pedro Almodóvar
Calzada de Calatrava, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
His colourful, emotional films such as All About My Mother and Talk to Her helped make Spanish cinema known around the world.
Born: 1949 · Known for: Film director
People: Sri Lanka
People
Muttiah Muralitharan
Kandy, Sri Lanka
The leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 800 wickets, whose unusual wrist action and spin made him unplayable for many batters.
Born: 1972 · Known for: Spin bowler
People: Sweden
People
Zlatan Ibrahimović
Malmö, Sweden
A striker known for acrobatic goals and bold personality, who won league titles in Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Footballer
People
ABBA
Stockholm, Sweden
A Swedish pop group that won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo and went on to sell hundreds of millions of records worldwide.
Formed: 1972 · Known for: Pop group
People: Switzerland
People
Roger Federer
Basel, Switzerland
A Swiss player admired for his graceful style, he won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and spent hundreds of weeks ranked world number one.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Tennis champion
People: Tanzania
People
Freddie Mercury
Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar to a Parsi family, he moved to England as a teenager and became known for his four-octave voice and stage presence with Queen.
Lived: 1946–1991 · Known for: Lead singer of Queen
People: Tunisia
People
Ibn Khaldun
Tunis, Tunisia
Born in Tunis, he wrote the Muqaddimah, an early work on the rise and fall of societies, economics and historical method.
Lived: 1332–1406 · Known for: Historian and social thinker
People: United Kingdom
People
Isaac Newton
Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Born at Woolsthorpe Manor, he formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation and developed calculus.
Lived: 1642–1727 · Known for: Laws of motion and gravity
People
Ada Lovelace
London, United Kingdom
She wrote notes on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine that include what is often described as the first published computer program.
Lived: 1815–1852 · Known for: Early computing pioneer
People
The Beatles
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr met in Liverpool and became the best-known band of the 1960s, changing how pop records were written and recorded.
Formed: 1960 · Known for: Rock band
People
Charlie Chaplin
London, England, United Kingdom
Born into poverty in London, he created the 'Tramp' character and became one of the great figures of silent cinema.
Lived: 1889–1977 · Known for: Silent film star
People
William Shakespeare
Stratford-upon-Avon, England, United Kingdom
Born in Stratford, he wrote about 37 plays, including Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, and his phrases are still part of everyday English.
Lived: 1564–1616 · Known for: Playwright and poet
People
Charles Darwin
Shrewsbury, England, United Kingdom
After a five-year voyage on HMS Beagle, he proposed that species evolve through natural selection in On the Origin of Species (1859).
Lived: 1809–1882 · Known for: Theory of evolution
People
Stephen Hawking
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
He studied black holes and the origin of the universe, and wrote A Brief History of Time. He worked for decades despite a motor-neurone condition.
Lived: 1942–2018 · Known for: Theoretical physicist
People
Charles Dickens
Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
Born in Portsmouth, he wrote Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations, drawing attention to poverty in Victorian England.
Lived: 1812–1870 · Known for: Novelist
People
David Bowie
Brixton, London, United Kingdom
A musician who kept changing his sound and image, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, and influenced rock, pop and fashion.
Lived: 1947–2016 · Known for: Singer and artist
People
Elton John
Pinner, London, United Kingdom
He has sold hundreds of millions of records and wrote the songs for the stage version of The Lion King, as well as Candle in the Wind.
Born: 1947 · Known for: Singer, pianist and composer
People
Adele
Tottenham, London, United Kingdom
A singer whose emotional ballads, such as Someone Like You and Hello, made her one of the biggest-selling artists of the 2010s.
Born: 1988 · Known for: Singer-songwriter
People
David Beckham
Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom
A midfielder famed for free kicks, he played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and England, and became a global brand.
Born: 1975 · Known for: Footballer
People
Lewis Hamilton
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
A seven-time Formula One world champion who holds records for race wins and pole positions, and the first Black driver in the sport's top series.
Born: 1985 · Known for: Formula One driver
People
Sean Connery
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
The first actor to play James Bond on screen, he later won an Academy Award for The Untouchables.
Lived: 1930–2020 · Known for: Actor
People: United States
People
Muhammad Ali
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, he won an Olympic gold medal in 1960 and three world heavyweight titles. He was also known for his wit and his public stands on principle.
Lived: 1942–2016 · Known for: Heavyweight boxing champion
People
Michael Jordan
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Born in Brooklyn, he won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and helped make basketball a global sport.
Born: 1963 · Known for: Basketball player
People
Serena Williams
Saginaw, Michigan, United States
She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the modern era, and four Olympic gold medals.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Tennis champion
People
Michael Jackson
Gary, Indiana, United States
He began performing as a child with his brothers in the Jackson 5. His album Thriller (1982) is among the best-selling albums ever.
Lived: 1958–2009 · Known for: Pop singer and dancer
People
Elvis Presley
Tupelo, Mississippi, United States
Born in a small house in Tupelo, he mixed country, gospel and rhythm and blues and became one of the defining figures of rock and roll.
Lived: 1935–1977 · Known for: Rock and roll singer
People
Taylor Swift
West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
She began in country music, moved into pop, and became known for writing her own songs and for her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Born: 1989 · Known for: Singer-songwriter
People
Bruce Lee
San Francisco, California, United States
Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, he popularised martial arts in Hollywood and Hong Kong films and developed his own approach, Jeet Kune Do.
Lived: 1940–1973 · Known for: Martial artist and actor
People
Marilyn Monroe
Los Angeles, California, United States
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles, she became one of the most famous film stars of the 1950s.
Lived: 1926–1962 · Known for: Actress
People
Neil Armstrong
Wapakoneta, Ohio, United States
Born in Ohio, he commanded Apollo 11 and on 20 July 1969 became the first human to set foot on the Moon.
Lived: 1930–2012 · Known for: First person on the Moon
People
Amelia Earhart
Atchison, Kansas, United States
She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, in 1932, and disappeared over the Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world.
Lived: 1897–1937 (disappeared) · Known for: Aviation pioneer
People
Abraham Lincoln
Hodgenville, Kentucky, United States
Born in a log cabin in Kentucky, he led the United States through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lived: 1809–1865 · Known for: 16th US President
People
Martin Luther King Jr.
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Born in Atlanta, he led nonviolent protests for racial equality, gave the 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Lived: 1929–1968 · Known for: Civil rights leader
People
Tom Hanks
Concord, California, United States
Known for warm, everyday roles in films such as Forrest Gump and Philadelphia, he won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor.
Born: 1956 · Known for: Actor
People
Meryl Streep
Summit, New Jersey, United States
Famed for her range of accents and characters, she has received more Academy Award nominations than any other performer.
Born: 1949 · Known for: Actress
People
Leonardo DiCaprio
Los Angeles, California, United States
A leading Hollywood actor since Titanic, he won the Academy Award for The Revenant and is a prominent voice on climate issues.
Born: 1974 · Known for: Actor and producer
People
Denzel Washington
Mount Vernon, New York, United States
A two-time Academy Award winner known for roles in Glory and Training Day, and for his work on stage and behind the camera.
Born: 1954 · Known for: Actor and director
People
Will Smith
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
He rose from rapping and the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to become a blockbuster star in films like Men in Black.
Born: 1968 · Known for: Actor and musician
People
Marlon Brando
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
His naturalistic style changed screen acting in the 1950s, and he is best remembered for On the Waterfront and The Godfather.
Lived: 1924–2004 · Known for: Actor
People
James Dean
Marion, Indiana, United States
He made only three major films before dying in a car crash at 24, yet became a lasting symbol of teenage rebellion.
Lived: 1931–1955 · Known for: Actor
People
Steven Spielberg
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
He shaped modern blockbusters with Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park, and also made serious dramas such as Schindler's List.
Born: 1946 · Known for: Film director
People
Oprah Winfrey
Kosciusko, Mississippi, United States
She grew up in poverty and became the host of the most-watched daytime talk show in the United States and a major media figure and philanthropist.
Born: 1954 · Known for: Talk-show host and media owner
People
Walt Disney
Chicago, Illinois, United States
He co-founded the studio that made Mickey Mouse and the first full-length cel-animated feature, Snow White, and later opened Disneyland.
Lived: 1901–1966 · Known for: Animation pioneer
People
Beyoncé
Houston, Texas, United States
She rose to fame with Destiny's Child and became one of the best-selling artists in the world, winning more Grammy Awards than any other performer.
Born: 1981 · Known for: Singer and performer
People
Madonna
Bay City, Michigan, United States
Often called the Queen of Pop, she has reinvented her image across four decades and is among the best-selling female artists ever.
Born: 1958 · Known for: Singer and performer
People
Bob Dylan
Duluth, Minnesota, United States
His songs of the 1960s became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements, and he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.
Born: 1941 · Known for: Singer-songwriter
People
Whitney Houston
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Her powerful voice made her one of the best-selling singers of all time, with hits such as I Will Always Love You.
Lived: 1963–2012 · Known for: Singer
People
Frank Sinatra
Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
A defining voice of the big-band and pop standards era, he sold tens of millions of records and won an Academy Award for acting.
Lived: 1915–1998 · Known for: Singer and actor
People
Aretha Franklin
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
A singer and pianist from a gospel background, she brought soul music to the top of the charts and was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Lived: 1942–2018 · Known for: Queen of Soul
People
Louis Armstrong
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
A founder of jazz as a solo art, his trumpet playing and gravelly singing influenced almost every musician who followed.
Lived: 1901–1971 · Known for: Jazz trumpeter and singer
People
Stevie Wonder
Saginaw, Michigan, United States
Blind from infancy and a child star at Motown, he wrote and played many of the most loved soul and pop songs of the 1970s.
Born: 1950 · Known for: Singer, songwriter and musician
People
LeBron James
Akron, Ohio, United States
A forward who entered the NBA straight from high school, he became its all-time leading scorer and won titles with three different teams.
Born: 1984 · Known for: Basketball player
People
Kobe Bryant
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
He spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, won five NBA championships and is remembered for his work ethic.
Lived: 1978–2020 · Known for: Basketball player
People
Babe Ruth
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
The first great home-run hitter, he transformed baseball in the 1920s and remains one of the most famous athletes in American history.
Lived: 1895–1948 · Known for: Baseball player
People
Simone Biles
Columbus, Ohio, United States
The most decorated gymnast in world championship history, she is known for difficult skills that carry her name in the sport's rulebook.
Born: 1997 · Known for: Gymnast
People
Michael Phelps
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
He holds the record for the most Olympic medals and gold medals ever won, including eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Born: 1985 · Known for: Swimmer
People
Tiger Woods
Cypress, California, United States
A golfer who won 15 major championships and brought the sport to a much wider audience, including after a remarkable comeback in 2019.
Born: 1975 · Known for: Golfer
People
Tom Brady
San Mateo, California, United States
A quarterback who won seven Super Bowls, more than any franchise has won, over a career lasting twenty-three seasons.
Born: 1977 · Known for: American football quarterback
People: Uzbekistan
People
Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Born near Bukhara, he wrote The Canon of Medicine, a medical encyclopedia that was a standard text in the Islamic world and Europe for centuries.
Lived: c. 980–1037 · Known for: Physician and philosopher
People: Venezuela
People
Simón Bolívar
Caracas, Venezuela
Born in Caracas, he led campaigns that helped free several South American countries from Spanish rule. Bolivia is named after him.
Lived: 1783–1830 · Known for: Liberator of South America