2024 (written in Roman numerals as MMXXIV) is the 2024th year of the modern era. It is identified in both the Common Era and the older Anno Domini systems. In ordinal terms it is the 24th year of the third millennium, the 24th year of the 21st century, and the 5th year of the 2020s decade. In the widely used Gregorian reckoning it is a leap year that begins on Monday.

Calendar and leap-year rules

The Gregorian calendar, the civil calendar almost universally used today, inserts a leap day in February to keep the calendar year aligned with the solar year. A year is normally a leap year when it is divisible by four; century years must also be divisible by 400 to qualify. Because 2024 meets the ordinary divisibility-by-four criterion and is not a century year, it contains 366 days with February 29 as an added day. The pattern of weekdays for dates in 2024 follows from the fact that the year starts on Monday.

Notable scheduled events and observances

Certain large international events are scheduled or expected to occur in 2024. These will affect global travel, sports, politics and media attention.

  • Summer Olympic Games: The 2024 Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place in Paris, drawing athletes and visitors worldwide.
  • UEFA European Football Championship: A major continental football tournament is set for midyear in Germany.
  • United States presidential election: The U.S. presidential election cycle culminates in a nationwide vote, a major event for international observers.
  • General elections and national votes: Several countries hold national elections during the year, including the expected general election in India.
  • A total solar eclipse: On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse is projected to cross parts of North America, attracting both scientists and the public.

Historical and practical significance

Year numbers like 2024 are part of a long tradition of year counting established in medieval Europe and later standardized through international adoption of the Gregorian calendar. Leap years are a practical correction to the mismatch between the calendar year and the astronomical solar year; without them seasons would slowly drift relative to calendar dates. The placement of major events in 2024 will interact with that calendar structure—for example, sporting schedules, fiscal years, school terms and cultural festivals often adjust to accommodate an extra day in February.

Distinctive facts and considerations

Because 2024 is a leap year that begins on Monday, some repeating patterns and calendar alignments differ from non-leap years. Institutions such as businesses, payroll systems and software must account for the extra day; planners also consider how long weekends and holiday weekdays fall. While the year number itself is an abstract label, it becomes a practical reference for legal documents, data timestamps and historical records for events that occur during the year.

For further, structured reference on the year's numerical and calendrical properties, see entries about the Gregorian calendar and about how era designations are used in modern chronology. Additional context and timelines are available in resources that focus on the third millennium and on developments shaping the 21st century.

Summary: 2024 (MMXXIV) is a leap year starting on Monday under the Gregorian system. It occupies its expected place within century and decade numbering and hosts several high-profile global events that make it notable beyond its calendar properties.

MMXXIV • leap year • Monday • Gregorian calendar • Common Era • Anno Domini • third millennium • 21st century • 2020s