2016 (MMXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2016th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 16th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 7th year of the 2010s decade.
2016 marked the deaths of famous musicians including David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael, as well as prominent world leaders including Shimon Peres, Bhumibol Adulyadej, and Fidel Castro.
2016 was declared the "hottest year on record" by various media outlets including NASA,[3] and NOAA.[4]