The 2020s is the current decade, spanning from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2029. Like all decades, it gets its name from the tens place in the year: just as the 1990s included 1990 through 1999, and the 2010s covered 2010 through 2019, the 2020s encompasses all years beginning with 2020.

This decade began dramatically with the COVID-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that closed schools, changed how people worked, and affected nearly every aspect of daily life. The pandemic accelerated trends that were already underway: more people began working and learning from home using video calls, online shopping grew even more common, and delivery services became more commonplace.

Like every decade, the 2020s will be remembered for its unique combination of challenges, innovations, and cultural moments. Each decade develops its own identity: the 1960s had the Space Race and the civil rights movement, the 1990s saw the rise of personal computers and the internet, and the story of the 2020s is still being written. By the time it ends, people will look back and recognize what made these ten years distinct, just as we now look back at previous decades and see what defined them.