We know there are 60 seconds in a minute, seven days in a week and 365 days in a year. We also know a marathon is just over 26 miles, there are 12 inches in a foot and 14 pounds in a stone.
But, throughout the course of a year, a plethora of slightly more unusual numbers and statistics come to light and 2006 was no exception.
MSN has compiled a gallery of photos highlighting some of this year’s most memorable numbers.
The year in review on MSN News
The year in review on MSN News
The year in pictures is our selection of the most striking and iconic images of 2006, taking in conflict zones, wonders of nature, sporting heroes, and the lives of ordinary people.
A look back at the year's quirky news, from a fear of peas to a Geordie waking up with a Jamaican accent.
Test your current affairs knowledge with our 2006 news quiz. You'll need to answer 20 questions from our trivia database to stand a chance of making the leader board.
As the year draws to a close, what better way to sum up the events of 2006 than in the words of the people who set the news agenda throughout the past twelve months?
2006 was a year of highs and lows for famous faces across the globe. Find out who came out on top and who plumbed the depths in our round-up of the year's winners and losers.