As the year 2025 draws to a close, many are looking back at the predictions made by the famous French astrologer Nostradamus, who recorded his prophecies in his 1555 text Les Prophéties.
Nostradamus, along with Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga, has been credited with foreseeing major world events, including the atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the spread of Covid-19.
But did Nostradamus accurately predict the fortunes and tragedies that befell the Earth’s population in 2025?
England’s ‘cruel wars’ and the return of a ‘great pestilence’
In one of his quatrains, Nostradamus warned of ‘cruel wars’ in England, saying, “When those from the lands of Europe, see England set up her throne behind. Her flanks, there will be cruel wars.
“The kingdom will be marked by wars so cruel, foes from within and without will arise. A great pestilence from the past returns, no enemy more deadly under the skies.”
While England has not been directly involved in any wars this year, the country has faced threats from knife attacks in Huntingdon and Heaton Park, as well as cyberattacks that disrupted major retailers.
Additionally, England is bracing for a potential ‘superflu’ outbreak this winter, which some have interpreted as the return of the ‘great pestilence’ predicted by Nostradamus.
Clashes between ‘great powers’ and the decline of Western influence
Nostradamus also foretold that ‘great powers will clash’ in 2025 and predicted ‘a decrease in the influence of established Western countries and the emergence of new world powers.’
This year has seen tensions rise between global superpowers, with Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming he was ready for war with Europe.
Meanwhile, China’s economic growth and attempts to gain access to sensitive governmental information through spies have highlighted the shifting balance of power on the world stage.
Advancements in medical technology and disease prevention
On a more positive note, Nostradamus predicted ‘significant improvements in illness prevention and treatment’ and the growth of medical technology in 2025.
This year has seen progress in the development of a tuberculosis vaccine, the proliferation of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, and the use of AI to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing cancer in the next 20 years.
These advancements align with the astrologer’s vision of a year marked by medical breakthroughs.
The potential end to the Ukraine-Russia war and the roles of France and Turkey
Nostradamus wrote, “Through long war all the army exhausted, so that they do not find money for the soldiers; instead of gold or silver, they will come to coin leather, Gallic brass, and the crescent sign of the Moon.”
Some have interpreted this quatrain as a reference to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, which began in February 2022.
The mention of ‘Gallic brass’ and ‘the crescent sign of the Moon’ has led some to believe that France and Turkey will play important roles in ending the conflict, although it remains to be seen whether US President Donald Trump‘s efforts to bring the war to a close will bear fruit.
The looming apocalypse and a ‘second chance’ for Earth
One of Nostradamus’s more ominous predictions reads, “From the cosmos, a fireball will rise, A harbinger of fate, the world pleads. Science and fate in a cosmic dance, The fate of the Earth, a second chance.”
While the end of the world has not come to pass in 2025, some have speculated that the reference to a ‘second chance’ for Earth could indicate the extinction of the human race, allowing the planet to regenerate and replenish itself.
Natural disaster in Brazil and the ongoing threat to the Amazon rainforest
Nostradamus also warned of a potential natural disaster in Brazil, home to roughly 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, as a result of climate change.
He wrote, “Garden of the world near the new city, In the path of the hollow mountains: It will be seized and plunged into the tub, forced to drink waters poisoned by sulphur.”
While some indicators of Amazon degradation have shown slight improvement this year, such as a reported decrease in deforestation and fires, the rainforest continues to face threats from illegal mining and droughts.
As the world reflects on the events of 2025, it is clear that Nostradamus’s predictions, while open to interpretation, have captured the imaginations of many.
Whether the French astrologer’s quatrains truly foretold the major happenings of the year or merely served as a catalyst for speculation and introspection, his enduring legacy continues to fascinate and intrigue centuries after his death.
