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Back Then

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In your 32 years you’ve been around for…

  • 9 Prime Ministers
  • 2 monarchs
  • 8 World Cups
  • +2.5 billion people on Earth

1994

The world you arrived into

1994

Nelson Mandela became President

On 10 May 1994, South Africa’s first fully democratic elections made Mandela president.

1994

The Channel Tunnel opened

On 6 May 1994, the Queen and President Mitterrand opened the link between Britain and France.

1994

The National Lottery launched

The first draw on 19 November 1994 made instant millionaires — "It could be you".

1994

Kurt Cobain died

The Nirvana frontman died in April 1994, aged 27, as grunge gave way to Britpop.

1994

What people were listening to

Now playing in 1994

  • Wet Wet Wet spent 15 weeks at number one

    "Love Is All Around", from Four Weddings and a Funeral, refused to leave the top of the charts all summer.

1994

At the cinema and on television

television

Friends began

The first episode aired on 22 September 1994. "The One Where It All Began".

movies

The Lion King

Disney’s pride arrived in 1994 and became one of the biggest animated films ever.

movies

Four Weddings and a Funeral

The highest-grossing British film to that point charmed the world in spring 1994.

movies

Pulp Fiction

Tarantino’s second film arrived in autumn 1994 and reset American independent cinema.

1994

Technology looked very different

  1. The PlayStation launched

    Sony’s first console went on sale in Japan on 3 December 1994.

When these arrived

You were only…

  • 4 Google was founded 1998
  • 7 Wikipedia launched 2001
  • 10 Facebook was founded 2004
  • 11 YouTube was founded 2005
  • 13 The iPhone 2007
  • 14 Spotify launched 2008

A gentle reality check

Things that are younger than you

  • 1995 eBay was founded
  • 1995 Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated film
  • 1996 Dolly the sheep was cloned
  • 1997 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  • 1998 Google was founded
  • 1999 The euro launched
  • 1999 The Matrix was released
  • 2000 Big Brother came to the UK
See all 23 things younger than you →

1994 vs today

A few things have changed since you arrived

A few things 1994 Today
  • Everyone on Earth about 5.7 billion about 8.2 billion

Indicative sample data — being verified and expanded.

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