world
Nelson Mandela became President
On 10 May 1994, South Africa’s first fully democratic elections made Mandela president.
Born in 1976
It was 1994 when you turned 18
You arrived in 1976. By 1994 — 32 years ago now — the world had moved on. Here's what it looked like.
Turning 32 this year Part of a Millennial
You arrived the year the Channel Tunnel opened and Britpop went supernova.
1994
The world you arrived into
Britain
The Channel Tunnel opened
On 6 May 1994, the Queen and President Mitterrand opened the link between Britain and France.
Britain
The National Lottery launched
The first draw on 19 November 1994 made instant millionaires — "It could be you".
culture
Kurt Cobain died
The Nirvana frontman died in April 1994, aged 27, as grunge gave way to Britpop.
1994
What people were listening to
music
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
technology
The PlayStation launched
Sony’s first console went on sale in Japan on 3 December 1994.
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Keep exploring
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See the world you were born into →
The full picture for 1976 — music, movies, technology and more.
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Things that are younger than you →
From the NHS to the iPhone — how much arrived after you did?
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Your life in history →
A timeline of your milestones, matched with history.
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Compare 1976 with 1998 →
Two birth years, side by side. Try it with family.