Some notable events from 1994 include:

• The Rwandan Genocide, where an estimated 800,000 Tutsi people were killed by the Hutu majority.
• Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after the country's first multi-racial elections.
• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law.
• The Channel Tunnel, also known as the Eurotunnel, opened, connecting England and France.
• The first version of the JavaScript programming language was released.
• Forrest Gump, a movie directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks, was released and went on to win several Academy Awards.