Wikipedia will complete twenty-five years on 15 January 2026. From a small volunteer-written project, it has grown into the backbone of global knowledge. Today it powers Google Search, artificial intelligence tools, voice assistants, research platforms, and thousands of applications across the world.
Every year, Wikipedia quietly becomes the world’s biggest mirror of our curiosity. Whenever something shocking happens, a celebrity trends, a show goes viral or a public figure enters the spotlight, the first thing people do is… Google them and end up on Wikipedia.
In 2025, readers spent an estimated 2.4 billion hours on English Wikipedia. Every year, the Wikimedia Foundation publishes a list of the top twenty most-read articles. These rankings reveal what the world is curious about and what topics truly shape public interest.
For individuals or organisations who may be thinking about creating a Wikipedia page, especially non-governmental organisations, social workers, public personalities, authors, and entrepreneurs, this list offers important lessons about notability.
Top Five Most-Read Wikipedia Articles of 2025
1. Charlie Kirk – 44,907,789 pageviews
2. Deaths in 2025 – 42,508,846 pageviews
3. Ed Gein – 31,232,285 pageviews
4. Donald Trump – 25,127,616 pageviews
5. Pope Leo XIV – 22,052,502 pageviews
Charlie Kirk’s article alone received nearly fifteen million views within twenty-four hours after news of his assassination. Wikipedia remains the first destination for readers who want accurate information during major global events.
The page titled “Deaths in 2025” is always among the most-read pages every year. It shows that readers consistently use Wikipedia to track notable personalities and their contributions across different fields.
Pop Culture Dominates: Films, Television and Streaming Content
Eight entertainment-related pages made it to the top twenty. This confirms a behaviour known as the “second screen effect,” where viewers search Wikipedia while watching films or television shows.
Popular Titles in the List:
- Sinners (2025 film)
- Weapons (2025 film)
- Superman (2025 film)
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Thunderbolts
- Severance (television series)
- Adolescence (television series)
This trend matters for actors, producers, directors, and content creators. Whenever entertainment content becomes popular, viewers expect to find accurate information on Wikipedia.
Politics Continues to Drive High Readership
Wikipedia is one of the most trusted global sources for political information. In 2025, several political figures attracted extremely high readership.
Political Personalities in the Top Twenty:
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- JD Vance
- Zohran Mamdani
- Charlie Kirk
Whenever political events take place, Wikipedia becomes the primary platform that readers use for fact-checking and clarity.
Pop Culture Beyond Entertainment: Music, YouTube and Sports
Three major personalities captured public attention in 2025.
Ozzy Osbourne
The singer and reality television personality received high interest, especially after his passing.
MrBeast
The globally popular YouTube creator entered the list after publicly expressing interest in buying TikTok.
Cristiano Ronaldo
He remained the only sportsperson in the top twenty for 2025.
These examples show how worldwide relevance, strong media coverage and public curiosity directly contribute to Wikipedia notability.
Complete List of the Top Twenty Most-Read Wikipedia Articles in 2025
- Charlie Kirk – 44,907,789
- Deaths in 2025 – 42,508,846
- Ed Gein – 31,232,285
- Donald Trump – 25,127,616
- Pope Leo XIV – 22,052,502
- Elon Musk – 20,179,628
- Zohran Mamdani – 20,118,615
- Sinners (2025 film) – 18,230,654
- Ozzy Osbourne – 17,787,997
- Superman (2025 film) – 17,007,716
- Pope Francis – 15,281,541
- Severance (television series) – 13,892,847
- United States – 13,040,217
- Thunderbolts – 12,864,839
- Weapons (2025 film) – 11,753,018
- JD Vance – 11,617,451
- Adolescence (television series) – 11,571,799
- MrBeast – 11,475,681
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 10,827,510
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps – 10,768,070
What This Means for NGOs, Social Workers, Entrepreneurs & Public Figures
Many individuals and organisations ask two common questions:
“Is it a good idea to have a Wikipedia page?”
“Can a social worker or a non-governmental organisation qualify for one?”
The truthful answer is the following.
Yes, but only if you genuinely meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria.
Wikipedia is not a promotional platform. It is an encyclopaedia based entirely on independent, verifiable information.
Non-governmental organisations and social workers can have Wikipedia pages if they have:
- Multiple news articles published by reliable publications
- Public recognition or awards
- Coverage that is not sponsored or self-published
- Long-term work with measurable community impact
- Independent reporting from reputable media organisations
If these conditions are met, a page is possible. If not, the ideal approach is to first build notability gradually rather than attempting a page prematurely.
At Wikipedia Services, we follow the same standards that volunteer editors expect. We evaluate notability honestly and guide clients responsibly.
Key Lessons from the 2025 Wikipedia Trends
1. Wikipedia reflects real-world events, not self-created promotion.
Articles receive attention only when the subject becomes genuinely newsworthy.
2. Strong independent coverage is the foundation of notability.
Every subject in the top twenty is backed by extensive reporting and analysis.
3. Wikipedia influences your entire digital presence.
Search engines, artificial intelligence tools and voice assistants rely heavily on Wikipedia content.
4. Readers come from across the world.
A large percentage of pageviews for top personalities come from outside their home countries.
Considering a Wikipedia Page? Follow These Guidelines
Before initiating a Wikipedia page, assess the following:
- Do you have multiple independent news coverages?
- Are these from well-known and reliable publications?
- Has your work created measurable social or professional impact?
- Can the article be written neutrally, without promotional language?
- Are you prepared for transparent documentation that is visible to the world?
If the answer is yes, our team can create a well-referenced, policy-compliant Wikipedia article.
If the answer is not yet, we can guide you on how to build notability properly.
This is why individuals, organisations and creators trust Wikipedia Services for expert consultation.
Final Thought
As Wikipedia enters its twenty-fifth year, it stands as the world’s most trusted source of verified knowledge. It is not just a website. It is the global public record.
Whether you are a non-governmental organisation, a social worker, an entrepreneur, a creator, an actor, a politician, or a public figure, your digital credibility increasingly depends on how you appear on platforms that rely on Wikipedia.
If you wish to check your notability or learn whether a Wikipedia page is right for you, our team at Wikipedia Services is here to guide you with clarity, accuracy and professionalism.