Wikipedia's Most Read Pages of 2025: A Deep Dive into Our Collective Obsessions
Wikipedia, the digital oracle of our age, has once again unveiled its annual list of the most perused articles, offering a fascinating, and at times unsettling, glimpse into the collective consciousness of its global readership. For 2025, the digital encyclopedia's data reveals a potent mix of the morbid, the political, and the fantastical, with a staggering 2.4 billion hours collectively spent by users navigating its English-language pages. This year's trends underscore our enduring fascination with mortality, controversial figures, and the evergreen allure of superheroes.
The Reign of the Macabre and the Infamous
Taking the undisputed top spot is the article concerning the assassination of American activist Charlie Kirk. The sheer volume of interest – nearly 45 million views – surged dramatically following the incident. In a stark illustration of the immediate impact of real-world events on online curiosity, Kirk's page was accessed an astonishing 15 million times on the day after the tragedy alone, averaging over 170 page loads every second. This phenomenon, where a sudden event catapults a subject into the global spotlight, highlights how Wikipedia often serves as the immediate go-to source for understanding unfolding narratives.
Close behind, at number two with 42.5 million views, is the eternally popular "List of deaths in 2025." This entry, a perennial high-flyer that even topped the charts in previous years, speaks volumes about our somber curiosity regarding the end of life and the prominent figures who depart it. It’s a stark reminder that while we celebrate life, we also meticulously document its cessation.
Securing the third position, and shedding light on the enduring public interest in notorious figures, is Ed Gein. The American serial killer garnered 31.2 million views, a resurgence directly linked to the popular Netflix series "Monster: The Ed Gein Story," starring Charlie Hunnam. This exemplifies how pop culture and true crime often intertwine, breathing new life into historical narratives and fueling widespread online investigation.
Political Figures and Papal Power
Politics remains a powerful driver of online engagement, with former President Donald Trump continuing his reign as a perennial fixture on the list. The "old-new" president claimed the fourth spot with 25.1 million views, a consistent presence on Wikipedia's most-read roster, save for a brief hiatus in 2022 and 2023. His recurring prominence underscores his unwavering grip on public attention and discourse.
Rounding out the top five is a decidedly more spiritual, yet equally compelling, figure: Pope Leo XIV. This article, detailing the election of the first U.S.-born pontiff, exploded in popularity, reaching a record-breaking 800,000 views per second following his ascension. This extraordinary surge highlights how significant cultural and religious milestones can captivate the digital world, demonstrating an immense global interest in the leadership of major institutions.
A Blend of Tech Titans, Cinematic Universes, and Sporting Legends
The top ten paints a rich tapestry of contemporary interests, featuring tech mogul Elon Musk (20.2 million views) and the newly elected Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani (20.1 million views). The digital realm also saw significant traffic directed towards cinematic endeavors, with Ryan Coogler's film "The Sinners" (18.2 million views) and James Gunn's anticipated "Superman" (17 million views) drawing massive audiences. Rock and roll icon Ozzy Osbourne also maintained a strong presence with 17.8 million views, proving the enduring legacy of musical legends.
Further down the list, the intrigue continues with articles on Pope Francis (15.3 million views), the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series "Severance" (13.9 million views), and a fundamental entry on the United States itself (13 million views). Major cinematic universes such as "Thunderbolts*" (12.9 million views) and the action-thriller "The Gun" (11.8 million views) also captured significant reader attention.
The concluding entries showcase a diverse array of influential figures and trending content: Senator J.D. Vance (11.6 million views), the popular series "Youth" (11.6 million views), YouTube sensation MrBeast (11.5 million views), global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (10.8 million views), and the latest iteration of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" (10.8 million views). This eclectic mix underscores Wikipedia's role as a dynamic repository of information, reflecting the multifaceted nature of modern cultural consumption.
Wikipedia's Evolving Landscape
As Wikipedia prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary on January 15th, the platform faces a significant shift in how users access information. A growing reliance on AI-generated answers, often delivered without direct site visits, presents a challenge to Wikipedia's traditional traffic models. Furthermore, the emergence of AI tools, such as Elon Musk's "Grokipedia" which reportedly mimicked Wikipedia content, poses new questions about data integrity and the future of information dissemination. Despite these evolving challenges, Wikipedia remains an indispensable and vibrant resource, a testament to the power of collaborative knowledge-building and our insatiable desire to know.
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