Explainer: Wikipedia’s Most-Read Articles of 2025 Highlight Politics, True Crime, and Pop Culture

Essential brief

Key facts

Charlie Kirk’s article topped Wikipedia’s 2025 most-read list, driven by global interest following his death.

Annual notable deaths lists and true crime figures like Ed Gein remain highly popular topics.

Entertainment-related pages benefit from viewers seeking additional info while watching shows or films.

US politics and emerging figures like Zohran Mamdani and MrBeast featured prominently in top searches.

Wikipedia’s credibility is maintained by volunteer editors adhering to strict neutrality and sourcing guidelines.

Highlights

Charlie Kirk’s article topped Wikipedia’s 2025 most-read list, driven by global interest following his death.

Annual notable deaths lists and true crime figures like Ed Gein remain highly popular topics.

Entertainment-related pages benefit from viewers seeking additional info while watching shows or films.

US politics and emerging figures like Zohran Mamdani and MrBeast featured prominently in top searches.

In 2025, Wikipedia’s most-read article was about Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who tragically died after being shot at a university debate on September 10.

His article garnered nearly 45 million views, reflecting global interest beyond the United States, with over 40% of views coming from international users.

The second most popular page was the annual list of notable deaths in 2025, a recurring feature that consistently attracts high traffic.

True crime also drew significant attention, with Ed Gein, the infamous US serial killer recently profiled in Netflix’s true crime anthology Monster, ranking third.

The top five was completed by prominent US figures Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, underscoring the continued public fascination with political and religious leaders.

Entertainment content remained strong, boosted by the “second screen” phenomenon where viewers look up information on their devices while watching shows or movies.

The 2025 films Sinners and Superman both made the top 10, while Netflix’s Adolescence and Apple TV’s Severance saw spikes in page views coinciding with their releases and seasons.

The surge in visits to plot summaries highlights Wikipedia’s role as a go-to resource for viewers seeking quick information.

US politics accounted for a quarter of the top 20 articles, with Zohran Mamdani’s surprising bid for New York mayor placing him just below tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Additionally, YouTuber MrBeast appeared in the top 20 for the first time, reflecting the growing influence of digital creators.

Wikipedia, celebrating its 25th anniversary in January 2025, continues to rely on a vast network of volunteer editors to maintain its standards of neutrality and reliability, making it a trusted source amid a crowded information landscape.