Wikipedia has revealed its annual list of the most-viewed articles for 2025, with a tragic political event driving unprecedented public search traffic. The data paints a stark picture of a year dominated by a shocking assassination, political figures, and the enduring public fascination with true crime.
A Year Defined by Tragedy and Political Interest
The most-read article of the year was the Wikipedia page for American political commentator Charlie Kirk. It amassed a staggering over 45 million views, with interest surging dramatically following his assassination on 10 September 2025. In a related personal note, his wife, Erika Kirk, has publicly stated she has never watched the video of the event and never will.
Coming in a close second was the general 'Deaths in 2025' page, which garnered 42.5 million views, underscoring the public's desire to understand the year's mortality events in a broader context. The third spot was claimed by the page for notorious serial killer Ed Gein, which saw a significant boost in traffic linked to the release of a popular Netflix series about his crimes.
Political Heavyweights and New Faces in the Top Ten
The list remained heavily populated by political figures. Former US President Donald Trump secured fourth place with 25.1 million views, reflecting his ongoing prominence in the global news cycle. In fifth place was New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, whose page received 20.1 million views, indicating high public interest in his emerging political career.
Tech magnate Elon Musk climbed to sixth position, also attracting over 20 million views. Analysts attribute this to his consistently high public profile and his controversial involvement with the now-dissolved Department of Government Efficiency.
Celebrity Deaths and Pop Culture Drive Remaining Traffic
The remainder of the top ten was a mix of celebrity obituaries and entertainment topics. The year saw significant public searches for pages related to the deaths of music legend Ozzy Osbourne and religious figures Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV. Several pages connected to major television shows and films also featured prominently, demonstrating Wikipedia's role as a primary source for immediate pop culture reference.
The 2025 data conclusively shows how Wikipedia's traffic serves as a real-time barometer of global public consciousness, instantly spiking in response to breaking news, political shifts, and major cultural moments.
