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[FCE] Charlie Kirk tops Wikipedia’s list of most-read articles in 2025

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The Wikimedia Foundation has published its annual rankings of the most-read articles on its popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, offering a fascinating insight into the topics that dominated global interest in 2025. The list reveals a predictable mix of popular culture and politics, but the story behind the year’s top entry is both unexpected and sorrowful.

Claiming the top spot was the English-language article about Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of the Turning Point USA organisation. His page received a staggering 45 million views. This dramatic spike in traffic was not due to his political activities, but rather the tragic circumstances of his death. On September 10th, Mr. Kirk was killed in a shooting during a university campus debate. The incident generated widespread media attention worldwide, which accounts for the fact that over 40% of the views on his page originated from outside the United States, as people sought to understand the man behind the headlines.

As is typical with these annual lists, other entries reflect major trends. The second most-viewed page was the list of notable deaths in 2025, a recurring feature near the top of the rankings. The significant influence of television and film was also evident. The article on Ed Gein, a serial killer who was the focus of a hit Netflix series, came in third. This highlights a phenomenon known as the ‘second screen effect’, where viewers simultaneously use their phones to research topics related to what they are watching. Similarly, articles about new films such as Sinners and Superman were also among the most popular.

Beyond entertainment, political affairs remained a key area of public curiosity. US politics comprised a quarter of the top 20 articles, with pages for well-known figures like Donald Trump and New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, attracting millions of readers. Ultimately, the list serves as a digital snapshot, reflecting how our collective attention is captured by major news events, popular entertainment, and influential public figures.

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1. What was the primary reason for the high number of views on Charlie Kirk’s Wikipedia page?

  • A. His role as a co-founder of an influential organisation.
  • B. The international news coverage following his death.
  • C. A controversial debate he participated in at a university.
  • D. His long and successful career as a political activist.

2. The article uses the case of Ed Gein to illustrate…

  • A. that articles about historical figures are the most popular.
  • B. how television content can directly drive online research.
  • C. a decline in the popularity of films compared to TV series.
  • D. the reason why people are interested in crime stories.

3. In the third paragraph, what does the phrase ‘a recurring feature’ mean?

  • A. A new article that appears unexpectedly.
  • B. A topic that is consistently popular each year.
  • C. An article that is difficult for people to find.
  • D. A subject that is only popular for a short time.

4. According to the text, what percentage of Charlie Kirk’s page views came from outside the US?

  • A. Exactly 20%
  • B. A quarter of the total
  • C. Less than 40%
  • D. More than 40%

5. What is the main purpose of this article?

  • A. To provide a detailed biography of Charlie Kirk.
  • B. To analyse viewing figures for new films and TV shows.
  • C. To discuss what Wikipedia’s most-read articles show about public interests.
  • D. To argue that politics is more popular than entertainment.