Wikipedia turns 25, celebrating a quarter century of human-powered knowledge

As Wikipedia marks 25 years, the Wikimedia Foundation launches a global anniversary campaign spotlighting volunteer editors, India’s growing contribution, and the platform’s evolving role as a trusted knowledge backbone in the age of artificial intelligence.

Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia, marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating a milestone that underscores its journey as a people-driven platform dedicated to free, reliable knowledge for everyone, everywhere.

To commemorate the occasion, the Wikimedia Foundation—the nonprofit organisation that operates Wikipedia—launched the “Wikipedia 25” global campaign, inviting users to explore the platform’s history, honour its volunteer community, and engage with initiatives shaping its future.

“Wikipedia is a digital wonder of the world, unlike anything else. It has overcome countless challenges and changes in its time, thanks to the people behind it and their unwavering commitment to sharing free, reliable knowledge with the world,” said Maryana Iskander, Chief Executive Officer of the Wikimedia Foundation. “With billions of monthly visits and an ever-growing number of organizations relying on Wikipedia's free, verified knowledge, this platform has become integral to the architecture of the entire internet.”

Global volunteers at the heart of Wikipedia

As part of the anniversary, the Foundation released its first-ever video docuseries offering a behind-the-scenes look at Wikipedia’s volunteer editors across the globe. Nearly 250,000 volunteers create, edit, and fact-check content every month, adhering to strict standards of neutrality and reliability.

The series features eight editors from different regions, including a Californian chronicling extreme weather events, a Japanese librarian preserving local-language knowledge, and an Indian medical doctor who played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their stories reinforce the message that even in an AI-driven era, credible knowledge remains deeply human.

Indian Wikimedian featured in global campaign

India’s contribution to Wikipedia received special attention through the inclusion of Dr Netha Hussain, an Indian medical professional who helped disseminate accurate COVID-19 information during the global health crisis. Her presence in the campaign highlights India’s expanding role within the global Wikimedia volunteer ecosystem.

India currently contributes the fifth-highest number of Wikipedia page views globally, with around 800 million views every month. The country also has the third-largest pool of contributors to the English Wikipedia, after the United States and the United Kingdom. Wikipedia is available in more than 25 Indic languages, covering nearly all of India’s 22 scheduled languages.

Time capsule and 25th anniversary initiatives

The Foundation also unveiled a “25 Years of Wikipedia” digital time capsule, featuring reflections from founder Jimmy Wales, key moments in Wikipedia’s history, and lesser-known stories from the platform’s archives. Complementing this are several campaign initiatives, including an interactive quiz on Wikipedia’s future, a digital birthday card aimed at becoming the world’s longest, a global virtual birthday event on January 15, and limited-edition merchandise.

Wikipedia’s growing role in the age of AI

As artificial intelligence reshapes the internet, Wikipedia’s human-curated knowledge has become increasingly valuable. The platform now hosts over 65 million articles in more than 300 languages and attracts nearly 15 billion views every month. It also serves as a critical data source for search engines, voice assistants, and generative AI systems.

“In 2001, Wikipedia started as a dream to share knowledge with everyone, everywhere. No one, including me, knew if it would succeed,” said Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia Founder and Wikimedia Foundation Trustee. “Against all odds, Wikipedia has grown to become the backbone of knowledge on the internet today.”

The Wikimedia Foundation said celebrations and community activities marking Wikipedia’s 25 years will continue globally through 2026, reinforcing its mission to keep knowledge open, trustworthy, and accessible in a rapidly changing digital world.