Wikipedia traffic shifts: From ChatGPT to Politics as top draw 2023-2024
Analysis reveals how reader interests shifted from AI dominance in 2023 to political engagement in election year 2024.
Public interest shifted dramatically between 2023 and 2024, according to data released by the Wikimedia Foundation. The analysis reveals a transformation from technology-focused curiosity to political engagement, reflecting global events and changing societal priorities.
The most striking change occurred at the top position. ChatGPT, which dominated 2023 with 52.5 million views, dropped to twelfth place in 2024 with 16.5 million views, marking a 68% decrease in traffic. The 2024 list was instead topped by "Deaths in 2024" with 44.4 million views, climbing from its second-place position in 2023.
Political content saw the most significant surge in 2024, occupying 10 of the top 25 positions, compared to none in 2023's top entries. The U.S. presidential election article ranked third with 27.9 million views, while key political figures dominated the list: Kamala Harris (28.9 million views), Donald Trump (25.2 million views), and JD Vance (23.3 million views).
Sports interests showed notable changes. While cricket dominated 2023 with multiple entries totaling over 97 million views combined, 2024 saw a more diverse sports representation. The Indian Premier League maintained strong interest, ranking sixth with 24.5 million views, while new entries included the 2024 Summer Olympics (16 million views) and UEFA Euro 2024 (15.6 million views).
Entertainment trends also evolved. The "Barbenheimer" phenomenon of 2023, which saw "Oppenheimer" (31.2 million views) and "Barbie" (19.9 million views) in the top rankings, gave way to different entertainment interests in 2024. "Deadpool & Wolverine" led the entertainment category with 22.3 million views, followed by various biographical dramas and documentaries.
Year-over-Year Statistical Comparison
2023 Top 5
- ChatGPT: 52.5 million views
- Deaths in 2023: 48.5 million views
- 2023 Cricket World Cup: 38.7 million views
- Indian Premier League: 32.4 million views
- Oppenheimer (film): 31.2 million views
2024 Top 5
- Deaths in 2024: 44.4 million views
- Kamala Harris: 28.9 million views
- 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: 27.9 million views
- Lyle and Erik Menendez: 26.1 million views
- Donald Trump: 25.2 million views
Key Trends Across Both Years
Demographics and Usage
The Wikimedia Foundation reports that views from the United States and India constituted nearly half of English Wikipedia's total pageviews in 2024, a pattern similar to 2023. However, the nature of content these viewers sought changed significantly.
Content Evolution
2023 emphasized technological advancement and cultural entertainment, with artificial intelligence and global sporting events driving traffic. In contrast, 2024 reflected heightened political awareness and diverse entertainment interests, particularly biographical content and true crime narratives.
Sustained Interests
Several topics maintained consistent popularity across both years. The annual "Deaths" article remained a top performer, while entertainment figures like Taylor Swift sustained high viewership, though dropping from ninth place in 2023 (22.1 million views) to eleventh in 2024 (17 million views).
Methodology Changes
The Wikimedia Foundation enhanced its data validation process in 2024, implementing stricter controls for mobile view patterns and referrer statistics. This refinement might account for some variations in year-over-year comparisons, particularly for articles about major websites and default search terms.
The shift in popular articles between 2023 and 2024 reflects broader societal changes, from the initial fascination with artificial intelligence to increased engagement with political processes and diverse entertainment options. This transformation provides valuable insights into evolving global interests and information-seeking behaviors.
Editor's Note: Data for 2024 was collected through November 22, 2024, with final figures pending year-end updates in January 2025. The 2023 data represents the complete calendar year.