List of articles every Wikipedia should have

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This is an archived version of this page, as edited by Geoide (talk | contribs) at 11:17, 5 November 2017 (→‎Physics). It may differ significantly from the current version.

Important note: Since this list is full, it is important that you discuss any changes (adds or deletes) on the discussion for this list first. If you add an entry at this point, it will be necessary to justify deleting something else.

There are a growing number of Wikipedia projects, some very active and others quite stagnant. This list is intended as a guideline for those projects so that they will contain a minimum amount of basic, useful information. This way, people will be encouraged to use these projects and help in their growth. The articles should contain at least basic information on the topics they describe, thus providing a starting point for growth besides being a useful reference for the readers.

In addition to simply listing the articles, this project hopes to eventually create easily translatable versions of these articles, possibly containing core information at simple:Wikipedia:List of articles all languages should have. Until then, links to corresponding Wikidata objects are provided, containing links to articles in various Wikipedias which can be used as a translatable resource.

Top-priority entries, which are deemed especially necessary for any Wikipedia to have, are marked in bold; like the list itself, these selections should not be viewed as dictating how important certain topics are, but only as a utility for smaller Wikipedias to start from.

This list is also used to obtain the List of Wikipedias by sample of articles. Articles which are absent from one wikipedia are shown in List of Wikipedias by sample of articles/Absent Articles.

This list is limited to 1000 articles, but a much larger list is available at List of articles every Wikipedia should have/Expanded.

Five versions from the history of this page can be found at Version 1.0 (14 August 2006), Version 1.1 (15 November 2008), Version 1.2 (3 February 2010), Version 1.3 (24 June 2012) and Version 1.4 (1 June 2014).

Thanks to Wikidata it's also possible to list the top 1000 most translated (linked) pages in some languages, at Wikidata Terminator; or even compare any two wikis, with Not in the other language.
v · d · e
Recent changes
Date Adding Removing
2024-03-25 Colombia Venezuela
2024-03-20 Soviet Union Cultural Revolution
2024-03-02 Algae Marine mammal
2024-01-19 Discrimination Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2023-12-26 Shinto Zen
2023-12-05 Reincarnation Yoga
2022-11-11 Taste Breast
2022-08-17 Korean Hangul
2022-04-02 Trade Japanese Yen
2022-04-02 Table salt Oat
2022-04-02 Shia Islam Sufism
2022-03-18 Citrus Lemon
2022-03-02 Swimming Karate
Section Version 1.1 Current Number Target Number Vital articles
Biography 216 204 TBD 120
Philosophy and psychology 18 18 TBD 25
World view and religion 21 25 TBD 46
Social sciences 71 70 TBD 93
Language and literature 43 46 TBD 36
Culture, arts and recreation 73 76 TBD 84
Science 245 299 TBD 250
* Astronomy 22 22 TBD 26
* Biology 118 120 TBD 104
** Health and medicine 34 37 TBD 42
* Chemistry 27 27 TBD 36
* Earth science 21 21 TBD 19
* Physics 36 39 TBD 41
* Measurement and units 11 6 TBD 0
* Timekeeping 8 6 TBD 0
* Foodstuffs 31 31 TBD 21
* Mathematics 22 25 TBD 61
Technology 72 70 TBD 106
History 40 46 TBD 62
Geography 148 146 TBD 87
Total 1000 1000 1000 972

Count checked: 16:16, 19 April 2010 (UTC)

How to use this list

There are several different ways to use this list. The first is to translate it into the language of your Wikipedia and see whether you have articles on all of these topics. The topics here are linked to corresponding items in the Wikidata project. If your Wikipedia is missing an article, or if you are starting out with a new language, you may want to translate these basic articles from a different language that you are familiar with (for example, English). Language links to Wikipedias in which the topic is covered are provided at the bottom of each Wikidata item page.

Biography

Actors, dancers and models

  1. Bernhardt, Sarah
  2. Chaplin, Charlie
  3. Dietrich, Marlene
  4. Monroe, Marilyn

Artists and architects

Authors, playwrights and poets

Composers and musicians

Explorers and travelers

Film directors and screenwriters

Inventors, scientists and mathematicians

Philosophers and social scientists

Political leaders

Religious figures and theologians

  1. Abraham
  2. Aquinas, Thomas
  3. Augustine of Hippo
  4. Buddha
  5. Al-Ghazali
  6. Jesus
  7. Luther, Martin
  8. Moses
  9. Muhammad
  10. Paul the Apostle

Philosophy and psychology

Philosophy

Psychology

  1. Behavior
  2. Emotion
  3. Love
  4. Psychology
  5. Thought

Religion

World view and religion

Social sciences

Language and literature

Science

  1. Science
  2. Nature

Astronomy

Biology

Biological processes

  1. Metabolism
    1. Digestion
    2. Photosynthesis
    3. Breathing
  2. Evolution
  3. Reproduction
    1. Pregnancy
    2. Sex

Anatomy

Health and medicine

Organisms

Chemistry

Earth science

Physics

  1. Physics
  2. Acceleration
  3. Atom
  4. Energy
    1. Conservation of energy
  5. Electromagnetic radiation
    1. Infrared
    2. Ultraviolet
    3. Light
      1. Color
  6. Classical mechanics
  7. Force
    1. Electromagnetism
      1. Magnetic field
    2. Gravitation
    3. Strong interaction
    4. Weak interaction
  8. Magnet
  9. Mass
  10. Metal
    1. Steel
  11. Nuclear fission
  12. State of matter
    1. Gas
    2. Liquid
    3. Plasma
    4. Solid
  13. Quantum mechanics
  14. Radioactive decay
  15. General relativity
  16. Special relativity
  17. Semiconductor
  18. Sound
  19. Velocity
    1. Speed of light
  20. Temperature
  21. Time
  22. Thermodynamics
  23. Vacuum

Measurement and units

  1. Measurement
  2. Kilogram
  3. Litre
  4. Metre
  5. International System of Units
  6. Second

Timekeeping

  1. Calendar
    1. Gregorian calendar
  2. Clock
  3. Day
  4. Time zone
  5. Year

Foodstuffs

  1. Food
  2. Bread
  3. Cereal
    1. Barley
    2. Maize
    3. Oat
    4. Rice
    5. Rye
    6. Sorghum
    7. Wheat
  4. Cheese
  5. Chocolate
  6. Honey
  7. Fruit
    1. Apple
    2. Banana
    3. Grape
    4. Soybean
    5. Lemon
    6. Nut (fruit)
  8. Meat
  9. Sugar
  10. Vegetable
    1. Potato

Beverages

  1. Beer
  2. Coffee
  3. Juice
  4. Milk
  5. Tea
  6. Water
  7. Wine

Mathematics

  1. Mathematics
  2. Arithmetic
    1. Logarithm
    2. Number
    3. Number theory
  3. Algebra
    1. Complex number
    2. Equation
    3. Linear algebra
  4. Geometry
    1. Angle
    2. Area
    3. Coordinate system
    4. Pi
    5. Pythagorean theorem
    6. Symmetry
    7. Trigonometry
  5. Mathematical analysis
    1. Differential equation
    2. Numerical analysis
  6. Probability and statistics
    1. Statistics
  7. Logic and foundations
    1. Function (mathematics)
    2. Infinity
    3. Mathematical proof
    4. Set theory

Technology

  1. Technology
  2. Biotechnology
  3. Clothing
    1. Cotton
  4. Engineering
    1. Machine
    2. Robot
    3. Screw
    4. Wheel
  5. Agriculture
    1. Irrigation
    2. Plough
  6. Metallurgy
  7. Nanotechnology

Communication

  1. Communication
  2. Book
  3. Information
    1. Encyclopedia
  4. Journalism
    1. Newspaper
    2. Mass media
  5. Printing
  6. Telephone

Electronics

  1. Electronics
    1. Electric current
    2. Frequency
  2. Components
    1. Capacitor
    2. Inductor
    3. Transistor
    4. Diode
    5. Resistor
    6. Transformer

Computers and Internet

  1. Computer
    1. Hard disk drive
    2. Central processing unit
  2. Artificial intelligence
  3. Information technology
    1. Algorithm
  4. Internet
    1. Email
    2. World Wide Web
  5. Operating system
  6. Programming language
  7. Software

Energy and fuels

  1. Renewable energy
  2. Electricity
    1. Nuclear power
  3. Fossil fuel
  4. Internal combustion engine
  5. Steam engine
  6. Fire

Materials

  1. Glass
  2. Paper
  3. Plastic
  4. Wood

Transportation

  1. Transport
  2. Aircraft
  3. Automobile
  4. Bicycle
  5. Submarine
  6. Ship
  7. Train

Weapons

  1. Weapon
    1. Sword
    2. Firearm
      1. Machine gun
    3. Nuclear weapon
  2. Tank
  3. Explosive material
    1. Gunpowder

Arts and recreation

  1. Culture
  2. Art
    1. Comics
    2. Painting
    3. Photography
    4. Sculpture
    5. Pottery
  3. Dance
  4. Fashion
  5. Theatre
  6. Calligraphy

Architecture and civil engineering

  1. Architecture
  2. Arch
  3. Bridge
  4. Canal
  5. Dam
  6. Dome
  7. House
  8. Specific structures
    1. Angkor Wat
    2. Colosseum
    3. Great Wall of China
    4. Eiffel Tower
    5. Empire State Building
    6. Hagia Sophia
    7. Parthenon
    8. Giza Necropolis
    9. St. Peter's Basilica
    10. Statue of Liberty
    11. Taj Mahal
    12. Three Gorges Dam
  9. Pyramid
  10. Tower

Film, radio and television

  1. Film
    1. Animation
      1. Anime
  2. Radio
  3. Television

Music

  1. Music
  2. Song
  3. Specific music genres
    1. Blues
    2. Classical music
      1. Opera
      2. Symphony
    3. Electronic music
    4. Flamenco
    5. Hip hop
    6. Jazz
    7. Reggae
    8. Rock music
    9. Samba
  4. Specific musical instruments
    1. Drum
    2. Flute
    3. Guitar
    4. Piano
    5. Trumpet
    6. Violin

Recreation

  1. Game
    1. Backgammon
    2. Chess
    3. Go (game)
  2. Gambling
  3. Martial arts
    1. Karate
    2. Judo
  4. Olympic Games
  5. Sport
    1. Athletics
    2. Auto racing
    3. Baseball
    4. Basketball
    5. Cricket
    6. Association football
    7. Golf
    8. Rugby
    9. Tennis
  6. Toy

History and geography

History

This section is for events and periods in human history and prehistory. At least five sentences on:

  1. History

Prehistory and ancient world

  1. Prehistory
  2. Stone Age
  3. Bronze Age
  4. Iron Age
  5. Mesopotamia
  6. Sumer
  7. Ancient Egypt
  8. Ancient Greece
  9. Roman Empire
  10. Han Dynasty
  11. Gupta Empire

Middle Ages and Early Modern

  1. Abbasid Caliphate
  2. Age of Enlightenment
  3. Aztec
  4. Byzantine Empire
  5. Crusades
  6. Holy Roman Empire
  7. Inca
  8. Mali Empire
  9. Mayan Civilization
  10. Middle Ages
  11. Mongol Empire
  12. Ming Dynasty
  13. Ottoman Empire
  14. Protestant Reformation
  15. Renaissance
  16. Tang Dynasty
  17. Vikings

Modern

  1. Arab-Israeli conflict
  2. American Civil War
  3. Apartheid
  4. British Empire
  5. Cold War
  6. Cultural Revolution
  7. French Revolution
  8. Great Depression
  9. The Holocaust
  10. Industrial Revolution
  11. Nazi Germany
  12. Meiji Restoration
  13. Russian Revolution
  14. Qing Dynasty
  15. Vietnam War
  16. World War I
  17. World War II

Geography

This section is for geographical concepts and for specific places.

  1. Geography
  2. City
  3. Continent
  4. Forest
  5. Mountain
  6. Desert
  7. North Pole
  8. Ocean
  9. River
  10. Sea
  11. South Pole

Continents and major regions

  1. Africa
  2. Antarctica
  3. Asia
  4. Europe
  5. Middle East
  6. North America
  7. Oceania
  8. South America

Countries

Eventually, there should be articles on most or all of the countries listed at List of countries. However, for the smaller Wikipedias, some of the more high-priority countries to have articles on are:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Algeria
  3. Argentina
  4. Australia
  5. Austria
  6. Bangladesh
  7. Brazil
  8. Canada
  9. China
  10. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  11. Cuba
  12. Egypt
  13. Ethiopia
  14. France
  15. Germany
  16. India
  17. Indonesia
  18. Iran
  19. Iraq
  20. Israel
  21. Italy
  22. Japan
  23. Mexico
  24. Netherlands
  25. New Zealand
  26. Nigeria
  27. Pakistan
  28. Poland
  29. Portugal
  30. Russia
  31. Saudi Arabia
  32. Singapore
  33. South Africa
  34. South Korea
  35. Spain
  36. Sudan
  37. Switzerland
  38. Tanzania
  39. Thailand
  40. Turkey
  41. Ukraine
  42. United Kingdom
  43. United States
  44. Vatican City
  45. Venezuela
  46. Vietnam

Cities

  1. Amsterdam
  2. Athens
  3. Baghdad
  4. Bangkok
  5. Beijing
  6. Berlin
  7. Bogotá
  8. Brussels
  9. Buenos Aires
  10. Cairo
  11. Cape Town
  12. Damascus
  13. Delhi
  14. Dhaka
  15. Dubai
  16. Hong Kong
  17. Istanbul
  18. Jakarta
  19. Jerusalem
  20. Karachi
  21. Kinshasa
  22. Kolkata
  23. Lagos
  24. London
  25. Los Angeles
  26. Madrid
  27. Mecca
  28. Mexico City
  29. Moscow
  30. Mumbai
  31. Nairobi
  32. New York City
  33. Paris
  34. Rio de Janeiro
  35. Rome
  36. Saint Petersburg
  37. São Paulo
  38. Seoul
  39. Shanghai
  40. Sydney
  41. Tehran
  42. Tokyo
  43. Vienna
  44. Washington, D.C.

Bodies of water

  1. Amazon River
  2. Arctic Ocean
  3. Atlantic Ocean
  4. Baltic Sea
  5. Black Sea
  6. Caribbean Sea
  7. Caspian Sea
  8. Congo River
  9. Danube
  10. Ganges
  11. Great Barrier Reef
  12. Great Lakes
  13. Indian Ocean
  14. Indus River
  15. Lake Baikal
  16. Lake Tanganyika
  17. Lake Victoria
  18. Mediterranean Sea
  19. Mississippi River
  20. Niger River
  21. Nile
  22. North Sea
  23. Pacific Ocean
  24. Panama Canal
  25. Rhine
  26. Suez Canal
  27. Southern Ocean
  28. Volga River
  29. Yangtze River
  30. Yellow River

Mountains and deserts

  1. Alps
  2. Andes
  3. Himalayas
    1. Mount Everest
  4. Mount Kilimanjaro
  5. Rocky Mountains
  6. Sahara