Notability
Wikipedia notability: who qualifies for a page
Wikipedia does not cover people who are good at what they do, but people that reliable, independent sources have already written about. Here is how notability works and how to tell if you meet it.
Key points
- Notability means significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject.
- You do not need to be famous, but others must have written about you in depth.
- Specific guidelines exist for people, companies, athletes, academics, artists and more.
- Followers, page views and articles in other languages are not evidence of notability.
Before asking how to write an article, there is a more basic question: can this article exist? On Wikipedia the answer is called notability. It is the most common reason articles about people and companies are deleted, and also the most misunderstood.
What notability means
The general notability guideline presumes a topic merits its own article if it has received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject. Each part matters:
- Significant coverage: sources address the subject directly and in detail, not in a passing mention.
- Reliable: sources with editorial oversight and a reputation for fact-checking.
- Independent: not written, commissioned or paid for by the subject or people connected to it.
- Multiple sources are generally expected.
Notability is not the same as fame, importance or popularity. And Wikipedia is explicit that nobody has a right to an article.
Notability for people
For biographies, Notability (people) applies the same basic test: a person is presumed notable if they have received significant coverage in reliable secondary sources independent of them. Additional criteria help in specific fields, for example well-known significant awards, a widely recognized contribution to a field, or a significant role in notable productions for entertainers. Separate guidelines cover athletes, academics, politicians, authors and musicians.
Entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, lawyers and consultants rarely meet a subject-specific criterion: for them it almost always comes down to press coverage, and it has to be about the person, not only their company or firm.
Notability for companies
Companies face the stricter NCORP guideline: each qualifying source must be significant, independent, reliable and secondary, there must be several of them, and at least one must reach a regional, national or international audience. Routine coverage of funding, launches, hires or results does not count. We explain it in our guide to a Wikipedia page for your company.
Notability is not inherited: a company is not notable because its founder is, and the reverse is also true.
What does not count
- Social media numbers: followers, likes, views.
- Search results: a high number of hits proves nothing on its own.
- Articles in other languages: each Wikipedia edition has its own guidelines. An article on the Italian or German Wikipedia does not guarantee one in English.
- Comparisons: "my competitor has an article" is not an argument.
- Your own content: website, press releases, promotional interviews, self-published books.
- Minor awards and rankings: little-known industry prizes, "top 100" lists.
How to assess your profile
- Check whether you meet a subject-specific guideline for your field.
- List the independent sources about you: publication, author, date and how much they say.
- Remove everything you produced or commissioned, and every passing mention.
- Look at what is left: several in-depth pieces in established publications is a good basis.
- Check coverage over time: a single burst of attention tied to one event is a weak signal.
To see which sources pass the test, read our guide to Wikipedia reliable sources.
If you do not qualify yet
Do not force it. An article on a non-notable subject will be nominated for deletion, and the discussion stays public. It is better to work on the underlying conditions (achievements, recognition, independent coverage) and try again when things have changed. If you are thinking of writing about yourself anyway, first read why autobiographies are discouraged on Wikipedia.
Want a frank outside view? Our profile check is free and takes a minute.
Frequently asked questions
How famous do you have to be to get a Wikipedia page?
You do not need to be a household name. You need significant coverage in reliable, independent sources, which shows recognition in your field beyond your own channels.
If I have an article in another language, can I have one in English?
Not automatically. Each Wikipedia edition applies its own guidelines, and an article in another language is not proof of notability.
Do social media followers count?
No. Followers, views and search results do not establish notability. Only coverage in independent, reliable sources does.