Cultural determinants of participation in Wikipedia: a global analysis of the digital commons

Abstract

This article identifies cultural factors influencing participation in large-scale knowledge-sharing systems, focusing on Wikipedia. Previous studies have typically examined either a limited number of Wikipedia language editions or a limited set of cultural dimensions. We address this gap by analyzing 58 language editions using two macro-level models of culture: Inglehart and Welzel’s two-dimensional cultural map and Hofstede’s six-dimensional model. We investigate whether cultural factors can explain differences in participation across cultural-linguistic clusters and, more broadly, engagement in collective intelligence projects constituting large-scale digital commons production. Multiple linear regression models examine cultural dimensions, HDI, Internet penetration, and the ratio of active contributors per million population. Across the models, cultural variables—particularly Inglehart–Welzel’s self-expression dimension and Hofstede’s individualism–collectivism—emerge as the most consistent predictors of participation, whereas development-related variables such as Internet penetration show more limited or model-dependent effects. The findings suggest that cultural differences may be more important for engagement in digital commons projects than demographic or economic factors. A key limitation is that Wikipedia language editions may be edited by users from different cultures, making the findings most reliable for less multilingual contexts.