The Guinness World Records Archive

• Edition: 71 (2025 edition)
• Published: 12 September 2024
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• Nine chapters, once again revised and renamed.
• Video trailer

• The bright blue cover was designed by Chris Labrooy. Every letter depicts a different record: can you spot them all?
• This edition kicks off the celebrations of the best-selling book's platinum jubilee: "This new edition – fully revised and updated with 1,000-plus images – acknowledges our platinum anniversary while continuing the annual tradition of reporting on all of the latest record-breaking achievements," says Craig Glenday.
• As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations, the book includes a special chapter dedicated to the History of Guinness World Records and never-seen-before material from our archives. The "Dear GWR" section showcases record applications from the past that didn’t quite make the cut.
• For the first time, the US edition features a special introduction dedicated to the all-American superlatives and the many record-breaking stars from the States. 

• Edition: 70 (2024 edition)
• Published: 15 September 2023
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• Video trailer
• It includes nine chapters, once again revised and renamed, and five special features.

• The cover is the fourth and last instalment of Rod Hunt's quadripartite world.
  This time, we leave the sky to explore the ocean: Guinness World Records dives into the deep blue sea to discover the underwater world, its records and amazing secrets. 
• The theme is "Our Blue Planet". About this edition, Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said: "We've been inspired by our Blue Planet to celebrate many underwater records - including those set by the most impressive marine creatures, the most adventurous sailors, and even the most acrobatic mermaids!"

• Edition: 69 (2023 edition)
• Published: 15 September 2022
• Video trailer
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• Nine chapters, once again revised and renamed. For the first time, readers can explore even more jaw-dropping videos and online articles thanks to the online bonus content section.

• It's the third instalment of the "Rod Hunt's trilogy" - which will later become a four-part world, including the ocean. As we move away from the colourful city landscape of the two previous editions, Guinness World Records explores the space and its amazing records.
• The topic for this year's book is Space: it explores the universe, with its mysteries and many wonderful records. To celebrate the book's release, Professor Brian Cox talked to Guinness World Records about all things space during a special interview at London's Royal Opera House.

• Edition: 68 (2022 edition)
• Published: 16 September 2021
• 10 chapters, once again revised and renamed
• Video trailer
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• The topic of this year's book is the environment, an issue that involves everyone and that was further explored through a partnership with Earthwatch Europe.
• The second instalment of the "Rod Hunt's trilogy". As a continuation of the previous year, the cover represents a colourful city: can you spot all its amazing records?

• Edition: 67 (2021 edition)
• Published: 17 September 2020
• Video trailer
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• This book marks the beginning of "the Rod Hunt's trilogy," which will later grow into a four-piece collaboration with the London-based artist. This series of bright illustrations is jam-packed with incredible record holders, and each instalment unveils a different piece of a kaleidoscopic world.
• About Rod Hunt's cover, Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said: "Rod's illustrations are perfect for Guinness World Records, because they capture the fun and spirit of what we do, and they allow us to celebrate that vast spectrum of record-breaking and all the fascinating characters involved."
• The new book offers an "Against the clock" section with many new records to try at home.

• Edition: 66 (2020 edition)
• Published: 5 September 2019
• Released alongside the 13th edition of the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, the global authority on all things videogames.
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• The cover for 2020 marked a huge departure for Guinness World Records: from the shiny colours of the lens foil to an '80s throwback. The neon shades and 80s vibes nod to the many pop culture products that opted for a true 'The Goonies' throwback during 2020 (beloved TV show Stranger Things among them).
• To kickstart the decade, robotics expert Evan Ackerman leads the readers through a feature dedicated to robots: their history, facts and curiosities. 
• To celebrate London, which has always been the home of Guinness World Records, the 2020 Snapshot feature imagines how would it look if some iconic records – such as the tallest statue or the largest space station – were placed next to the city’s most famous landmarks.

• Edition: 65 (2019 edition)
• Published: 28 August 2018 (US and Canada), 6 September 2018 globally
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• The sky is the limit when it comes to creative feats, and we at Guinness World Records know it well. This edition honours the record-breaking “Maker” movement with a special feature that celebrates the inventors, dreamers, crafters and creators who devote their lives to amazing projects. 
• New "Do this at home" feature.
• "This year’s edition is designed to inspire readers as much as amaze them," says Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday

• Edition: 64 (2018 edition)
• Published: 7 September 2017
• Video trailer
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Guinness World Records: Amazing Animals hits shelves for the first time
• Other titles are published together with the yearly Guinness World Records edition, including the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2018
• Posters from this edition were also available for download online
• "Always a must-read" - Mirror Online

• Edition: 63 (2017 edition)
• Published: 8 September 2016
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• 13 chapters, once again revised and renamed.
• 255 pages.
• Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2017, dedicated to all things gaming, is also published with the traditional yearly edition
• Some of the records in the book include the most tattooed senior citizens (male & female) and the youngest female with a full beard.

• Edition: 62 (2016 edition)
• Published: 1 September 2015
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• 11 chapters, once again revised and renamed.
• 255 pages. The new book includes beloved record titles, like the tallest married couple and largest feet on a living person (male)
• “By providing a mix of the newest, most amazing records and a splash of the classic titles that readers know and love, the 2016 edition is a great cross-section of humanity’s greatest accomplishments.” - Craig Glenday

• Edition: 61 (2015 edition)
• Published: 9 September 2014
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• The edition marked the 60th anniversary of Guinness World Records
• A special bonus chapter available as an e-book
• Gamer's Edition 2015 also hit shelves. Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said, "Video gaming is sure to become the most significant art form of the 21st century, and the Gamer’s Edition – now in its eighth year – is committed to recording and documenting the increasingly impressive progress being made."

• Edition: 60 (2014 edition)
• Published: 12 September 2013
• 12 chapters, once again revised and renamed
• Three companion e-books were available with this edition: Awesome Animals, focusing on the amazing animal world, Incredible People and Colossal Construction, covering jaw-dropping buildings. 
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Edition: 59 (2013 edition)
• Published: September 13, 2012
• Chapters: 12, all revised and renamed
• Editor: Craig Glenday
• A bonus chapter was also available as an e-book, and it's the first edition to feature 3D content.

• Edition: 58 (2012 edition)
• Published: September 2011
• Pages: 287
• Chapters: 11, revised and renamed again
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Edition: 57 (2011 edition)
• Published: September 2010
• Pages: 287
• Chapters: 11 - revised and renamed again
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• This edition is dedicated to the record-breaking American singer Michael Jackson (1958-2009) and the world's shortest man of the time, beloved Chinese record holder He Pingping.
  The man sadly passed in March 2010, aged only 21, due to heart complications.

• Edition: 56 (2010 edition)
• Published: September 2009
• Pages: 287
• Chapters: 11 - once again entirely revised and renamed
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Edition: 55 (2009 edition)
• Published: September 2008
• Pages: 287
• Chapters: 11 - revised and renamed again
• Editor: Craig Glenday
  
  
• There are six 'special fold-out features' and many 3D pictures. For the first time, 3D glasses are inserted in the book, specifically between pages 84 and 85.

• Edition: 54 (2008 edition)
• Published: September 2007
• Pages: 286
• Chapters: 11, all revised and renamed
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• For the first time, Gamer's Edition hits shelves. The new annual publication counts 1,236 records and four special interviews. The records within Gamer's Edition are monitored and compiled in collaboration with the video game database Twin Galaxies. A must-have for every gamer, it's entirely dedicated to superlative characters, record-breaking titles, e-sports and online superstars.
• This edition features six 'special glow-in-the-dark, fold-out features'

• Edition: 53 (2007 edition)
• Published: September 2006
• Pages: 288
• Chapters: 9 - revised and renamed
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Michael Jackson visits the London office to receive his many Guinness World Records certificates. Editor-in-chief Craig Glenday and Beyoncé Knowles present Jackson with his award for pop hit "Thriller" during that year's World Music Awards
• This edition includes two 'special fold-out features'

• Edition: 52 (2006 edition)
• Published: September 2005
• Pages: 288
• Chapters: 8 - revised and renamed
• Editor: Craig Glenday

• Edition: 51 (2005 edition)
• Published: September 2004
• Pages: 288
• Chapters: 9
• Craig Glenday becomes Editor-in-Chief

• This edition is dedicated to Norris McWhirter (1925-2004). On 20 April 2004, the co-founder of Guinness World Records passed suddenly in his Kington Langley home, following a heart attack; he was 78.
  Following the assassination of his twin brother and co-editor in 1975, for a decade Norris carried on as Guinness World Records' sole editor. Although he retired in 1985, he continued to support the publication in an advisory role until 1996.
• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits the London office and receives a copy of the 50th Anniversary Edition from the hands of Guinness World Records CEO Alistair Richards.

• Edition: 50 (2004 edition)
• Published: September 2003
• Pages: 288
• Chapters: 9 - revised and renamed
• This edition marks 100,000,000th copies of Guinness World Records sold in the world, as the book continues to inspire and amaze its readers.
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 47 (2001 edition)
• Published: September 2000
• Pages: 288
• Some copies present golden lettering on the cover, instead of the standard silver one
• For this edition, the book abandons the old chapter-based structure. This edition instead is divided into 114 record sections, with a key of seventeen categories. Six other sections complete the hardback.
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 46 (2000 edition)
• Published: September 1999
• Pages: 288
• Guinness World Records joined the millennium celebrations with plenty of jaw-dropping records... and a brand-new title! For the very first time, after 45 editions, the book title changed to Guinness World Records
• The newly-titled Guinness World Records 2000 book is printed in a single run of 2,402,000 copies, achieving the record for the largest single print run of a case-bound book in colour
• Chapters: 10, all completely reorganized and renamed
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 45 (1999 edition)
• Published: October 1998
• Pages: 335
• Chapters: 12 - reorganised and renamed
• Final pages are now, 'Getting into the Book' and the book's history
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 44 (1998 edition)
• Published: October 1997
• Pages: 352
• Chapters: 14, all reorganized and renamed
• Final page is now 'Getting into the book'
• The Guinness Book of Answers was re-branded and re-launched as Guinness Book of Knowledge
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 43 (1997 edition)
• Published: October 1996
• Pages: 350
• Guinness harp logo printed on the spine, and some editions had a holofoil jacket
• The Welcome page states that Guinness World Records has gone digital: "Records are now derived from an automated database"
• This edition reached 610,000 copies in the UK, the highest sale in twenty years, while total worldwide sales of the combined 1997 editions exceeded 1.5 million copies
• Norris McWhirter retires
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 42 (1996 edition)
• Published: October 1995
• Pages: 311
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 41 (1995 edition)
• Published: October 1994
• Pages: 311
• No Guinness logo on the spine
• The final page has details of the Guinness Gold Club (167 members)
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 40 (1994 edition)
• Published: October 1993
• Pages: 310
• The final page list has a list of 87 collectors with 30 editions or more
• 'The Diana Ross Commemorative'  edition published
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 39 (1993 edition)
• Published: October 1992
• Pages: 300
• 'The Human World' chapter moves yet again. Minor chapter title renaming
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 38 (1992 edition)
• Published: October 1991
• Pages: 311
• Chapters: 11 - renamed and reorganised
• This edition returned to the size of the 36th edition
• Cover designed by 14 year old Joanne Bloomer
• 'Guinness Book of Records Museum' opens in Hollywood, Los Angeles
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 37 (1991 edition)
• Published: October 1990
• Pages: 313
• Chapters: 11
• The Guinness Disc of Records launched and Guinness Fact Book launched
• First Polish edition published
• 'Guinness Superlatives' renamed as 'Guinness Publishing Limited'
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 36 (1990 edition)
• Published 13 October 1989
• Pages: 310
• Various chapters are merged (or renamed) in this edition, reducing the count to 11 for the first time
• First Russian edition published
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 35 (1989 edition)
• Published: October 1988
• Pages: 310
• 60 millionth book sold for charity at a party in HMV Oxford Street, raising £60,000
• Back cover says, 'Since the first edition in 1955 The Guinness Book of Records has become a household name and - dare we say it - a national institution'
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 34 (1988 edition)
• Published: October 1987
• Pages: 320
• The Guinness logo on the spine of previous editions replaced by a medal logo
• The 1987 edition is published in 31 languages, covering more than 3.2 billion of the world's population!
• Back cover says, 'Since the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records in 1955 over 135,000 new records have been created'
• Editor: Alan Russell

• Edition: 33 (1987 Edition)
• Published: October 1986
• Pages: 320
• First book after Norris McWhirter's retirement
• Alan Russell becomes Editor
• Norris McWhirter stays on as consultant

• Edition: 32 (1986 edition)
• Published: October 1985
• Pages: 350
• The theme for that year was space. 'The Records' series launched with 'Rail: The Records', 'Horse Racing: The Records', 'Space Flight: The Records' and 'Soccer: The Records'
• Contents page returns
• "This was my first time picking up a Guinness World Records book - or technically a Guinness Book of Records, as it was known then," said the current editor in chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday. "As a 13-year-old boy obsessed with space travel, it really caught my eye."
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 30 (1984 edition)
• Published: October 1983
• Pages: 349
• Inside front cover is 'Olympic Venues 1896-1988'
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 31 (1985 edition)
• Published: October 1984
• Pages: 352
• This edition was slightly different in size to previous editions
• Unlike previous editions, there is no content page
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 29 (1983 edition)
• Published: 15 October 1982
• Pages: 350
• Always a beloved Christmas best-seller, Guinness World Records continues to expand. The foreword reads: 'The global sales of this book have surpassed the 45,000,000 mark'
• The first Turkish edition is published
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Editions: 28 (1982 edition)
• Published: 16 October 1981
• Pages: 350
• For the first time, a Chinese edition is published
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 27 (1981 edition)
• Published: 17 October 1980
• Pages: 349
• Between the 70s and the 80s, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief Norris McWhirter continues to work on Guinness World Records, and is a regular guest on the BBC show Record Breakers. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) during the 1980 New Year's Honours List, published on 31 December 1979.
• The first Indonesian edition published
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 26 (1980 edition)
• Published: 19 October 1979
• Pages: 350
• At the beginning of the book (page 4) features a list of all the "Guinness World Records Museums," either existing or planned
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 25 (1979 edition)
• Published: October 1978
• Pages: 350
• A new feature reflects on the evolution of record-breaking: 'How the records have changed over 25 editions'
• First Slovenian edition published
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 24 (1978 edition)
• Published: 31 October 1977
• Pages: 350
• The previously existing 'Animal and plant kingdoms' chapter is renamed 'The Living World'
• First Serbo-Croat, Icelandic and New Zealand editions are published
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 23 (177 Edition)
• Published: 28 October 1976
• The first Canadian edition is published
• A new 'Guinness Book of Answers' series was launched
• This is the very first book published after the death of co-founder Ross McWhirter, who was killed in 1975. He created Guinness World Records in a disused gym in central London with his twin, Norris, and the two were known for their outstanding photographic memory. On page 3 features: Ross McWhirter, 1955-1975
• Editor: Norris McWhirter

• Edition: 22
• Published: 31 October 1975
• Pages: 349
• The first Czech edition published
• Following the previous year's success, the foreword reads: ...in November 1974 with sales of 23,950,000 our titles qualified as the world's all-time best-seller among commercially sold books
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Editions: 21
• Published: October 1974
• Pages: 349
• The Guinness Book of Records (as it was known at the time) becomes the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date, totalling a whopping 23,950,000!
• First Portuguese edition is published
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 20
• Published: 31 October 1973
• Pages: 349
• An eight-page colour picture section is inserted between the copyright and contents pages
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 19
• Published: 31 October 1972
• Pages: 317
• First Australian edition published
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 18
• Published: 28 October 1971
• Pages: 317
• Chapters: 12
• The foreword celebrates another landmark for the best-selling almanac: 'We have now produced more than 6,000,000 copies'
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 17
• Published: 24 October 1970
• Pages: 317
• This edition kickstarted a series of larger books, featuring a different cover design each year
• The first 'Facts and Feats' book is published with the traditional yearly edition: the hardback titled Air Facts and Feats, a record of aerospace achievement. It has a white cover and 256 pages, spanning from "pioneers of the air" to "spaceflight".
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 14
• Published: October 1967
• Pages: 342
• The note at the beginning states that the first Japanese, Spanish, Danish and Norwegian editions were published this year. 
• "More than 2,500,000 copies have been sold in all editions throughout the world since the book first appeared in 1955."
• The parts are now called "Chapters"
• In February, the McWhriters brothers funded a printing company in Trowbridge, called Redwood Press, to print the editions. Within four years, Redwood Press was printing 1 in 9 of every book produced across the United Kingdom. 
• It's the first edition with coloured lithography.
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 12
• Publication: November 1965
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter
• Guinness World Records becomes a yearly publication
• The preface to the 1965 edition states:

'It is the first time since 1956 that a new edition has appeared at an interval of only twelve months after its predecessor. 
Such is the pace of modern record-breaking that annual production may well become our rule'.

• Edition: 10
• Published: November 1962
• The first French edition is published, as well as the second US edition. The latter was published with the title The Guinness Book of World Records
• 'The Universe' section is renamed into 'The Universe and Space'
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 8
• Published: November 1960
• Pages: 277
• This edition marks the first time Norris and Ross McWhirter's signatures appear on the preface page
• A total of 500,000 books were sold by the end of 1961
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 7
• Published: November 1958
• The 12th section of the book was renamed 'Sport, Games and Pastimes'
• For the first time, the book acknowledges the partners and people who helped create it
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• Edition: 4 (after three impressions of the previous edition)
• Pages: 198
• The first-ever UK edition was published in January 1956, with an Oxford Blue cover.
• The first US edition is published in September as The Guinness Book of Superlatives with a run of 50,000 copies
• First corporate edition published, for Grosvenor Motors Ltd
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter

• The first edition of The Guinness Book of Records is published. The first edition has no edition number.
• Publication date: 3 October 1955, it had four impressions between 1955 and 1956
• Pages: 198
• First print run: 50,000 copies, with several copies being sent out as marketing gifts. By Christmas, it became a bestseller in the UK.
• The book contains 12 chapters: "The Universe", "The Natural World", "The Animal Kingdom", "The Human Being", "The Human World", "The Scientific World", "The World's Structures", "The Mechanical World", "The Business World", ”Accidents and Disasters", "Human Achievements" and "Sport".
• A copy was available for each member of the brewery, at the discounted cost of two shillings and six pence: half the retail price. 
• A gifted copy distributed to members of Foyles Book Clubs states it was the birth of "a book to start arguments – and to end them!"
• Although the iconic first Guinness World Records cover is green, some copies were laminated, had cases, or were wrapped in a glassine paper cover. As the journey of the first-ever Guinness World Records edition begins in pubs, the book assured a new "special waterproof, and beer-proof, binding so that it may stand up to handling in a busy bar".
• The first edition was written in thirteen-and-a-half weeks of relentless work: it took Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays.
• Editor: Norris and Ross McWhirter