Timeline

1955

The Guinness Book of Records is published, with a preface by co-founders Norris and Ross McWhirter

187,000 books sold (after four reprints) within a year

1964

1 million books sold across all editions and languages to date

1966

1.5 million copies printed

1972

The first series of Record Breakers is filmed for the BBC, hosted by Roy Castle. The first guest is Roger Bannister, talking about becoming the first man to run a mile in under four minutes

1973

Broadcaster David Frost acquires TV rights for GWR specials

1974

The Guinness Book of Records becomes the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totalling 23,950,000!

1975

First licensed product produced: Guinness Game of World Records, is launched by Dennis Fischer Toys UK

1976

Guinness Book of Records museum opens in the Empire State Building, New York City

1980

Norris McWhirter is awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List

1986

Alan Russell becomes editor; Norris McWhirter stays on as consultant

1987

The 1987 edition is published in 31 languages, covering more than 3.2 billion of the world's population!

Incorporation of Guinness World Records North America, Inc

1988

The Guinness Video of Records launches

60 millionth book sold for charity at a party in HMV Oxford Street, London, raising £60,000

1990

Guinness Superlatives is renamed Guinness Publishing Limited

1991

Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Hollywood

1993

The Diana Ross Commemorative Edition is published

1996

Norris McWhirter retires

Guinness Publishing Limited opens office in New York, USA

1998

First original programme launched in the US called Guinness World Records Primetime

1999

Guinness Publishing Limited is renamed as Guinness World Records (book also changes its name from Guinness Book of Records to Guinness World Records)

Guinness World Records 2000 is printed in a single run of 2,402,000 copies, achieving the record for the largest print run of a case-bound book in colour

First original programme broadcast in the UK, France and Sweden called Guinness World Records, L’Emission Des Records and Guinness Rekord TV respectively (original-branded productions go on to be available in 19 territories)

2000

Guinnessworldrecords.com website launches

2001

GWR is sold by Diageo (owners of Guinness) to Gullane Entertainment, owners of Thomas the Tank Engine

2002

GWR is sold to HIT Entertainment, owners of Bob The Builder

2003

100,000,000th copy of Guinness World Records sold!

2004

Craig Glenday becomes Editor-in-Chief

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits the office and receives a copy of the 50th anniversary edition from GWR CEO Alistair Richards

The Guinness World Records 2005 Interactive DVD Game launches

2005

First Annual GWR Day takes place

Records Management team is formed in London formally offering adjudication services to customers

Records printed on Pringles crisps for the first time!

2007

GWR Gamer’s Edition launches

GWR content on YouTube surpasses 1 million views

GWR launches on Facebook

Records Management Team becomes an international team that speaks more than 13 languages processing 1,000 claims every week from around the world

2008

GWR is sold to the Jim Pattison Group

Guinness World Records: The Videogame launched for Nintendo Wii

GWRLive! events launch

2009

GWR consultancy services launch

2010

Office opens in Tokyo Japan

First GWRLive! tour (pictured)

2011

GWR visits the White House and helps First Lady Michelle Obama launch the "Let's Jump!” campaign on the South Lawn by adjudicating the record for most people to do jumping jacks in 24 hours - multiple venues (300,265!)

GWR achieves 100 million Youtube views

Officially Amazing becomes a GWR registered trademark

2012

Office opens in Beijing, China

1 millionth Facebook fan

Jinisi China Nights (GWR China Nights), aired in China by the state broadcaster CCTV, has peak viewing figures of 450 million people – the largest audience for GWR TV show

2013

Office opens in Dubai, UAE

Records Management Team adjudicates over 1,000 record attempts across the world

3 millionth GWR friend recorded on Facebook

Officially Amazing kids' TV show launches in the UK on CBBC

GWR Science Show embarks on a tour of the UK

2014

GWR begins a year of celebrations in honour of its 60th anniversary

500,000th subscriber reached on YouTube

GWR KIDS site launches

2015

Year of the 60th Anniversary of Guinness World Records

2016

11 millionth Facebook fan and 1 millionth YouTube subscriber logged

136 million + books sold globally to date

2017

Guinness World Records Amazing Animals launches

Development work begins on GWR Attractions

2018

Guinness World Records Science & Stuff and Wild Things launches

2019

15 millionth Facebook fan and 4 millionth YouTube subscriber logged

143 million + books sold globally to date

GWR joins TikTok 

2020 

Reached 10 million followers on TikTok 

Reached 20 million followers on Facebook  

Reached 5 million subscribers on Snapchat Discover 

2021 

Reached 8 million subscribers on YouTube 

Reached 15 million followers on TikTok 

Reached 4M followers on Instagram