2025 was a year of curiosity, culture, disruption, and reimagining what’s possible. From artificial intelligence breakthroughs and pop culture sensations to major world events and viral moments, the searches people made on Google tell a story about what captured humanity’s attention over the last twelve months.
According to Google’s Year in Search 2025 data, the terms that skyrocketed in interest reveal where our collective focus was, and what it might mean for the year ahead.
Additional Insights
Major Global Searches
Google’s Year in Search rankings highlight the queries that defined the year across the world. These aren’t just the most searched terms; they are the stories and interests that resonated most with people online:
Top trending global searches of 2025 included:
- Gemini (reflecting sustained interest in AI technologies)
- India vs England and India vs Australia (sports rivalries that kept fans glued to the screen)
- Charlie Kirk (a widely searched public figure)
- Club World Cup (soccer excitement)
- Deepseek (new search tools and digital curiosity)
- Geopolitical interests like Iran and Pakistan and India
- iPhone 17 (consumer tech buzz)
These queries demonstrate how entertainment, technology, politics, and sports commanded searches globally.
The People Shaping Our Searches
People often reveal their concerns and passions through whom they search for most. In 2025, trending personalities ranged from entertainers to public figures:
Most searched people globally included music artists like d4vd and household names such as Kendrick Lamar, as well as political or surprising figures like Pope Leo XIV and Zohran Mamdani. Religious leaders, athletes, and cultural icons also made the list, showing the diversity of global interest.
News Moments That Grabbed Attention
Searches around current events reflect what people felt they needed to know more about. In 2025, major news-driven searches included:
- The Charlie Kirk assassination
- US Government Shutdown
- New Pope chosen
- Hurricane Melissa
- The TikTok ban and Zohran Mamdani elected
- Kamchatka Earthquake and Tsunami
These news events filled search bars as people sought timely information on impactful moments around the world.
Culture, Trends, and Entertainment
2025’s cultural searches showed the influence of streaming, trends, and pop culture moments:
- KPop Demon Hunters emerged as a breakout entertainment search, showing the global pull of international series. Adweek
- Labubu, a viral toy, captured widespread curiosity and cultural attention. The Tech Buzz
- Music trends showed interest in both established stars and rising artists with songs that defined the year. Google Trends
These trends highlight how entertainment and digital culture continue to shape global search behavior.
What These Searches Tell Us
- AI remained top of mind
Search interest in terms like Gemini reflects not just tech news but how AI is becoming part of everyday conversation. - Pop culture and entertainment dominate curiosity
From viral shows to songs and toys, entertainment continues to be a major driver of search traffic. - Major events drive knowledge seeking
Searches around natural disasters, political shifts, and cultural milestones show how people use search to stay informed in real time. - Global differences matter
While some trends are universal, regional searches vary widely, showing localized interests—from cricket rivalries to specific tech and cultural phenomena.
Final Thoughts
Google’s Year in Search 2025 is more than a list of trending terms. It’s a window into the topics that engaged a global audience through moments of excitement, uncertainty, joy, and reflection. As we move into the next year, these trends offer insight into what people care about, what they fear, and what they find fascinating.
Whether you’re a marketer, creator, or curious reader, reflecting on these search trends can help you understand broader cultural shifts, and what might come next.
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