Google released its annual “Year in Search” on December 10, 2024, providing insights on the search engine's most popular queries for the year. This year's data showcases trending topics ranging from global events and sports to pop culture, reflecting public interests worldwide.
Sports took center stage, leading the trending searches globally. Major soccer events dominated interest with the Copa América topping the searches, followed closely by the UEFA European Championship and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The U.S. election was also significant, generating widespread interest as it led news-related inquiries across various demographics.
At the heart of this year's trends was U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who emerged as the top searched individual. He was followed by other notable figures such as Catherine, Princess of Wales, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Interestingly, searches related to prominent personalities who passed away, including Liam Payne and Toby Keith, also saw spikes throughout the year.
Entertainment trends showed strong engagement, particularly with Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” as the top trending movie. On the television front, Netflix's “Baby Reindeer” was the most searched show, capturing the attention of viewers across the globe. Music trends were equally notable, with Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us” dominating song searches.
A delightful quirk to note was the surge of interest around the Olympic village's chocolate muffin, which became popular due to Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen's association with it during the Olympic Games. This muffin not only sparked recipe trends internationally but became emblematic of the culinary interests of the year.
Regional searches showed distinct patterns as well. For example, Modesto-area residents revealed the local love for Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” as the number one searched track within the community. The Sacramento area had similarly strong trends with locals frequently seeking information about voting, demonstrating the civic engagement of residents. Popular searches included queries related to finding voting locations and ballot drop boxes.
Olympic athletes, particularly Simone Biles, who won three gold medals during the Summer Olympics, emerged as the most sought-after sports figures. The thrilling match between boxing legends Mike Tyson and social media influencer Jake Paul also attracted considerable attention, becoming the top “versus” search across multiple regions.
What’s particularly interesting is how consistently Kendrick Lamar’s music appeared throughout local and national searches. The song “Not Like Us” topped various lists, showcasing the rapper’s widespread influence. Comparatively, the report highlighted how significant national trends mirrored local passions, providing insight on the cultural touchstones shared across communities.
With numerous data points, Google’s “Year in Search” serves as more than just statistics—it’s a reflection of the collective consciousness over the past year. The report also encourages users to explore country-specific lists and trends from previous years via Google’s online platforms.
Google isn’t alone, as similar annual recaps come from Spotify Wrapped and Collins Dictionary, rounding up the year’s highlights. Together, these reflections help encapsulate the year’s themes, interests, and memorable moments.
Closing out the year with this comprehensive overview, the 2024 search trends invite us to ponder: what did we care about this year, and how does it shape our viewpoint heading forward? Google Trends has become not just about querying facts or information; it’s about grasping the pulse of societal intrigues—what sparked joy, curiosity, engagement, and contemplation this past year.