Google Reveals Top Searches of 2020

Google’s annual list of the most popular search terms shows what the world searched for on Google during one of the most historic years on record.

“2020 was the year we asked” why? “, Google states in the introduction of its report.

People asked “why?” more than ever as they googled answers to all kinds of questions, which you’ll see in the next section.

Users broke records for the number of times “what day is it?” was searched in a year. Recipe searches also hit a record high.

Above all else, the coronavirus is the main topic on everyone’s mind. Many of the top searches reflect how people are adjusting to the new normals of daily life.

Google’s report looks at trending topics in search, news, people, how-to, virtual activities, and more. The data can be viewed worldwide or filtered by 70 different countries.

Here you will find the highlights of the top trending search lists in the US and around the world.

Top US Trending Google Searches

First, let’s take a look at the top general searches in the US To no surprise, coronavirus 3 out of the top 5.

Top searches in general

1. Election results
2. Coronavirus
3. Kobe bryant
4. Coronavirus update
5. Coronavirus symptoms

Next, let’s look at the types of information people are looking for. Google is getting more granular this year by dividing its ‘how-to’ search data into different categories.

There are now categories for beauty instructions, how to donate, how to make, how to help, and how to style.

If you take a look at the “how to” category, you can see how people are looking for ways to stay safe when making materials at home.

Top “How To” Searches

1. How to make hand sanitizer
2. How to make a mask out of fabric
3. How to make smoothie coffee
4. How to make a mask out of a scarf.
5. How to make a mask without sewing

The best beauty tutorials also illustrate how people are adapting to do more at home. And there is a not insignificant number of people who are looking for how to wash their hands.

Top searches for beauty procedures

1. How to cut men’s hair at home
2. How to let hair fall
3. How to dye your hair at home
4. How to wash your hands
5. How to style curtain bangs

Teaching people how to do things at home, especially things they would have previously gone out for, feels like a strong category for creating content right now.

Google introduced another new category of top searches this year for “virtual” terms. Since all in-person activities go virtual, this is what people are looking for the most.

Top “virtual” searches

1. Virtual tours
2. Visits to the virtual museum
3. Kentucky Virtual Derby
4. Virtual learning
5. Virtual NBA fans

A look at the top searches in the category “… during the coronavirus” shows that people were looking for ways to benefit financially from the pandemic. Others were looking for new ways of doing common things and others were simply looking for work.

Top searches “… during the coronavirus”

1. The best stocks to buy during the coronavirus
2. Dating During Coronavirus
3. Open dentist during coronavirus
4. Unemployment during the coronavirus
5. Hiring of jobs during the coronavirus

Finally, let’s take a look at the aforementioned “why” category, which posted record search volume this year.

Top “Why?” Searches

1. Why were chainsaws invented?
2. Why is there a shortage of coins?
3. Why was George Floyd arrested?
4. Why is Nevada taking so long?
5. Why is TikTok banned?

Most popular Google searches around the world

There are far fewer categories of data available for the global search segment. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting ones.

Top general searches

1. Coronavirus
2. Election results
3. Kobe bryant
4. Focus
5. IPL

Top concert searches

1. Together At Home Concert
2. Fire Fight Australia Concert
3. Garth Brooks conducts in concert
4. Travis Scott Fortnite Concert
5. BTS online concert

Top recipe searches

1. Dalgona coffee
2. Ekmek
3. Sourdough bread
4. Pizza
5. Lahmacun

Top Movie Searches

1. Parasite
2. 1917
3. Black Panther
4. 365 DNI
5. Contagion

See the full data set here.

Is there anything more for 2020 than presenting the data in history format? Because Google has done it too.

More 2020 search highlights can also be seen in the video below.