Google reveals the top trending searches of 2025

Google has unveiled its Year in Search 2025, spotlighting the events, people and pop-culture moments that prompted the biggest spikes in search interest.

Charlie Kirk topped this year’s list as the No. 1 trending search in the U.S. The Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, fueling a nationwide surge in search activity.

Rounding out the top five were Netflix’s hit film “KPop Demon Hunters,” the viral plush collectible Labubu, Apple’s iPhone 17 and the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was signed into law in July.

Other major spikes in search activity included New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the AI platform DeepSeek, the government shutdown, the FIFA Club World Cup, and tariffs, according to Google.

GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY

Charlie Kirk topped this year’s list as the No. 1 trending search in the U.S. The Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Google has officially pulled back the curtain on its Top Trending Searches of 2025, offering a fascinating snapshot of what captured the world’s attention this year — from political shockwaves and AI breakthroughs to pop-culture moments that defined everyday conversation.

Much like a global diary, Google Search once again reveals not just what people were looking for, but why the world was anxious, curious, hopeful, and sometimes overwhelmed.

Politics & Power: A Year of Global Tension

Unsurprisingly, politics dominated search bars across continents in 2025. Elections, policy shifts, and global leadership drama sent millions scrambling for updates in real time. Searches surged around high-profile political figures, geopolitical conflicts, and controversial government decisions — underscoring how closely people monitored power and its consequences.

In moments of breaking news, Google Search became the world’s first stop for clarity.

AI & Technology: Curiosity Turns to Concern

Artificial intelligence searches exploded in 2025. Users weren’t just asking what AI can do — they were asking what AI will replace. Trending terms revolved around AI jobs, automation, digital privacy, and the ethics of machine decision-making.

New tools, viral demos, and workplace disruptions pushed AI from a tech curiosity into an everyday concern — and fascination.

Pop Culture: Viral Moments That Took Over Timelines

From unexpected celebrity scandals to breakout films and chart-dominating music, pop culture remained a powerful driver of searches. A single viral moment was often enough to send millions typing the same name within minutes.

These weren’t just entertainment searches — they were shared cultural moments that defined conversations at home, at work, and on social media.

Health, Money & Survival Questions Rise

2025 also saw major growth in searches related to health, inflation, housing, and financial stability. People searched not just for symptoms and treatments, but for answers to bigger life questions:

• Can I afford this?
• Is this safe?
• What happens next?

Experts say this reflects a year where uncertainty pushed people to seek real-time reassurance online.

Sports & Global Events Unite the World

Massive sporting events and international competitions generated huge spikes in search interest. From last-second goals to controversial calls, fans around the world turned to Google for stats, replays, and instant explanations, proving sports remain one of the few truly global unifiers.

What 2025 Searches Say About Us

Google’s 2025 trends reveal a world:

• Searching faster than ever
• More anxious, but deeply curious
• Caught between technological optimism and real-world fears

As Google puts it, “Search is where curiosity meets urgency.” And in 2025, urgency ruled.