Climate Crises Drive Global Google Trends
As extreme weather events wreaked havoc worldwide in early 2025, Google searches like “weather” and “clima” were the most popular Google searches globally, reflecting public concern over their devastating impacts. Unprecedented winter storms, unseasonal heatwaves, and catastrophic flooding disrupted daily life, travel, and safety across continents. Notable crises included deadly droughts in the Amazon and severe flooding in Argentina, which claimed hundreds of lives. Meanwhile, fluctuating conditions – from snowstorms in temperate regions to early hints of spring – made global headlines via Google News.
Cricket Fever
The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in February and March 2025, captivated cricket fans as 15 teams battled for glory. India emerged victorious, securing their third title after a dominant six-wicket win over New Zealand in the Dubai final. The tournament was among the trending searches on Google and reignited the storied India-Pakistan rivalry, with India triumphing by six wickets in a high-stakes group match. Earlier, India had swept England 3-0 in a pre-tournament ODI series, including a crushing 142-run victory in Ahmedabad, signaling their readiness for Champions Trophy success. England and India’s T20 series was also among the top Google searches in January.
New Zealand bolstered their campaign with a 60-run win over defending champions Pakistan in Karachi, powered by Will Young (107) and Tom Latham’s unbeaten 118. Despite resistance from Babar Azam (64) and Khushdil Shah (69), Pakistan fell short at 260 all out.
Celebrity News
February 2025 also saw a flurry of celebrity-related headlines. Bianca Censori, wife of controversial rapper Kanye West, trended globally when she turned up to the 2025 Grammy Awards pretty much naked and amid divorce rumors following West’s antisemitic remarks on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, the untimely death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, 39, ranked sixth among the highest Google searches. Best known for her roles in Harriet the Spy and Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg was found dead in Manhattan, though New York’s medical examiner was yet to determine the cause.
In a tragic twist, Betsy Arakawa, wife of retired actor Gene Hackman, succumbed to hantavirus – a rare rodent-borne disease – in Santa Fe, New Mexico, just hours after being seen shopping at a CVS. Hackman, 95, who suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s, passed away days later in a separate room. Their dog, Zinna, also died under unclear circumstances.
Real Madrid drowns Manchester City
Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League campaign ended in disappointment after a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid, which also made it to the top Google searches of the month. A hat-trick by Kylian Mbappé in the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu sealed City’s fate, with the English side collapsing 3-1 despite Nico’s late consolation goal. Injuries to John Stones and the absence of star striker Erling Haaland compounded City’s struggles, cementing Madrid’s dominance in what fans dubbed the “new Classico.”
Serena Williams Sparks Debate with Halftime Performance
Tennis icon Serena Williams was among the most searched persons on Google in February. She stirred controversy during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show with a surprise crip walk performance – a dance rooted in 1970s Los Angeles gang culture. The move echoed a 2012 Wimbledon controversy, where Williams faced criticism for a similar celebration after Olympic victory. Addressing backlash on X, Williams brushed off comparisons, joking, “I would’ve been fined at Wimbledon,” while calling the act “all love.” Her appearance also reignited chatter about her past ties to Drake, Lamar’s longtime rival.
Below are the highest Google searches by country/territory.
Top Google trends by country
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo DRC, Costa Rica, Cote d’ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How do we compile the trending searches?
We track what is trending across various countries daily using Google Trends as our compass. We gather data on the most searched names and topics and then aggregate the search volumes to analyze the standout trends, spotlighting the popular Google searches for each country and capturing global trends.