These were the most Googled search terms of 2021
“Discover what the world was searching for this year.”
In a year that continued to test many, the world searched “How to Maintain Mental Health” more than ever. Whether they’re taking care of mental health, honouring a loved one, or reuniting with family, people are finding ways to come back stronger than before.
January 2021
United States Capitol:
In January, searches for united states capitol spiked above searches for covid-19 vaccine globally. Following the unprecedented events in Washington, D.C., global search interest for united states capitol spiked above searches for covid-19 vaccine.
Affirmations:
“I am worthy, I am loved.” In 2021, the world searched for affirmations more than ever before. Searches for affirmations reached an all-time high worldwide. From money and success to good health and love, affirmations were searched this year more than ever before, with the most search interest in Kazakhstan.
Sea Shanties:
The world searched for sea shanties more in 2021 than any other time in Google Trends history. The world had the mouth of a sailor — or vocal cords, rather. There was more search interest for sea shanties this year than any other time in Google Trends history, as social media users across the globe harmonised to these folksy maritime songs like it was 1825.
Mittens:
Thanks to Bernie Sanders, searches for mittens reached an all-time high in January globally. Following the viral moment of Bernie Sanders sporting knitted gloves at the U.S. 2021 presidential inauguration, mittens were searched more than ever before worldwide.
Amanda Gorman:
After performing her poem “The Hill We Climb” during the U.S. presidential inauguration, ‘Amanda Gorman’ was the top searched poet worldwide in 2021. The country searching for her poem the most? Norway. Amanda Gorman was actually 2021’s top searched poet worldwide.
Vaccination Volunteer:
In a time of crisis, the world wanted to help. ‘vaccination volunteer’ was the top trending volunteer opportunity the world searched for this year.
How to Start a Business:
The world sought new entrepreneurship opportunities, searching for ‘how to start a business’ more than ‘how to get a job’ in 2021
February 2021
Soulmate:
‘Soulmate’ was searched more than ever before in 2021 globally. Whether you believe your soulmate was born 139 days after you, or that they’re a bespectacled wizard, this year soulmate was searched more than ever before across the globe.
How to Help Texas:
‘How to help Texas’ was a breakout search worldwide in February. Following hardships caused by extreme weather in the Lone Star State, ‘How to help Texas’ became a breakout search worldwide in February 2021.
How to Conserve:
Search interest for ‘how to conserve’ reached an all-time high in 2021 worldwide. Helping the planet can feel like a solo pursuit, but you’re not alone. Search interest for ‘how to conserve’ reached an all-time high worldwide in 2021.
Daft Punk:
The top trending break up searched worldwide of 2021? ‘Daft Punk.’ Nothing gold can stay — including certified gold (and triple-platinum) albums. ‘Daft Punk’ became the top trending break up worldwide this year when the electronic duo hung up their helmets for good, after 28 years of making music.
March 2021
Meghan and Harry Interview:
This March, the world was captivated by the Meghan and Harry interview with Oprah, making it the most searched interview in Google Trends history.
Clapham Vigil:
This year, ‘Clapham vigil’ became the top trending vigil worldwide, following the arrests of people in south London gathered to remember Sarah Everard.
How To Move With Plants:
This year, as plant parents decided to uproot, ‘how to move with plants’ was searched more than ‘how to move with kids’ and ‘how to move with pets’ worldwide.
Impact of Climate Change:
The world searched ‘impact of climate change’ more than ever before in 2021. From major cities to tropical islands, the world searched ‘impact of climate change’ more than ever this year, with Fiji searching the most.
What is a Hate Crime:
As news of violence against Asian Americans in the U.S. spread, the world searched ‘what is a hate crime’ at record highs in March. In relation Americans searched for ‘Asian owned’ twice as much in 2021 compared to the previous year.
Suez Canal:
The ‘Suez canal’ became a breakout search worldwide this year, when it was blocked by one of the largest ships in the world, disrupting global trade.
April
Love You in Sign Language:
This year, ‘love you in sign language’ was searched more than ever before worldwide. As BTS and many other K-pop idols incorporated sign language into their choreography, the world searched ‘love you in sign language’ more than ever before this year. 🤟
Preguntas Para Conocer a Alguien:
Need a good icebreaker? For the second year in a row, in 2021, search interest for ‘preguntas para conocer a alguien’ (which means “questions to get to know someone” in Spanish) continued to rise in popularity worldwide.
Arun Jaitley Stadium:
During the first leg of the Indian Premier League’s 14th cricket season, search interest for ‘Arun Jaitley stadium’ reached an all-time high in the last week of April.
Sustainability:
‘Sustainability’ was searched at record highs this year worldwide. Earth-friendly practices are becoming the new standard. Worldwide, search interest for ‘sustainability’ reached record highs this year.
May
When is Nurses Week:
The world wanted to show up for its nurses. ‘When is nurses week’ was searched at an all-time high in 2021 around the globe.
How to help Palestine:
In May 2021, ‘how to help Palestine’ was a breakout search worldwide.
How to Maintain Mental Health:
This year, the world searched for ‘how to maintain mental health’ more than ever before.
Eurovision:
This year, with musicians from 39 countries competing in ‘Eurovision,’ searches for the international song contest were over 3X higher than searches for American Idol globally. The success of breakout band, and competition winners, Måneskin, may have played a part in this.
Miss Universe Mexico Winners:
Search interest for ‘Miss Universe Mexico winners’ spiked +3,450% on May 16 worldwide, as Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe 2021.
June
Body Positivity:
The world searched for ‘body positivity’ in 2021 more than ever before. Here’s to the beauty in all of us. Around the world, ‘body positivity’ was searched at record highs in June.
Southampton Weather:
Whether the world wanted clear or cloudy skies, search interest for ‘Southampton weather’ trended along with ‘New Zealand national cricket team’ ahead of the World Test Championship final in June.
What Is Retrograde:
Does the vibe feel … off? This year, the world searched for ‘what is retrograde’ more than ever before.
Copa America Standings:
As football fans across the globe kept up with the Copa América, ‘Copa America standings’ and ‘Tabla de posiciones Copa America 2021’ were breakout searches in 2021, with Peru leading the world with the most search interest.
Pride Events Near Me:
Across the globe, as people looked for ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, ‘pride events near me’ increased +5,000% worldwide.
July
Spelling Bee Winner:
Can you use it in a sentence? This July, worldwide search interest for ‘spelling bee winner’ reached a five-year high.
Fire and Flood:
In July 2021, ‘fire’ and ‘flood’ were breakout searches at the same time worldwide.
How Many Times has Italy won the Euros:
In July, as Italy won the UEFA European Championship for the second time, ‘how many times has Italy won the Euros’ searches trended for the first time in Trends history, spiking +4,750%.
Where Can I Travel:
This year, the world wanted to get out and explore (even if just vicariously). Global search interest for ‘where can I travel’ was 3X higher in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
August
Skate Park:
Skateboarding became an Olympic sport this year, causing search interest for ‘skate park’ to reach a five-year high in August worldwide.
Y2K:
From brightly colored computer monitors to low-rise jeans, late-’90s to mid-2000s trends made a comeback this year, causing the world to search ‘Y2K’ more in 2021 than ever before. Time to party like it’s 1999 … again. This year, global search interest in ‘Y2K theme party’ increased +4,700% (now that we know the computers can handle it).
How to help Afghanistan:
‘How to help Afghanistan’ was a breakout search worldwide in August this year.
When Can I Get a Covid Booster:
As new vaccine eligibility guidance was released in August, global searches for ‘when can i get a covid booster’ increased 10X compared to July searches.
How to help Haiti:
After Haiti experienced a magnitude 7.2 earthquake followed by Tropical Storm Grace,’ how to help Haiti’ became a breakout search in August worldwide.
September 2021
Personas Influyentes:
With increasing Latinx representation in media and beyond, global search interest for ‘personas influyentes’ (“influential people” in Spanish) was over 2x higher in September 2021 compared to August.
Missing Indigenous Women:
In 2021, the world searched for ‘missing indigenous women’ more than ever before in Trends history, with Canada searching the most.
Women’s Health:
‘Women’s health’ was searched more in 2021 than ever before in the U.S. Renewed discussions around reproductive rights caught Americans’ attention in September, causing the U.S. to search for ‘women’s health’ more than ever before.
Red Light Green Light and Honeycomb Cookies:
After TV drama series Squid Games debuted which featured contestants playing high-stakes schoolyard games, this gained international popularity, and search interest in ‘red light green light’ and ‘honeycomb cookies’ reached a record high worldwide.
Same Sex Marriage:
After voting to legalise ‘same sex marriage’ in September, Switzerland had the most interest in the search topic worldwide this year.
Volcano:
With eruptions in Hawaii and Spain in September, global searches for ‘volcano’ increased 3x compared to August.
October
Oil Spill Volunteer:
Following a cracked pipeline leaking thousands of gallons of oil along the California coastline, ‘oil spill volunteer’ became a breakout search in the state this October.
Is Climate Change Caused by Humans:
In October, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow, ‘is climate change caused by humans’ and ‘how does eating less meat help climate change’ became breakout searches in the U.K.
Which Colour Dress to Wear in Navratri:
In India, ‘which colour dress to wear in Navratri’ searches doubled in 2021 compared to 2020.
Maquillaje Para Dia de Muertos:
Global search interest for ‘maquillaje para Dia de Muertos’ (“makeup for Day of the Dead” in Spanish) increased +5,000% this October.
Mammography:
As countries across the globe observed Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, worldwide ‘mammography’ searches reached an all-time high.
November
Vino Vegano:
With plant-based diets increasingly common, diners are seeking vegan options for their favorite staples. Search interest for ‘vino vegano’ (“vegan wine” in Italian) increased +3,800% in November globally.
Small Business Saturday Near Me:
The world sought to shop small this November. ‘Small business Saturday near me’ was a breakout search globally.