Every year, we reflect on the moments that made us laugh, smile from ear to ear, or kept us gripped to our screens in our annual Year in Search. It was a year that witnessed one of the biggest elections unfold, death of a beloved comedian, the mysterious vanishing of a plane and a terrifying disease. We were captivated by sporting events, and had our fun with birds, a bucket of ice, and a frozen princess.
Watch our video to rediscover the events, people and topics that defined 2014:
Elections 2014 captivates India
More than 500 million people voted in India’s Election, making it the largest ever in the world. Increased interest was clearly reflected in the trending search results. Search Queries regarding candidates, parties and issues dominated Elections 2014 searches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also the most searched politician and was ahead of top Bollywood stars such as Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan .
Indians love their entertainment
IPL 2014 and Bollywood movies consisted of the top 10 trending searches in India. There is no doubt that Indians love cricket and movies, reflected clearly in their search queries.. Not only was Sunny Leone the most searched personality, but her movie - Ragini MMS 2 - became the top trending movie of the year. Salman Khan dominated the most searched actors’ list while both his movies Kick and Jai Ho were among the top trending movies searched.
All the world’s a stage
Nothing brings people closer like sports, and 2014 was witness to one of the biggest athletic events. The World Cup in Brazil had its fair share of unforgettable moments and had everyone glued to their TVs and mobile devices all summer. From Luis Suarez’s bite heard around the world, to Tim Howard's superman performance vs. Belgium, to Germany’s incredible run to their fourth title, the competition certainly lived up to its reputation and topped the charts.
While sports brought people together, so did a good cause. This year, awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, reached an all-time high around the world due to the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. As celebrities and everyday people alike braved a bucket of ice cold water for a cause, donations to help find a cure for the illness hit almost $100 million.
Here’s the full list of our top 10 global trending searches:
Explore the stories from the year, one chapter at a time
On our Year in Search site you can take an in-depth look at the stories that made 2014 unforgettable. From the rise of the selfie, to understanding if we search for “how” more than “why,” each chapter shares a glimpse into the people and events that drove this year forward.
We've also made it easier to find the trending topics of the year directly from Google Search. For the first time, a simple search for [google 2014] will give you a peek at what made the top trending lists from around the world. And you can follow more insights from the year with #YearInSearch. So take a moment to appreciate what this year had to offer. It’ll be 2015 before you know it.
