That time of year has rolled around again - Google has unveiled Germany’s top searches of 2022. The mishmash of questions don’t make for the most optimistic read. Coronavirus slipped into the background while worries and confusions about the Ukraine war gripped a nation who turned to the internet for answers.

Germany’s 2022 in Google searches

From one global crisis to the next, while coronavirus dominated Germany’s 2021 Google searches, Ukraine took the top spot in 2022. Germans were excited but for the return of live, international sporting events, with the not-so beloved Qatar World Cup, the winter Olympics in Beijing and the Women’s Football Euros becoming the second, third and seventh most searched topics, respectively .

In fourth place came die Queen, as the Germans somewhat affectionately called Elizabeth II. And when the UK head of state died, everyone wanted to know more about her heir, asking, “How old is Prince Charles?” Another undemocratically elected leader followed after her majesty in Germany’s top general searches - Vladimir Putin placed fifth in the Germans’ Google-processed internet consciousness of 2022.

Germans were also taking to Google throughout the year to clue up on a number of perceived threats, from 1980s serial killers to possible pandemics. Though 2022 saw many coronavirus restrictions lifted throughout the country, fear of pandemics remained present, with Affenpocken (monkeypox), being the sixth most searched topic. US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer came in ninth place, brought back into popular consciousness by the Netflix hit about his homophobic crimes, and Warnung vor Sturmböen (gale warning), took 10th.

Germany has questions about Vladimir Putin

In searches for politicians and personalities, one man dominated both categories: Vladimir Putin. People in Germany wanted to know how old the dictator is and were unclear on his intentions, asking Google, “Why is Russia attacking Ukraine?” Many turned to the search engine to understand Ukraine-related confusions, asking, “How many soldiers does Russia have?”, “How many soldiers does Germany have?”, “What is NATO”,  “What is an oligarch?” and “Why is Ukraine not in NATO?”

But they also wanted some comic relief from their fears of war so close to home, with “Putin Meme” coming first in Google’s 2022 meme searches. Will Smith took second in Google’s meme search category.

Germany’s top trending Google searches

The top 10 trending general Google searches in Germany this year were:

1. Ukraine
2. WM 2022 (World Cup 2022)
3. Olympia 2022 (Olympics 2022)
4. Queen
5. Vladimir Putin
6. Affenpocken (Monkeypox)
7. Frauen EM (Women’s Euros 2022)
8. Nations League 
9. Jeffrey Dahmer
10. Warnung vor Sturmböen (Gale warning)

Global Google search trends in 2022

Global Google searches in 2022 did not deviate so far from trends in Germany. But the language game for mobile phones, Wordle, did nab the top spot for all the tech developments of 2022, with Apple’s iPhone 14 being the only other tech-world topic to make the year’s list.

But just as in 2021, India’s cricket matches in the country’s premier league dominated the list of global top trending searches in 2022, taking four of the top 10 spots. The Qatar World Cup was the only other sporting event to make the top 10. 

The world’s disbelief at Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine brought the latter country into third place in Google’s global searches. As in Germany, in the autumn, hit Netflix show Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story piqued a global interest in the American cannibal with searches spiking upon its September release, the same month as the world rushed to Google to confirm Queen Elizabeth’s fate.

The top 10 trending searches worldwide in 2022 were:

1. Wordle
2. India v England
3. Ukraine
4. Queen Elizabeth
5. India v South Africa
6. World Cup
7. India v West Indies
8. iPhone 14
9. Jeffrey Dahmer
10. Indian Premier League

Want to know more about 2022's biggest trends, or what the people in your home country were Googling? Visit the Google trends website.