SG60, crises and eats: What were Singaporeans searching on Google this year?

Google has released its annual "Year in Search" list for Singapore this year, revealing a year shaped by SG60 celebrations, the General Elections, economic pressures and a steady appetite for pop culture.

The list tracks the people, topics, events and places that captured the attention of Singaporeans throughout the year, reflecting what Google described as a mix of cautious planning and moments of joy.

According to the search engine giant, SG60 emerged as a major national talking point, ranking number 10 in trending SG news. Searches surged around government initiatives such as the SG Culture Pass, which ranked number eight among trending finance topics, and new tranches of SG60 vouchers, which appeared across multiple categories.

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Locals also showed strong interest in new and refreshed attractions. Rainforest Wild ASIA topped the trending city buzz list, followed by the Singapore Oceanarium and Punggol Coast Mall.

In addition, food remained a consistent obsession. GastroBeats 2025 at Marina Bay ranked sixth in trending city buzz, while new dining spots such as Paradise Hotpot and Yo-Chi also made the top ten, with Yo-Chi emerging as a popular Gen Z hangout.

Moreover, the Singapore General Elections stood out as one of the most closely followed national events of the year. Search interest spiked around political figures including Ng Chee Meng, Alexis Dang and Chee Soon Juan during the campaigning period.

The results of the General Elections ranked among the top trending SG news topics as voters tracked outcomes closely.

Cost of living concerns also featured prominently. Searches related to Trump tariffs and global market shifts made the trending news list. Mortgage quotes were the top trending SG news and finance topic, while credit cards and life insurance ranked among the top finance searches as consumers looked to manage rising costs. Money anxiety, it seems, had a very efficient SEO strategy.

Other top trending searches in Singapore included DeepSeek, Charlie Kirk, COPD treatment, osteoporosis treatment, iPhone 17, Barbie Hsu, and Asia Cup 2025, highlighting locals’ diverse interests spanning health, finance, politics, tech, and sports.

On the entertainment front, Lady Gaga’s Southeast Asia stop in Singapore for her MAYHEM tour ranked among the top trending SG news and international personalities. The Phantom of the Opera also drew strong search interest during its six-week Singapore run.

Streaming continued to dominate home entertainment. New seasons of Squid Game ranked second in trending TV shows, while local sequel Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story, alongside titles such as Bon Appétit Your Majesty and When Life Gives You Tangerines, drove significant viewership-related searches.

In cinemas, Mission Impossible topped trending movie searches, followed by Thunderbolts. Other popular titles included K-pop Demon Hunters and A Minecraft Movie.

Collectively, the 2025 search trends point to a year where Singaporeans balanced national milestones, financial planning and escapist entertainment, planning for the future while squeezing in a little fun between the budget spreadsheets.

“Google’s annual Year in Search is a powerful snapshot of what mattered most to Singaporeans in the past year. From mastering new AI tools to exploring new places and seeking out the best entertainment, search continues to be their partner in discovery," said Ben King, country managing director, Google Singapore. 

He added, "As search patterns evolve, it has been exciting to see users make the best use of our generative AI features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, to get quicker, more helpful answers. We will continue to reimagine and expand what Google Search can do to ensure we provide faster, higher-quality responses for everyone."

Looking ahead, Google is also experimenting with how users interact with search itself. In May, the company rolled out a new AI mode in its search engine across the US, offering a conversational experience similar to a chatbot.

Building on last year’s AI Overviews, the feature allows users to ask complex, multimodal questions and receive tailored results through a “query fan-out” approach, which breaks questions into subtopics and conducts multiple searches simultaneously. Early reports suggest it is driving higher engagement, with users of AI Overviews logging a 10% increase in search frequency for relevant queries.

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