Pope, Charlie Kirk, iPhone 17, and TikTok Ban Dominate Google’s 2025 Global Searches

Global interest in key events and personalities in 2025 was reflected in Google’s annual “Year in Search” report, which highlights the most-searched topics worldwide. Leading the trends were Pope Francis, Charlie Kirk, Apple’s iPhone 17, and the controversy over a potential TikTok ban in the United States.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10 became the highest-trending news search, with massive online traffic to his biography and news coverage. Searches also spiked for the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, an American, on May 8.

Artificial intelligence continued to gain prominence, with searches for tools like Google’s Gemini and China’s DeepSeek AI models ranking high globally. The proposed TikTok ban and subsequent negotiations over the company’s U.S. operations also captured worldwide attention, as users sought updates on national security concerns and potential restrictions.

Sports and entertainment remained key search drivers, including matches such as India vs England, India vs Australia, and the Club World Cup.

Other widely searched news stories included the U.S. government shutdown, natural disasters like Hurricane Melissa and the Kamchatka earthquake, and major political developments in Iran and the U.S.

Google’s report highlights how global events, technology, and cultural phenomena shaped public curiosity in 2025, offering insights into what captured the world’s attention online.