Australia’s top Google searches for 2022 revealed

What are Aussies searching for in Google this 2022?

Well, Google released its annual list of Year in Search revealing what the nation has been looking up online for this year.

The results showed that the top searches reflect a year full of change and hardship, with celebrity deaths and international war top of mind (or search bar) for many.

But there was plenty of good to help balance out the bad, with Australians finding solace in looking up sports and mobile games.

Overall searches

1. Wordle

This online guessing game went viral at the end of 2021, and its popularity has continued this year despite controversial changes made by the new owner, The New York Times.

2. Australian Open

Of course, this year’s Open was full of highs and lows as the competition adjusted to post-pandemic life.

Some players complained about quarantine conditions, while local big names Ash Barty, Dylan Alcott and Nick Kyrgios did the country proud.

3. World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is held every four years, and with an honourable performance from the Socceroos and backlash over this year’s host nation, it seems Australians were keen to keep track of the latest updates.

4. Shane Warne

The death of this sporting legend took Aussies by surprise and prompted a flood of tributes from fans, politicians, and athletes alike.

5. Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has had a huge ripple effect on petrol prices and the everyday cost of living.

6. Novak Djokovic

The modern-day tennis legend’s unvaccinated status marred this year’s Australian Open, and eventually had him sent packing from Australia without getting the chance to compete.

7. The Ashes

Australia is a country of sports lovers.

This year, cricket lovers flocked to the search engine for more information about the biennial event, with Australia emerging victorious.

8. Ash Barty

The local tennis favourite had a cracker start to the year, before making a surprise retirement announcement.

9. Olivia Newton-John

The beloved Grease star died surrounded by loved ones after several cancer battles and continued to do good after her death with donations for her cancer research foundation requested in lieu of flowers.

10. Betty White

This year was off to a sad start after the beloved Golden Girls star died less than three weeks before her 100th birthday.

More of Google's insights

This year, Australians battled serious and devastating floods and our searches reflected that.

Our searches included “floods”, “La Nina” and “when will the rain stop” in 2022.

The lingering effects of the COVID pandemic were also evident in our searches with questions like “can you get COVID twice” and “how long does COVID last” appearing near the top of the list.

News updates were also on top with searches like Ukraine, the federal election and Omicron symptoms.

On the other hand, Australians were also looking to get their creative juices flowing this year.

'How to' DIY queries of paper poppers, pom poms, friendship bracelets, ninja stars and paper cranes rounds out the top 5 searches.

Lastly, people also asked Google for help in the kitchen with searches on how to cook tripe, corn on the cob and bunya nuts having the most hits.

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