South Africa’s 2020 Top Trending Google Searches

Google has published its annual “Year in Search” findings, in which it reveals the 2020 top trending google searches terms across a number of categories in South Africa – and other countries around the world.

In 2020, unsurprisingly, the search terms comprised a large number of COVID-19-related search terms and those related to local lockdown regulations.

“How to apply for an unemployment grant?” was the most searched for question in the country, ranking above “What time is the President on tonight?” and “Where to buy beer during lockdown?”

Trending searches terms with local relevance included “Coronavirus”, “Level 3 lockdown South Africa”, and “Load shedding”.

South Africans were also concerned about the Sasol share price, the ban on cigarettes and tobacco products, and the results of the US presidential election.

Below are the top Google trending searches across various categories in South Africa:

Top trending searches

1. Coronavirus
2. US elections update
3. Sasol share price
4. Level 3 lockdown South Africa
5. Children’s Day
6. Hantavirus
7. Load shedding
8. Cigarettes ban South Africa
9. Teacher’s Day
10. Leap Day

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Top trending questions

1. How to apply for an unemployment grant?
2. Who won the election?
3. What time is the President on tonight?
4. What is coronavirus?
5. What is 5G?
6. Where does vanilla flavouring come from?
7. Why were cornflakes invented?
8. Where to buy beer during lockdown?
9. Why were chainsaws invented?
10. How to make hand sanitiser?

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Top trending political figures

1. Joe Biden
2. Kim Jong Un
3. Kamala Harris
4. Boris Johnson
5. Angie Motshekga
6. Ace Magashule
7. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
8. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
9. Andile Lungisa
10. Bheki Cele

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Top trending personalities – Loss

1. Kobe Bryant
2. Mshoza
3. Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure
4. Bob Mabena
5. Naya Rivera
6. George Floyd
7. Chadwick Boseman
8. Zinzi Mandela
9. Thandeka Mdeliswa
10. Mary Twala

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Top trending recipes

1. Pizza dough recipe
2. Doughnut recipe
3. Pineapple beer recipe
4. Banana loaf recipe
5. Pancakes recipe
6. Magwinya recipe
7. Lemon meringue recipe
8. Cinnabon recipe
9. Naan bread recipe
10. Pornstar martini recipe

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Top trending South African personalities

1. Katlego Maboe
2. Nikita Murray
3. Edwin Sodi
4. Lerato Kganyago
5. Menzi Ngubane
6. Jackie Phamotse
7. Tino Chinyani
8. Sophie Ndaba
9. Nomcebo Zikode
10. Monique Muller

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Top trending sports searches

1. Premier League
2. England vs South Africa
3. PSL standings
4. IPL
5. Champions League
6. South Africa vs Australia
7. La Liga
8. Serie A
9. Europa League
10. Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns

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Top trending ‘near me’ searches

1. Restaurant near me
2. Grocery stores near me
3. Builders near me
4. Midas near me
5. Virgin Active near me
6. Hardware near me
7. Mexican food delivery near me
8. Massage spa near me
9. Game stores near me
10. Hiking near me

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Top trending travel searches

1. Trip to Mauritius
2. Trip to Durban
3. Trip to Thailand
4. Trip to Mozambique
5. Trip to Hawaii
6. Trip to Mars
7. Trip to Singapore
8. Trip to Bali
9. Trip to Jamaica
10. Trip to Zanzibar