Google Year in Search 2025 shows how Singaporeans turned to the platform to navigate a milestone year marked by SG60 celebrations, a closely watched General Election and rising cost-of-living pressures. The annual lists, released on Friday, 5 December, highlight the people, events and places that captured attention across the country.
SG60 shaped searches across culture, vouchers and new attractions
Singapore’s 60th anniversary prompted strong interest in initiatives linked to the national celebration. The launch of the SG Culture Pass — offering S$100 in credits for cultural activities — emerged as a top query under finance topics. Searches for new tranches of SG60 vouchers also ranked highly across multiple lists, reflecting continued public curiosity about eligibility and redemption.
The Google Year in Search 2025 results also showed Singaporeans exploring new and refreshed attractions with friends and family. Rainforest Wild ASIA topped the City Buzz list, followed by Punggol Coast Mall and the Singapore Oceanarium. Food-related searches — a perennial favourite — included GastroBeats 2025 at Marina Bay and new eateries such as Paradise Hotpot and Yo-Chi, which became a popular Gen Z hangout.
Election interest and economic anxieties drove online activity
The Singapore General Elections prompted significant search activity as 2.63 million voters headed to the polls. Searches surged for candidates including Ng Chee Meng, Alexis Dang and Chee Soon Juan, while voters tracked live election results on polling night.
Economic concerns also shaped search behaviour. “Mortgage quote” topped both the news and finance lists as households explored borrowing options in a higher-cost environment. Searches linked to global trade shifts — including the Trump Tariffs — trended alongside queries about credit cards and life insurance as Singaporeans sought ways to manage expenses.
Pop culture and live entertainment dominated leisure searches
Google Year in Search 2025 data showed strong engagement with entertainment, both online and in person. Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM tour was the second-most-searched international personality, boosted by her only Southeast Asia stop in Singapore. Theatre-goers also looked up the returning production of The Phantom of the Opera during its six-week run.
At home, viewers streamed high-profile dramas. Squid Game Season 2 topped the TV category, followed by regional hits such as Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story and When Life Gives You Tangerines. Movie searches leaned towards action blockbusters, with Mission Impossible and Thunderbolts among the most-queried titles.
Ben King, Google Singapore’s country managing director, said the findings illustrate how Singaporeans used Search “to discover what mattered most in 2025”. He added that adoption of generative AI features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode has helped users obtain quicker and more helpful answers.
Google said it plans to continue expanding AI-powered features within Search to provide faster and higher-quality responses. The company added that Year in Search will remain a key barometer of shifting interests as Singapore enters the post-SG60 period.
