What Switzerland googled in 2014

Google's Year in Review takes the pulse of the past year and presents the most searched-for and most popular search terms across Switzerland. On google.ch, 2014 was all about soccer: The World Cup in Brazil generated the most search queries in 2014. In addition, people and their stories particularly piqued the search interest of the Swiss. Tragic events such as Michael Schumacher’s accident and Robin Williams’ suicide triggered many search queries. Polarizing figures such as Conchita Wurst and Jennifer Lawrence also made it into the top ten search terms with the largest increase compared to the previous year.

Users are also increasingly asking Google questions. Google Switzerland has compiled a list of the most common ones under the heading «What is…?» This year, people were interested in financial topics such as «What is PayPal?» as well as political topics such as «What is Ecopop?».

A look at the list «Swiss Scandals and Controversies» reveals which local issues captured people’s attention in 2014. The biggest increase in search queries in 2014 was driven by the controversy surrounding Geri Müller. The other two spots on the podium belong to two art installations that couldn’t be more different: Milo Moiré and the Zurich harbor crane. The Carna Grischa scandal, which kept people in Switzerland occupied toward the end of the year, barely made it onto this list.

The AIR14 air show has replaced the Paléo Festival at the top of the list of the most-searched-for Swiss events. The music festival in western Switzerland still holds onto second place, followed by Zurich’s Sechseläuten, which also continues to attract steady search interest. In the category of the most-searched Swiss cities and towns, Zermatt remained firmly in first place, leading the list ahead of Zurich and Basel.

Top Lists for Switzerland in 2014

Search queries:

1. 2014 World Cup
2. iPhone 6
3. Michael Schumacher
4. Robin Williams
5. Conchita Wurst
6. Ebola
7. Sochi
8. Jennifer Lawrence
9. Netflix
10. Nabilla Benattia

Stars International:

1. Michael Schumacher
2. Robin Williams
3. Conchita Wurst
4. Jennifer Lawrence
5. Nabilla Benattia
6. Julie Gayet
7. Peaches Geldof
8. Philip Seymour Hoffman
9. Dieudonné
10. Melanie Müller

"What is...?" questions:

1. PayPal
2. sour cream
3. Ecopop
4. Ebola
5. Instagram
6. LinkedIn
7. Double-cream cream cheese
8. Fiber-Optic Network
9. Raw milk
10. Vermouth

Events in Switzerland:

1. AIR14
2nd Paléo Festival
3rd Sechseläuten
4. Street Parade
5. Swissbau
6. SwissSkills
7. Energy Air
8th Engadin Ski Marathon
9. Boys' Shooting Competition
10. Touch The Air

Swiss watch brands:

1. Omega
2. Rolex
3. Swatch
4. Tissot
5. Alpina
6. IWC
7. Hublot
8. Breitling
9. Longines
10. Zenith

Destinations:

1. new york
2. paris
3. barcelona
4th Berlin
5th London
6th Mallorca
7 Portugal
8 Hamburg
9. Budapest
10th Fuerteventura

Swiss Scandals/Controversies:

1. Geri Müller
2. Milo Moiré
3. Zurich Harbor Crane
4. Love Life
5. Carlos
6. Elena Rybolovleva
7. Blanda Eggenschwiler
8. Raoul Weil
9. Carna Grischa
10. TPG Strike

Cities & Towns:

1. zermatt
2. Zurich
3. basel
4. lausanne
5. bern
6th Lenzerheide
7 Lucerne
8. davos
9. winterthur
10. lugano