Saednews: Google, as the largest and most widely used search engine in the world, processes a massive volume of searches daily. Google is widely used in over 190 countries. The highest number of searches come from the United States, India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany.
According to a report from Saeed News, citing ISNA, Google, as the largest and most widely used search engine in the world, processes a massive amount of searches daily. Google is extensively used in over 190 countries, with the highest number of searches coming from the United States, India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany.
Here are some key statistics and information about Google searches:
Daily Search Queries on Google Google processes over 3.5 billion searches daily, which amounts to about 40,000 searches per second.
Annual Search Queries on Google Over 1.2 trillion searches are conducted on Google annually.
Google's Market Share in Search Engines Google holds over 90% of the search engine market share (2023 statistics). Its main competitors include Bing, Yahoo, Baidu (in China), and Yandex (in Russia).
Mobile vs. Desktop Searches More than 60% of Google searches are performed via mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). This figure has seen significant growth in recent years due to increased mobile usage.
Local Searches About 46% of Google searches are local in nature (meaning users are looking for information related to places near them). Searches like "restaurants near me" or "electronics store in Tehran" are examples of this.
Voice Searches With the rise in the use of voice assistants like Google Assistant, voice searches have also seen a significant increase. Around 27% of mobile users utilize voice search.
Image Searches Google Lens and image search have gained significant popularity. Over 10% of Google searches are performed using images.
Video Searches YouTube (owned by Google) is the second-largest search engine in the world. More than 1 billion hours of video are watched on YouTube daily.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, searches related to this topic saw an unprecedented rise. For example, searches like "COVID symptoms," "COVID vaccine," and "quarantine" topped Google searches.
Global Searches Google is widely used in more than 190 countries, with the highest searches coming from countries such as the United States, India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany.
Seasonal and Special Event Searches During special times like holiday shopping seasons (e.g., Black Friday or Christmas), the number of searches increases significantly. For example, during Black Friday, searches related to discounts and online shopping surged.
COVID-19 Related Searches During the COVID-19 pandemic, searches related to this topic increased dramatically. Searches like "COVID symptoms," "COVID vaccine," and "quarantine" were among the most frequent.
Top Searches in 2023 Based on Google's reports, some of the most searched phrases in 2023 include:
Sports: Major sports events like the World Cup.
Technology: New products like iPhone 15 or artificial intelligence.
Celebrities: News about famous personalities.
Movies and TV Shows: Popular Netflix series.
Real-Time Searches Google offers a real-time search feature that allows users to access up-to-date information. This feature is especially useful for live events like sports tournaments, elections, or natural disasters.
AI-based Searches Google uses advanced AI technologies like BERT and MUM to improve search results. These technologies help Google better understand complex and multifaceted searches.
First Google Search The first Google search was conducted in 1998 by Larry Page, one of Google's founders. The search was about "Gerard Salton," a Stanford University professor and pioneer in the field of information retrieval.
15% of Google Searches Are New Around 15% of Google's searches are done for the first time every day, meaning millions of new and unique searches are added to the search engine every day.
Spelling Mistakes in Searches About 7% of Google searches contain spelling errors. Google uses advanced algorithms to detect these mistakes and display the correct results.
Voice Searches Are Growing According to Tabnak, over 27% of mobile searches are performed using voice search. This number is growing due to the increasing use of voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri.
Local Searches About 46% of Google searches are local. Users are looking for businesses, services, or information related to nearby locations.
Some searches are so strange that Google publishes a list of the weirdest searches of the year. For example, searches like "Am I a cat?" or "How to talk to a duck?" made it onto the list.
Seasonal Searches Google searches are highly influenced by seasons and special events. For example, searches related to dieting peak in January (after the New Year) and holiday-related searches peak in December.
Emergency Searches In emergency situations like natural disasters or pandemics, Google displays important information at the top of search results. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Google prioritized information about vaccines and healthcare centers.
Video Searches YouTube, which is the second-largest search engine in the world, hosts over 1 billion hours of video daily. Many users search directly on YouTube instead of using text-based searches.
Real-Time Searches Google offers live search capabilities that allow users to access updated information in real time. This is particularly useful for live events like sports competitions or elections.
AI-based Searches Google uses advanced AI technologies like BERT and MUM to enhance search results, helping to understand and process complex searches more effectively.
Zero-Click Searches Around 50% of Google searches are zero-click searches, meaning users get their answers directly from the Google search page without having to click on any link.
Health-Related Searches Searches related to health, such as disease symptoms or medication information, are very common. Google prioritizes providing reliable and verified information for these searches.
Children's Searches Children are also a significant portion of internet search users. Google applies special filters to ensure the safety of their searches.
Historical Searches Google Trends allows users to explore search trends over time, for example, how searches related to "artificial intelligence" or "Bitcoin" have changed in recent years.
Offline Searches Google enables offline searches, allowing users to save web pages and read them without an internet connection.
Multilingual Searches Google supports over 150 languages, allowing users to search in their local language.
Fast Searches Google can search billions of web pages in less than 0.2 seconds and display results to the user.
Security Searches Google identifies and removes millions of harmful websites from search results each year to ensure user security.
Future Searches Google is working on technologies that will allow users to conduct more advanced searches using augmented reality (AR) or smart assistants.
The technical cost of each Google search is not precisely published by Google, but estimates based on public information and analyses suggest that Google spends around 0.2 to 0.5 cents per search. This cost includes energy consumption, hardware depreciation, maintenance costs, and other operational expenses.
Of course, this number can vary depending on factors like geographical location, the type of search, and traffic volume.
Google strives to reduce its operational costs through advanced technologies like AI and algorithm optimization while improving the speed and accuracy of search results. Additionally, Google's revenue from advertising (like Google Ads) significantly exceeds its operational costs, allowing the company to continuously expand and enhance its infrastructure.
In total, the cost of each search for Google is relatively low, but considering the vast number of searches (billions per day), the aggregate cost is significant.
Paid search engines typically do not charge users directly but generate revenue through models like advertising, premium subscriptions, or providing professional services to businesses. Some search engines or related services may charge users directly or indirectly. Examples include:
Custom or Enterprise Search Engines These are designed for specific environments such as organizations, universities, or companies and may involve subscription or setup fees. Examples include:
Microsoft Bing for Business: Paid business versions of Bing.
Elasticsearch: An open-source search platform that may require professional support for enterprise use.
Scientific or Specialized Search Engines Some search engines that access scientific or specialized data may charge for complete access. Examples include:
PubMed: May require payment for accessing some articles.
IEEE Xplore: Requires a subscription for accessing research papers.
Privacy-Focused Search Engines with Paid Services Search engines that focus on user privacy may offer paid services. Examples include:
DuckDuckGo: While the main version is free, it may charge for additional services like ad-free searches.
Startpage: A privacy-focused search engine that may charge for premium services.
Business or B2B Search Engines Some search engines designed for businesses may charge for usage or subscriptions. Examples include:
Bloomberg Terminal: A financial and business search platform with high access fees.
LexisNexis: A legal and business database requiring payment for access.
Local or Regional Search Engines Search engines specific to certain countries may offer paid services or generate revenue through special subscriptions. Examples include:
Yandex: May charge for premium services.
Baidu: A Chinese search engine that may charge for certain services.
Custom Search Services Some companies offer custom search services that may charge users or businesses. Examples include:
Algolia: A premium search service for websites that charges based on search volume and required features.
Subscription-Based Search Engines Some search engines may charge for access to specific features or ad-free experiences. Examples include:
Ecosia: The main version is free, but additional services may require payment.
Neeva: A subscription-based
Overall, most public search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo are available for free and generate revenue through advertisements. However, for access to specialized data, advanced services, or privacy protection, there may be a cost involved.
Does internet searching have an environmental cost?
Although each internet search may seem small and harmless, it actually generates some carbon dioxide (CO₂) due to the energy required for data processing and transmission. The exact amount of CO₂ emitted depends on several factors, such as the type of search, the infrastructure used, and the energy source. Here's a look into this topic:
CO₂ production for each search
According to Google's estimates, each internet search generates an average of about 0.2 grams of CO₂. This includes the energy consumed for processing the search in data centers, transmitting data through communication networks, and displaying results on the user's device.
Comparison with other activities
To better understand this number, it can be compared to other activities:
Boiling a kettle of water: about 15 grams of CO₂.
Driving one kilometer in a gasoline car: about 170 grams of CO₂.
Sending a simple email: about 4 grams of CO₂.
Factors affecting CO₂ production
The amount of CO₂ produced for each search depends on the following factors:
Data centers: Google’s and other internet service providers' data centers consume a lot of energy. If these centers use renewable energy, the amount of CO₂ produced decreases.
Data transmission over the internet also consumes energy. The energy consumed by the user’s device (like a laptop or mobile phone) is also included in the calculation.
Google’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint
Google claims to have been carbon-neutral since 2007, meaning the CO₂ produced by its activities is offset through compensation projects like tree planting or investing in renewable energy. Google has also committed to running all of its operations using renewable energy by 2030.
CO₂ production from other online activities
Video streaming: One hour of video streaming on platforms like YouTube or Netflix produces about 55 grams of CO₂.
Sending an email: Sending an email with an attachment generates about 50 grams of CO₂.
Using social media: Each minute spent on social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter generates about 1.5 grams of CO₂.
Ways to reduce carbon footprint in internet searches
Using green search engines: Some search engines like Ecosia use their profits for tree planting, helping to reduce CO₂.
Optimizing searches: More precise and shorter searches can consume less energy.
Using renewable energy: Users can help reduce their carbon footprint by using devices charged with renewable energy.