From why Norwegian twins sang for Sweden at Eurovision to global political issues, Norwegians turned to the world's biggest search engine to get all sorts of queries answered in 2024. Here's what they searched for most.
As 2024 approaches its end, Norwegians' search habits on Google reveal a year shaped by sporting achievements, celebrity drama, and pressing global issues.
Despite the growing adoption of AI solutions in Norway, Norwegians continue to rely on Google for answers to anything and everything, from solving trivia to understanding the world’s biggest events.
From quirky queries like “What is ketchup mostly made of?” to serious concerns about international conflicts, Google Norway’s annual search trends highlight what captivated the country this year.
Sports Dominate the Search Trends
Sporting events topped the list, with the European Football Championship and the Paris Summer Olympics leading the way. EM–short for Europamesterskapet (The European Championship)–topped the list of search queries in 2024.
Read more: Check out what Norwegians searched for most in 2023!
Markus Rooth’s gold medal performance in the decathlon was a standout moment, inspiring many to search for details about the sport and Rooth himself.
“Hva er tikamp?” (Norwegian for “what is decathlon?“) was the third most asked question typed into Google, while Rooth ranked in the top 10 athletes.
“People turn to Google to navigate and get an overview, and this year’s list is yet another example of that,” said Sondre Ronander, Head of Communications at Google Norway to NRK.
“This year’s search trends often reflect the news and the issues that have engaged Norwegians over the past year. It’s clear that we are curious and want to understand what’s happening in the world around us,” he continued.
Eurovision Fever Continues
Entertainment was another major driver of search activity, with Norway’s love for Eurovision shining through once again.
Questions ranged from why Norwegian twins Marcus and Martinus competed for Sweden to the controversy surrounding the Netherlands' Joost Klein, who was disqualified before the Malmö final.
“It’s always fun to see how the music competition continues to captivate year after year, not to mention which films and TV shows capture our interest,” said Ronander.
Celebrity Reality TV Grabs Attention
Celebrity-driven reality shows also trended. Names like Terje Håkonsen, Danby Choi, and Gaute Grøtta Grav appeared among the top searches, with the latter gaining particular attention for his calm demeanour on the survival show 71° nord.
Meanwhile, TV2’s satirical series Norges dummeste (Norway’s Dumbest) sparked interest, especially after TV personality Mayoo Indiran earned the infamous title and prompted a surge in searches like “What is ketchup mostly made of?”
Serious Topics Reflect a Troubled World
The year’s search trends also reflected more sobering topics, including global conflicts and health crises. Questions such as “Why is Israel attacking Lebanon?” and “Why is Iran attacking Israel?” highlighted public concern about international affairs.
“The turbulent global situation, with wars and crises, evoked strong emotions and many questions, clearly reflected in what people search for on Google,” Ronander explained.
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Closer to home, high-profile news stories like the ongoing Marius Borg Høiby case and outbreaks of diseases like monkeypox and mycoplasma pneumonia also left their mark.
Quirky Curiosities
Many Norwegians were curious about Temu, the China-based online marketplace launched in September 2022.
Temu connects consumers directly with China-based vendors, eliminating intermediaries to offer more affordable products. However, the company has attracted scrutiny over data privacy, product quality, and business practices.
Perhaps then it's no surprise that “Temu” and “Hva er temu?” were among the most Googled search queries in 2024.
Not all searches were serious. Many Norwegians turned to Google with lighthearted queries like “Why do llamas spit?”and “How can I make money on Snapchat?” proving that curiosity remains a universal trait.
From the decathlon to llamas, 2024’s search trends paint a vivid picture of what mattered to Norwegians—and what made them laugh. As Ronander summed up, “It’s clear that we are curious and want to understand what’s happening in the world around us.”
