Top 100 YouTube Searches Reveal Changing Interests

A new analysis of YouTube’s top 100 search terms of the year reveals more than just the most popular channels – it shows a subtle change to how users are engaging with the platform and what type of content they are most interested in.

While YouTube releases a few key findings at the end of the year, the company does not provide the data for the top 100 search queries each year. Thankfully, Ahrefs annually analyzes more than 800 million keywords used on the site using its Keyword Explorer tool to give us this report. 

Top YouTube Searches

Below, we are including the top 25 searches for both the US and worldwide. For the complete list of the top 100 search queries, check out the full report.

Top US Queries and Search Volume

1. pewdiepie – 3,770,000
2. asmr – 3,230,000
3. music – 2,670,000
4. markiplier – 2,380,000
5. old town road – 2,040,000
6. pewdiepie vs t series – 1,940,000
7. billie eilish – 1,910,000
8. fortnite – 1,630,000
9. david dobrik – 1,610,000
10. jacksepticeye – 1,580,000
11. james charles – 1,560,000
12. joe rogan – 1,560,000
13. baby shark – 1,500,000
14. bts – 1,350,000
15. dantdm – 1,330,000
16. snl – 1,260,000
17. game grumps – 1,140,000
18. cnn – 1,120,000
19. wwe – 1,100,000
20. lofi – 1,040,000
21. minecraft – 1,030,000
22. shane dawson – 993,000
23. t series – 955,000
24. fox news – 943,000
25. msnbc – 936,000

Top Worldwide Queries and Search Volume 

1. bts – 17,630,000
2. pewdiepie – 16,320,000
3. asmr – 13,910,000
4. billie eilish – 13,860,000
5. baby shark – 12,090,000
6. badabun – 11,330,000
7. blackpink – 10,390,000
8. old town road – 10,150,000
9. music – 9,670,000
10. peliculas completas en español – 9,050,000
11. fortnite – 9,010,000
12. pewdiepie vs t series – 8,720,000
13. minecraft – 8,560,000
14. senorita – 8,290,000
15. ariana grande – 7,890,000
16. alan walker – 7,560,000
17. calma – 7,390,000
18. tik tok – 7,270,000
19. musica – 7,140,000
20. bad bunny – 7,040,000
21. wwe – 6,870,000
22. queen – 6,660,000
23. eminem – 6,600,000
24. enes batur – 6,600,000
25. la rosa de guadalupe – 6,300,000

What We Can Take From This

While the lists are largely filled with the expected names like PewDiePie, Joe Rogan, and BTS, there are a few surprising placements that reveal a bit about what people are most interested in on YouTube. 

Most clearly is the rising reliance on YouTube for music. Users have always looked up the latest music videos and singles on the site, this year’s data show that people are increasingly turning to the platform for music in general. 

Nearly a quarter of the top 100 search terms in America relate to music (including the keyword “music” itself being in the third slot), and that number only goes up when looking internationally. 

It is worth mentioning that ASMR – in the second highest spot in the US – is also a uniquely auditory experience.

Additionally, the top 100 shows a rising interest in news and current events. Alongside respected outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, the complete list includes a number of satirical news figures like John Oliver and Stephen Colbert. 

Most importantly, the top search terms reveal that people are beginning to use broader search terms than in the past. Yes, they are also searching for specific branded content like fortnite and snl, but they are also using broad terms like “music”, “lofi”, and “memes”. 

Between this and YouTube’s suggested videos, this shows that the platform is still fertile with opportunities for smaller brands among the biggest names and influencers. 

To view the full report from Ahrefs, click here.