Maps of Google Trends
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What's more popular around the world — vanilla or chocolate? Cats or dogs? Disneyland or Disney World?
We've turned to Google Trends, which tracks searches around the world, to gauge which nations prefer certain foods, sports, travel attractions and more. And then we've determined which interests are the most popular overall globally. (Hint: Cat people will not be pleased.)
Here's a fun look at what we were Googling over the past year. "Staycation" is apparently not one of them!
Cats vs. Dogs
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Where "Cat" is most popular: A good amount of Europe loves cats, but it's Indonesia that leads in feline love: 63 percent of the searches there are for cats, versus 37 percent for dogs. Cat love is so intense in this Southeast Asian nation that cities like Jakarta are home to special cat cafes.
Where "Dog" is most popular: Australia and all of North America prefer dogs. In the United States, 68 percent of people search for dogs, vs. 32 percent for cats.
But it's Vietnam that favors dogs most; here, a staggering 82 percent of Google searches are for pooches. Interestingly, dogs are both pets and food in Vietnam, though the government has banned serving dogs in tourist-heavy areas.
Most popular overall:Dogs. But cats aren't totally neglected!
Chocolate Ice Cream vs. Vanilla Ice Cream
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Where "Chocolate ice cream" is most popular: With cocoa beans grown in Brazil and South America, and rich, decadent chocolate produced in France, Italy and Spain, we can see why chocolate love is strong throughout Europe and South America. And it looks like this carries over into ice-cream preference as well.
But the only countries that give 100 percent of their love to one flavor are Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Latvia and Tunisia — chocolate all the way!
Where "Vanilla ice cream" is most popular: North America and Australia, which tend to agree on a lot of things, are the biggest proponents of vanilla scoops. Central Europe also breaks from its neighbors in going for vanilla.
Most popular overall: Chocolate — though it's a close call.
Beach vs. Ski
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Where "Beach" is most popular: Well, now we know why the beach is always so crowded — the search term reigns in the vast majority of countries around the world.
Some of the nations highlighted in blue make a lot of sense; places like the the United States, Australia and Brazil are known for their sandy shores. More surprising is the inclusion of Russia. Perhaps the people here like to dream about leaving the country's frigid climes?
The top beach-related phrases that people search for are "the beach" and "beach resort." Location-wise, Palm Beach, Myrtle Beach and Long Beach in the U.S. are all in the top five.
Where "Ski" is most popular: Not surprisingly, the countries where people like to search about hitting the slopes feature plenty of snow-capped peaks, including France, Norway, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland.
Most popular overall: Beach. All those Alpine ski resorts and snow-covered forests really are beautiful, but sun, surf and sand hold the most appeal.
Halloween vs. Christmas
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Where "Christmas" is most popular: Though the religious holiday of Christmas is often celebrated in a secular fashion, it dominates in nations with a strong Christian contingent, including the United States and much of Europe.
Where "Halloween" is most popular: While some feel Halloween is an American tradition, Latin cultures have long celebrated Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which is why there is a strong interest in searching about its related holiday of Halloween in Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
Most popular overall: Christmas. It's celebrated much more around the world and searched for more frequently, too.
"The Office" vs. "Friends"
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Where "The Office" is most popular: "The Office" debuted originally in the UK, but the launch of the American version of the show featuring Jim, Pam, Dwight and Michael Scott working at Scranton, Pennsylvania's fictional Dunder Mifflin ran from 2005 to 2013. Somewhat surprisingly, it's more searched for than "Friends" in the U.S.!
Where "Friends" is most popular: "Friends" featured six young professionals struggling in the real world of New York between 1994 and 2004. The hit show holds far more appeal outside the U.S., which makes sense considering its broader themes surrounding camaraderie and young adulthood. ("The Office" lampoons U.S. business culture pretty specifically.)
Amazingly, "Friends" is the 26th-most-popular English-language show in the world, and the third-most-popular in India and Pakistan. All told, it earns nearly $1 billion annually.
Most popular overall: "Friends," by a long shot. But don't cry for "The Office"; Netflix pays $100 million per year to air it.
Baseball vs. Cricket
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Where "Baseball" is most popular: The United States, but of course, loves baseball; it is America's pastime, after all. But the sport is also wildly popular in Japan, where — fun fact — it was introduced by an American schoolteacher in 1872.
Where "Cricket" is most popular: Cricket is most heavily searched for in India, England and Australia. This makes sense: Cricket originated in England during the 16th century and became the national sport during the 18th century. The English then spread their love for the game to British colonies around the world.
The exception? America, which rebelled so much against the British that it created the sport of baseball, mixing elements of English cricket and rounders games.
Most popular overall: Cricket. On a global scale, this sport has far more reach.
McDonald's vs. Burger King
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Where "McDonalds" is most popular: It seems more people around the world favor Mickey D's fries, McNuggets, McMuffins and Big Macs. The chain is preferred in several countries around the world, including the place where both chains were founded and have long duked it out: the United States.
Where "Burger King" is most popular: Brazil, Russia and Italy, among other nations, prefer BK. Brazil in particular has been on a Burger King kick, opening a new location every three to four days in recent months.
Most popular overall: McDonald's. There were 17,746 Burger King franchises in the world in 2018, but more than twice as many McDonald's — 37,855. Search results reflect this global dominance.
Selena Gomez vs. Justin Bieber
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Where "Selena Gomez" is most popular: Selena and Justin are the couple teen dreams were made of, dating, then breaking up, then dating, then breaking up again, and writing songs about each other every step of the way. Bieber may have married Hailey Baldwin, but Selena's still singing about the former teen heartthrob.
These days, "Team Selena" has its stronghold in Eastern Europe and Mexico (the singer's dad is of Mexican descent, and she was named after Mexican-American superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez).
Where "Justin Bieber" is most popular: "Beliebers" hold down the fort in Western Europe, much of Africa and the singers' home country of the United States.
South America is thoroughly divided on the great debate of our time.
Most popular overall: Justin Bieber. Is it too late now to say sorry?
Wine vs. Beer
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Where "Wine" is most popular: Wine dominates in the U.S., home to the world-renowned Napa Valley in California and thriving wine scenes in states like Oregon, Washington and New York. It's also big in Chile, which touts a wine industry that's swiftly been establishing itself on the global stage, as well as Russia and Australia.
Europe, not surprisingly, is pretty divided; wine-preferring countries include Spain, Italy and France, but of course.
Where "Beer" is most popular: Outside Chile, South America prefers beer. Brewski love also reigns in Canada and Central European countries like Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.
Most popular overall: Wine. But beer gets plenty of love too!
Taxi vs. Uber
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Where "Taxi" is most popular: Until 2009, catching a taxi was the only way to pay for a ride. Then San Francisco-based Uber created the ride-share company that allows you to travel with people willing to turn their cars into temporary taxis.
The new service (along with competitors like Lyft) upended the transportation system, but still, many countries around the world favor taxiing. Most prominently, taxis still rule in Europe, where growth has been slow due to countries making it more difficult for ride-share companies to operate.
Where "Uber" is most popular: Within 10 years, Uber has expanded to encompass nearly 100 million people who use its ride-share program. This map shows where Uber gets searched the most, including the United States and its fastest-growing region, Latin America.
Most popular overall: Taxi. Believe it or not, in terms of worldwide searches, this old-fashioned mode of travel reigns supreme (though just barely, and that might change soon).
Coke vs. Pepsi
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Where "Coca-Cola" is most popular: As the sea of blue here shows, Coke is beloved across the globe.
One Coke-loving nation is the United States, where Coca-Cola was founded in Atlanta in 1892. Today, you can taste the soda manufacturer's multiple flavors (100 in total!) at the company's headquarters in the city.
Where "Pepsi" is most popular: A random handful of countries — including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uzbekistan and Venezuela — prefer Coke's biggest competitor, founded in 1898 in North Carolina.
Most popular overall: Coca-Cola. According to Google Trends, it certainly is the world of Coke!
Disney World vs. Disneyland
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Where "Disneyland" is most popular: When Walt Disney opened his first park, Disneyland, in California in 1955, more than 20,000 people arrived on the first day to see fairytales come to life. Still today, the original park is the most searched for in the United States. Australia and countries scattered across South America, Egypt and Africa also predominately search for Disneyland.
Where "Disney World" is most popular: Walt went even bigger when he planned Walt Disney World Resort, which opened in 1971, transforming central Florida into one of the most popular destinations in the world. But only Canada and Argentina prefer this massive park when Google-searching.
Most popular overall: Disneyland. Floridians and Californians will always argue that they have the best park, but when it comes to Google, it's the California destination that takes the cake.
Football vs. Soccer
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Where "American football" is most popular: Surprise, surprise: American football rules in the United States. This year, 98.2 million people watched the Super Bowl, where the New England Patriots bested the Los Angeles Rams. Huge, right?
Where "football" (aka soccer) is most popular: In 2018, 3.5 billion people watched the World Cup, including 516.6 million who watched the finale, where France defeated Croatia. Those numbers reflect football/soccer's superior popularity in several countries around the world, most prominently in Europe and South America.
Most popular overall: Soccer. It's way bigger globally than the United States' beloved pigskin game.
Paris vs. Barcelona
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Where "Paris" is most popular: In 2018, 40 million people visited Paris, vs. 8 million who visited Barcelona. The city reigns supreme in Google searches too, with people in the United States, Canada, Australia and a good amount of Europe preferring the City of Light.
Where "Barcelona" is most popular: South America is where you see most interest for Barcelona, with some interest in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa as well. This might partly be attributable to searches for FC Barcelona, the city's popular soccer team and home to one of the sport's biggest stars, Lionel Messi.
Most popular overall: Paris. People across the globe love the romance and charm of this historic capital.
Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal
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Where "Roger Federer" is most popular: The Swiss superstar has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 103 ATP tour titles and an Olympic Gold medal in doubles. He's more searched for in Switzerland (duh), but also across Europe, as well as pretty much all of North America and South America.
Where Rafael Nadal is most popular: The Spanish great has won 19 Grand Slam single titles, 84 ATP Tour titles and an Olympic Gold medal in singles. His home country of Spain gives him more love, obviously, as does Russia, Kazakhstan and parts of Africa.
Most popular overall: Roger Federer. The acclaimed and beloved player has this point.
Statue of Liberty vs. Eiffel Tower
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Where "Statue of Liberty" is most popular: The French gifted the United States with the Statue of Liberty in 1875. Since then, Lady Liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants arriving to New York's harbor, and become a true symbol of America along the way.
Naturally, the Statue of Liberty is preferred over the Eiffel Tower in its home country; more randomly, it is also popular in Germany and Japan.
Where "Eiffel Tower" is most popular: The French erected its own symbol a few years later when the Eiffel Tower opened in 1887. Since then, it's become beloved not just in its own country, but among people around the world.
Most popular overall: The Eiffel Tower. Today, 7 million people visit the tower every year; half that number visit the Statue of Liberty.
Zoos vs. Aquariums
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Where "Zoo" is most popular: The first zoo was established in Egypt in 1500 BC, when Queen Hatshepsut collected animals from across Africa. The oldest zoo remaining in the world is Tiergarten Schonbrunn in Vienna, Austria, which began in 1752 as a collection of the royal family's exotic animals.
Today, both Egypt and Austria continue to prefer zoos. They're also popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, South Africa and India, among many other nations.
Where "Aquarium" is most popular: It wasn't until 1853 that the first aquarium for the public was opened at the London Zoo. Since then, aquariums have gained popularity around the world, with Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran and Indonesia, among others, preferring them on Google search.
Most popular overall: Zoos. Perhaps because they're so much older, these establishments get most of the global attention.
Grand Canyon vs. Niagara Falls
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Where "Grand Canyon" is most popular: In the Western U.S., the Grand Canyon is 277 miles of rock carved by the Colorado River over the course of millions of years. In the U.S., it's more popular than the other well-known attraction of Niagara Falls. Australia and much of Europe also prefer the Grand Canyon.
Where "Niagara Falls" is most popular: To the East, the natural wonder of Niagara Falls is shared between Canada and the United States. Its Horseshoe Falls stretches 2,700 feet, with water dropping 167 feet. Understandably, it's more beloved in Canada, which lays partial claim to it.
People in India, too, like to search for the falls on Google.
Most popular overall: The Grand Canyon. America's national park and natural wonder generates healthy interest around the world.
Paperback vs. Hardcover
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Where "Paperback" is most popular: Mass-market, inexpensive paperbacks rule throughout Europe and much of South America.
Where "Hardcover" is most popular: Hardcover books, which are more expensive than paperbacks and released in book stores earlier, are also more durable and considered more valuable if a first edition. Countries that like their books in this form include the United States, Australia, Brazil and South Africa.
Most popular overall: Paperback. Affordability for the win!
All-Inclusive Resorts vs. Cruises
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Where "All-Inclusive Resort" is most popular: Mexico, Canada, and much of Europe and South America prefer to search for all-inclusive stays on land.
Where "Cruises" is most popular: The most avid cruisers are found in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States. (The U.S. cruise industry is so robust that it generates more than $23 billion a year in revenue!)
Most popular overall: All-inclusive resorts. Outside a few countries, most travelers are landlubbers rather than seafarers.