According to the results of March 2025, Google’s share of the global search market fell below 90%, notes the German web platform Tuta.com. The last time a similar situation occurred was ten years ago, and now the effect may prove to be long-term.
In March 2025, Google’s share of global search traffic was 89.71%, based on Statcounter data. The decline began in October 2024. The last time the Internet giant showed such a drop was back in 2015. The decrease is especially notable in the PC segment: in May 2023, Google’s desktop share peaked at 87.65%, but by March 2025 it dropped to 79.10%, setting an anti-record. In Europe, the picture is even more striking—Google had 87.08% of the market in May 2023, and by March 2025 that number had fallen to 77.78%.
Privacy Concerns and Regulatory Pressure
Given the size of Google’s global audience, every percentage point lost equates to more than 50 million users. In effect, tens of millions of people have stopped using Google for search. Observers suggest that growing privacy concerns among users are contributing to the shift. The German search engine Ecosia, for instance, reported a 250% growth in its audience since the end of 2024.
At the same time, legal pressure on Google is intensifying. In 2024, a U.S. federal court officially recognized Google as a monopoly in the search engine market. The court found the company’s deals with partners—such as Apple and Mozilla—to make Google the default search engine were illegal.
What’s Next for the Search Market
European regulators are also taking action, notes NIXSOLUTIONS. Apple and Meta have been fined €500 million and €200 million, respectively, for failing to comply with the Digital Markets Act. There is speculation that Google and social network X may be the next targets for similar penalties.
The search engine landscape appears to be entering a period of transformation. Whether the trend will continue or stabilize remains to be seen—but we’ll keep you updated as more data and reactions emerge from global markets and regulatory bodies.