The World's Biggest Health Concerns - Mapped

Health is naturally a big priority for people, from dental to diet, and the most prominent in each country can vary based on the current medical climate. From common conditions to emerging health issues, what we search for online can reveal a lot about the concerns people have regarding their well-being.

With millions of searches each year, these queries offer a fascinating glimpse into the most significant health-related anxieties from across the globe. Over 4.2 million people searched ‘Is pneumonia contagious?’ on Google, making it the most frequently asked health question.

While Google is a useful tool for accessing advice from the FDA, CDC and NIH, it’s not a replacement for professional medical attention.

Always seek the advice of a medical professional if you think you have a serious health concern.

Health insurance providers often consider pre-existing medical conditions, making it crucial to know about health risks that could impact your eligibility. From the spread of contagious diseases to questions about diet and fitness, we explore how these concerns reflect global health trends and what they might mean for individuals seeking health advice online.

Discover the most common health-related queries around the world and how they have changed over time.

What is the world’s biggest health concern?

Pneumonia is the world’s biggest health concern

1/ Is pneumonia contagious?

4.2 million searches

The health question searched the most in the last year was ‘Is pneumonia contagious?’, receiving over 4.2 million Google searches globally. While this is down by almost a fifth (18%) since the previous year, searches for this query remain almost twice as high as the second most searched health concern.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is inflammation and fluid in your lungs caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.

It can lead to breathing difficulty and a high temperature. Antibiotics are often needed to treat pneumonia, and while most people recover in two to four weeks, babies, those over 65, and those with cardiovascular disease may need to go to the hospital for treatment.

If you are concerned you may have caught pneumonia, you should always visit a medical professional.

Pneumonia is the leading health concern in almost two-fifths (37.8%) of countries, reflecting widespread fear of respiratory illnesses.

It’s important to think about the quality of healthcare where you are

Which countries have the best healthcare in the world?

2/ How many calories should I eat a day?

2.3 million searches

Many people are curious about their daily caloric intake and whether it falls within the normal range.

Just under 2.3 million searches were made in the last 12 months for the question ‘How many calories should I eat a day?’. This health query has maintained popularity, with a 0% year-on-year change in searches compared to the previous year.

How many calories should you be eating a day?

The answer to this question varies depending on age, gender, physical activity level, and overall health goals.

As a general guideline, the FDA recommends around 2,000 calories per day for adults; however, this is just a starting point, and your ideal caloric intake may differ. Those with more active lifestyles, like athletes or tradespeople, may need more than those with more sedentary lives. Individuals focused on weight loss may require less to achieve a calorie deficit.

You should consult a nutritionist or healthcare provider for personalised advice tailored to your specific needs if you are unsure how many calories you should consume daily.

People are most concerned with daily caloric intake in over a quarter (27%) of countries, including the UK, Iceland, and Estonia.

3/ What is BMI?

2.3 million searches

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is one of the most searched health queries, with just over 1.2 million searches worldwide in the last 12 months. The number of people asking Google ‘What is BMI?’ has remained consistent over the previous two years, with a 0% year-on-year search change.

What does BMI tell you?

The BMI is a simple calculation using height and weight to estimate whether you’re underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. Although BMI has been widely used for many years, it is not a perfect health measure since it doesn’t account for factors like muscle mass or body composition.

Generally, a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy for most adults. However, as with any health metric, you should consider other factors like waist size, cholesterol levels, and overall lifestyle when evaluating your health.

In over a third (35.1%) of countries, including Norway, Latvia, and Sweden, ‘What is BMI?’ is the most common health-related search.

The top 5 biggest health concerns worldwide

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The most searched health concern by country

Our data shows that Americans are most concerned about pneumonia, BMI and HIV, while the UK is most worried about calories and blood pressure.

United States

In the U.S., pneumonia remains a significant health concern. Last year, Americans made 8,456 searches per one million people asking if the infection is contagious.

The nation is home to a large and ageing population, as well as high rates of pre-existing conditions like diabetes and heart disease, putting many Americans at risk of contracting severe complications from pneumonia.

The CDC states there were 1.4 million visits to emergency departments with pneumonia as the primary diagnosis in a single year. The fear of its spread and high mortality rate explains why many U.S. residents ask Google this vital question.

Americans searched for ‘What is BMI?’ 1,461 times per one million people last year, demonstrating a strong interest in understanding this health metric.

Healthcare providers and insurance companies often use BMI to determine overall health risks, which might explain the curiosity. Recently, this metric has been criticised for not accounting for body fat, muscle, or bone density, making it an inaccurate health measure for many.

Americans searched for ‘Can you catch HIV from kissing?’ 352 times per one million people, reflecting common misconceptions about how the virus can be transmitted. While HIV can be spread through bodily fluids like blood, it cannot be transmitted through saliva. This search trend may indicate a need for continued education about HIV transmission to combat popular myths.

Many US citizens struggle to afford medical treatment

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United Kingdom

The question, ‘How many calories should I eat a day?’ received more searches from the UK than any other country. UK residents Googled the dietary query around 7,811 times per one million people in the last 12 months.

The prominence of this concern may stem from rising levels of obesity and an increasing emphasis on healthier lifestyles in recent years. With the government promoting calorie counting and nutritional awareness as part of the NHS “Better Health” initiative, many Brits actively seek to understand their caloric needs.

Another question on Brits’ minds is ‘What is blood pressure?’. This question received 933 searches per one million people. This reflects growing awareness around cardiovascular health, given that high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease.

In recent years, there has been a public health effort encouraging UK residents to monitor their blood pressure. This could mean that people are taking more responsibility to understand and keep on top of their blood pressure.

Australia

In Australia, the question ‘What is the glycaemic index?’ was searched 698 times per one million people. This search query indicates a growing interest in understanding how different foods can affect blood sugar levels as concerns around healthy eating continue to rise.

The glycaemic index (GI) ranks foods based on how quickly they can raise blood sugar levels, and it has become a popular metric for those looking to manage their weight, energy levels, and long-term health.

Many factors contribute to a country’s overall health

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Ireland

In Ireland, the question ‘How do I clean a wound?’ was searched 361 times per one million people. This suggests a desire to know more about proper first aid.

Knowing how to clean a wound is vital for preventing infections, and many Irish residents are looking to treat minor injuries properly at home.

Iceland

In Iceland, the most searched query was ‘Why does sex hurt?’, reflecting concerns about sexual health and discomfort. While sex can be painful for both men and women, discomfort is often more common among women.

‘Can HIV be transmitted through oral sex?’ and ‘What is gynaecomastia’ follow closely behind with 279 searches per one million people. These searches highlight a focus on understanding sexual health issues and bringing awareness to conditions like gynaecomastia, a condition where men develop enlarged breast tissue.

Icelanders seeking advice on intimate health concerns could point to the need for increased open conversation around these issues.

The top 10 most searched health concern by country

Different countries have different types of healthcare systems

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Which health concern searches are increasing?

Searches for body piercing aftercare, information about blood types and questions about the flu are surging.

1/ Can I go swimming after a piercing?

920 searches: 100% year-on-year increase

People are turning to the internet for answers regarding post-piercing care, particularly about the safety of swimming after getting pierced. There is often a surge in piercings such as navel, in line with warmer weather and summer fashions. Therefore, the interest in education around swimming with fresh piercings is to be expected. It also reveals a growing need for clear instructions after cosmetic procedures.

2/ How can I find out my blood type?

46,200 searches: 50% year-on-year increase

More people are seeking out ways to find out their blood type this year, with a 50% increase to 46,200 searches. Knowing your blood type is essential in case of an emergency since receiving blood from a different ABO blood type can be life-threatening. You can easily find out your blood type by donating blood or using an at-home testing kit.

3/ How long is someone infectious with the flu?

360 searches: 50% year-on-year increase

Given the increased awareness of virus contagion after the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that searches for how long someone is infectious with the flu have risen by 50% this year. While most people with the flu are only contagious for around three days, the timescale differs for children and those with weakened immune systems.

Health concern searches that are increasing

Which health concern searches are declining?

Searches for common health questions that are in decline include blood tests and virus questions. The following health queries have seen a 100% decrease in search volume this year.

1/ What infections can I catch through oral sex?

110 searches: 100% year-on-year decrease

Once a popular question to Google, the drop in searches for this query suggests that more individuals are now aware of the risks associated with oral sex.

2/ Can I eat and drink before having a blood test?

90 searches: 100% year-on-year decrease

This common concern has diminished in searches. This decrease could be due to clearer instructions being provided by healthcare professionals about fasting requirements before having a blood test.

3/ How long is someone infectious after a viral infection?

30 searches: 100% year-on-year decrease

With increased awareness about viral infections, particularly post-COVID-19 pandemic, people have a better understanding of when it’s safe to resume normal activities, leading to a decrease in searches for this question.

Health concern searches that are declining

There are varying levels of healthcare provision in different countries

We look at countries with the worst healthcare

Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind

At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates finding best places in the world to move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance. Plus, we produce lots of expert material to help you and your family adapt to life abroad.

Making the move to another country can be challenging. But no matter where you go, you can take one thing off your mind. William Russell offers international health insurance that covers you for everything from minor injuries to long hospital stays, and we can even offer medical evacuations to patients who require treatment in other countries where it’s not available locally.

Looking for international health insurance?

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Methodology

We compiled a list of common health questions covering first aid, children’s health, dental health, food and diet, infections, men’s health, women’s health, sexual health, travel health, and more using NHS Common Health Questions, accessed using the Internet Archive.

We used Google Ads Keyword Planner to source the number of Google searches for each health question between 01 August 2023 and 31 July 2024, globally and in each OECD country, using OECD.

For each country, we normalized the number of Google searches to the most recent available country population sourced using the World Bank.

We also sourced the year-on-year percentage change in Google searches for each query worldwide. We excluded Israel from our study.

When highlighting the search queries with the greatest year-on-year increase, we excluded those with an increase of infinity to ensure an accurate reflection of the health questions that have spiked in interest the most.

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The World’s Biggest Health Concerns – Mapped

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