Fresh Similarweb data reveals sharp contrasts in Google search behavior across six countries. EU rules and cultural habits may be shaping click rates. See which nations lead in Zero-Click searches.
New research from Similarweb highlights how Google Zero-Click Search rates vary dramatically across six major countries, with the United Kingdom and United States leading in searches that end without a single click. The analysis, based on desktop and mobile web panel data from January to April 2026, compares user behavior in the UK, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, and the US.
The United Kingdom tops the list with a 69.5% Zero-Click Search rate, meaning nearly seven out of ten searches result in no external site visit. The United States follows closely at 68.0%. In contrast, Germany records the lowest Zero-Click rate at 62.1%, with 37.9% of searches resulting in at least one click—over 20% higher than the UK. This difference may reflect the impact of EU regulations targeting Google’s self-preferencing, but cultural and user experience factors could also play a role.
France stands out for its high rate of search sessions ending immediately after a query, suggesting French users are especially efficient or satisfied with on-page answers. Italy and Canada sit near the median, with Zero-Click rates of 63.4% and 63.8% respectively. Canadian click-through rates are statistically closer to European countries than to the US, indicating that language or cultural similarities alone do not explain the differences.
Across all countries, the percentage of clicks leading to Alphabet-owned sites ranges from 7.3% in the UK to 9.4% in Canada. The share of clicks to organic and paid results combined remains high, with France at 78.1% and the US at 72.3%. Notably, no country now sends more than 300 clicks to the open web per 1,000 searches, underscoring the rise of Zero-Click behavior.
The study also notes that the proportion of users who perform another search after their initial query varies, with the US at 29.0% and Germany at 22.5%. The rate of search sessions ending immediately is relatively stable, ranging from 38.2% in Canada to 43.1% in the UK.
Methodological notes clarify that the data excludes Google’s mobile search app, where Zero-Click features are even more prevalent. The figures may slightly undercount total clicks, as some users click multiple results per search. Only searches performed in the default Google interface are included; actions within YouTube, Maps, or Images are counted as clicks within Alphabet’s ecosystem.
These findings come as regulatory scrutiny of Google’s search practices intensifies in Europe. For example, a recent German court ruling held Google liable for misinformation in its AI Overviews, signaling growing legal pressure on the company’s search operations.
All data and images from this report may be cited with credit to Similarweb.com. The analysis was prepared with editorial support from SparkToro and Similarweb staff, and no AI tools were used in the original research or writing.
Founded in 1998, Google remains the world’s dominant search engine, processing over 8.5 billion searches per day as of 2026. The company, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., faces ongoing regulatory challenges in the EU and other regions, with search and advertising accounting for the majority of its $300 billion in annual revenue. Google employs more than 180,000 people worldwide and continues to expand its suite of search-related products and features.
