Google Sites Accounts for 90% of Searches Conducted in Latin America

comScore, Inc. SCOR today released the latest results from a study of the search market in Latin America based on data from the comScore qSearch service. The study found that in the past year searches in Latin America surged 21 percent to more than 18.5 billion queries in March 2011, with the typical searcher conducting 167 queries during the month. Google GOOG Sites held a strong lead as the top search destination, accounting for 90 percent of all searches conducted in the region. In March 2011, Latin Americans conducted a total of 18.5 billion searches, an increase of 21 percent from the previous year. This gain was driven primarily by a 14-percent increase in the number of unique searchers, as well as a 6-percent gain in the number of searches per searcher. Each of the six countries included in this study experienced growth in search query volume. Brazil, which accounted for the largest volume of search queries at nearly 6 billion, also had the strongest growth rate of 34 percent. Mexico ranked as the second largest search market with nearly 3.2 billion queries conducted in March 2011 (up 23 percent), followed by Colombia with almost 2.9 billion searches (up 28 percent). Analysis of the top search destinations in Latin America revealed that Google Sites captured the majority of the search market in Latin America with 90.5 percent market share. More than 16.7 billion searches were conducted on the property in March 2011, with the average searcher performing 153 queries during the month on Google Sites. Across each of the six markets studied, Colombia accounted for the highest share of searches at Google Sites at 92.2 percent, with Argentina accounting for the lowest share at 89.4 percent. Facebook.com ranked as the #2 search destination in Latin America with 525 million searches (2.8 percent share) followed by Microsoft MSFT Sites with 513 million searches (2.8 percent share).