Pornhub reveals most searched categories this year and the results are truly shocking

Every year, Pornhub release its rundown of the most commonly-searched words and phrases - and even more bizarrely, it usually falls just ahead of the festive season.

I know, not exactly your average Christmas list, but tis' the season, I suppose.

Anyway, the 2024 edition has officially landed, and let's just say - it's not for the fainthearted.

The results are in (Alexander Spatari/Getty)

The results are part of an annual gift that those in charge of the adult content site - which also happens to be the largest of its kind - bestow upon the world.

Whilst this initiative might have begun as a means of stirring up the internet - and that, it definitely does - it has since been used as a means of delving into yearly sex and culture trends, and understanding the psychology behind pornographic gratification.

However, there are several unexpected patterns in this year's searches, many of which seem to correlate with pop culture phenomena and shifts in female-friendly societal attitudes - let's kick off with the latter.

Trends that defined 2024

This year, Pornhub users were reportedly most eager of all to see gentler, more intimate-looking sex, with the search term 'mindful please' rising by 122 per cent, and 'ethical porn' shooting up by an equally relieving 92 per cent.

Not only is this world's away from the aggression fantasies that hit headlines some years earlier, but it suggests a growing interest in more realistic sexual encounters.

Supporting this assertion, 'authentic sex' searches also sky-rocketed by 43 per cent, whilst 'respectful sex' role by 61 per cent.

However, it seems that being more respectful hasn't been able to take down animated porn, as anime-based searches continue to be amongst those most commonly-searched.

'Hentai' remains in the No. 1 spot - a term which, in Japanese, literally translates to 'pervert' - with related searches like 'animation' up by 28 per cent, and '3D' going up by 19.

These were the trends that defined Pornhub this year (Pornhub)

Top categories of 2024

As well as trends, 'hentai' also took the crown for the 'Most Searched for Terms', swiftly followed by 'MILF', becoming the second most-viewed category worldwide and knocking 'lesbian' off the top spot.

Meanwhile, 'Pinay' took third place this year.

Coming in fifth is 'anal', while 'Japanese' takes eighth place, with 'real amateurs' and 'public' also rising up in the ranks.

The top search amongst the female audience was 'muscular men', whilst 'cosplay' and 'behind the scenes' indicates that viewers were hoping to branch out in there in terms of fantasies.

This is what users were searching this year (Pornhub)

Top countries by traffic

I bet you are wondering - who is watching all this porn? Well, we've got the answer for you.

In 2024, the US was able to retain its position was Pornhub's greatest audience, with France serving as runner-up, the Phillippines landing in third, and Mexico coming in fourth.

In fifth is the UK, with the most common searches amongst Brits being 'MILK' and 'lesbian'.

The US maintained the top score in 2024 (Pornhub)

In Germany and Italy - both of which boast huge numbers of viewers - they prefer something close to home, with 'German' and 'Italian' being amongst their top searches.

Same goes for Japan, who primarily stuck with 'Japanese', as well as 'Uncensored content', while the Phillippines' top searches were 'Pinoy' and 'Pinay'.

Sometimes it's easiest to stick with what you know, I guess.