How Often Does Google Update Its Algorithm

SEO’s have always been interested in how many Google updates are rolling out each year. In 2019, Dr. Pete compiled this blog post that showed us how many updates had happened since 2009. We are going to add to that and give you the last several years in addition to Dr. Pete’s work.

• 2022 – 4,725 “improvements”
• 2021 – 4,366 “improvements”
• 2020 – 4,887 “improvements”
• 2019 – 3,620 “improvements”
• 2018 – 3,234 “improvements”
• 2017 – 2,453 “changes”
• 2016 – 1,653 “improvements”
• 2013 – 890 “improvements”
• 2012 – 665 “launches”
• 2011 – 538 “launches”
• 2010 – 516 “changes”
• 2009 – 350–400 “changes”

Because of all the recent big updates over the last few months, SEO discussions have ensued about whether or not Google has been increasing the number of updates. The data clearly shows they have been increasing over the past 13 years, but have flatlined in the last 3. My guess is that 2023 will be similar. I’ll update this post when the numbers are in.

Here are some of those discussions.

View tweet on Twitter

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View tweet on Twitter

Google runs hundreds of thousands of tests each year that finally dwindle down to the few thousand updates that get launched. In order to explain this process I wrote this post. Check it out to learn more about how Google Engineers decide to make changes to the Algorithm.