Where Can I Find a PS5? – Global PS5 Demand Tracker

When Sony’s PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020, it sold out almost immediately. Lauded by critics and players alike for its revolutionary design, impressive resolution and innovative controller, the PS5 remains difficult to find.

Last July, Sony announced that the PS5 was the fastest-selling PlayStation console ever. It passed ten million global sales in 248 days. As the festive season looms, gamers across the globe seem to be searching harder than ever for the next-gen console.

Last month, the term “PS5” was Googled an estimated 28 million times, often accompanied by keywords such as “where to buy”, “availability” and “restock”. Since releasing the console, Sony has faced a multitude of technical challenges.

From dwindling global chip supplies causing PS5 parts shortages, shipping disruptions and natural disasters, it’s little wonder that demand for PS5 far exceeds supply. Experts predict, in fact, that console shortages will continue throughout the new year.

To learn more about PlayStation 5 demand around the world, we conducted a keyword study. Our study compares keyword search volume from 157 different countries. We also carried out an in-depth analysis of keyword search volume across the UK.

The countries with the highest PS5 demand

To find out where the PS5 is most in demand, we analysed data from 157 countries. UK residents searched for “PS5” the most, with 486 searches being made per 10, 000 people. By August 2020, one million consoles had been sold in the UK, with the PS5 replacing the PS4 as the nation’s most popular console.

There was also significant keyword search volume from France, the United States, Germany and Switzerland. Ireland and Sweden narrowly missed out on the top five spots, scoring 243/10 000 and 227.7/10 000 respectively.

In some countries, retailers have started to take action against scalpers (buyers who purchase consoles to sell them at a higher price), by destroying controller packaging and writing the buyer’s name on the PlayStation box.

The Top 20 Countries

Country

Impressions

Rate Per 10 000 People

3300000

486.1089864

France

2300000

352.3634572

8600000

259.8166502

Germany

2100000

250.644688

Switzerland

212000

244.9558167

Ireland

120000

243.0238978

Sweden

230000

227.7393454

Australia

528000

207.0597654

Netherlands

331000

193.1733135

Denmark

111000

191.6369629

Norway

100000

184.4596099

Canada

679000

179.9049413

Austria

161000

178.7618091

Belgium

206000

177.7452122

Italy

1000000

165.3936155

New Zealand

71000

147.234694

Finland

78000

140.775928

Poland

520000

137.3967143

Portugal

136000

133.3763668

Hong Kong

98000

130.7192855

UK regional PS5 demand

We also analysed keyword search volume data from 69 British cities. We learned that residents of Newry, Northern Ireland searched for the term “PS5” the most, with 24.6 searches being made per 1000 people. Truro and Ely featured in the top three, scoring 243/10 000 and 227.7/10 000 respectively The PS5 appears to be the least in demand in Cheshire, with only 0.7 searches being made per 1000 people.

The Top 20 Cities

City

Impressions

Rate per 1000 searches

Newry

664.17

24.62899099

Truro

265.69

14.1580518

Ely

233.69

11.61943119

Stirling

409.93

10.89949482

Newcastle upon Tyne

2,763.29

10.30832189

Chichester

238.22

10.03834647

Glasgow

6,290.11

9.935099191

Liverpool

4,875.61

9.814345873

Bristol

4,558.83

9.759879597

Norwich

1,377.44

9.62336256

Peterborough

1,924.31

9.514088372

Salisbury

424.5

9.433333333

Manchester

5,090.90

9.202140159

Birmingham

10,411.49

9.061348999

Lincoln

877.3

8.994166556

Preston

1,214.94

8.566895599

Lichfield

276.78

8.184882896

Derby

2,073.08

8.012027239

Leicester

2,862.59

8.009619635

Edinburgh

4,091.31

7.79401063

Methodology

Global keyword search volume

We used “keyword planner” and Ahrefs to determine where demand for the PS5 was highest. We searched for the term “PS5” and noted the number of impressions for each country. We then divided the number of impressions by population and multiplied by 100 to determine the total percentage of population. To determine the search rate per 10 000 people, we divided the total population by 10, 000, and the number of impressions by the result.

Example (UK)

Country

Impressions

Population

Sum 1

Total percentage of population

Sum 2

Rate per 10, 000 searches

3300000

67,886,011

0.04861089864

4.861089864

6788.6011

486.1089864

Regional keyword search volume

We used “keyword planner” to determine which UK cities had the highest demand for the PS5. We searched for the term “PS5” and noted the number of impressions for each city (69 in total). We then divided the number of impressions by population, and multiplied by 100 to determine the total percentage of population. To determine the search rate per 10 000 people, we divided the total population by 10, 000, and the number of impressions by the result.

Example (Newry)

City

Impressions

Population

Sum 1

Total percentage of population

Sum 2

Rate per 10, 000 searches

Newry

664.17

26,967

0.02462899099

2.462899099