Updated on November 21, 12:24 p.m. (GMT+8): Added a brief history of Pokemon.

After releasing nine generations with over 900 collectible monsters, Pokemon has become one of the biggest video game franchises of all time.

The first pocket monsters came out in 1996 on Nintendo’s Game Boy console. About 26 years later, Gen I Pokemon remain relevant and popular among kids and even K-pop idols.

Toy publication The ToyZone conducted a study using Google search volume data to find out the most popular pocket monsters around the world.

Unsurprisingly, the Electric-type Pokemon Pikachu remains the most popular Pokemon globally, however certain regions have yielded interesting results other than the iconic mouse-like Pokemon.

The 10 most popular Pokemon in Southeast Asia

Around Southeast Asia (SEA), Mew is popular, especially among Indonesians. For neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia, Charizard and Gyarados are the most popular Pokemon respectively.

Surprisingly enough, the Psychic-type Abra is the most-searched Pokemon in the Philippines. Abra the local rapper, Abra the Philippine province, or Abra the Pokemon — you choose.

Here are the most popular Pokemon in Southeast Asia arranged by country:

  • Brunei – Eevee
  • Cambodia – Dragonair
  • Indonesia – Mew
  • Laos – Pikachu
  • Malaysia – Gyarados
  • Myanmar – Golem
  • Philippines – Abra
  • Singapore – Charizard
  • Thailand – Kangaskhan
  • Vietnam – Pikachu

Over in the West, Charmander and its evolution Charizard have dominated the American region in countries Brazil, Chile, Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, and El Salvador. Surprisingly, Gengar is the most popular Pokemon in the United States.

Charizard’s popularity is also evident in Europe over nine countries, the most of any on the continent.

Curious to see the trendiest Pokemon in other countries? Here are the full results from The Toyzone:

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