Google’s Indexing Rates Are Rising, But So is Deindexing

SEO experts and website owners have long chased the elusive goal of getting their web pages indexed by Google. But new research reveals that while indexing rates are improving, they remain far from perfect. 

If your content isn’t indexed within six months, chances are, it never will be.

A study of over 16 million web pages using the IndexCheckr tool suggests that Google is getting better at indexing but still leaves a significant portion of pages untouched. 

Even more concerning? A staggering 21% of indexed pages eventually disappear from Google’s search results, raising questions about quality, relevance, and Google’s indexing policies.

The Mystery of Google’s Indexing Trends

Google’s search indexing process is notoriously complex. It involves crawling billions of pages, filtering out duplicate and low-quality content, and storing the rest in a massive search index.

In the past, the search giant faced challenges with indexing delays, but there seem to be improvements now.

The research shows that Google has steadily increased its indexing rate from 2022 to 2025. However, the numbers still tell a challenging story:

• 61.94% of pages in the dataset were never indexed
• 93.2% of successfully indexed pages got indexed within six months
• 13.7% of indexed pages were deindexed within just three months
• 21.29% of all indexed pages were eventually removed from Google’s index

So, while Google seems to be catching up with its indexing backlog, many pages never make it to the finish line.

Why Pages Disappear?

Perhaps even more puzzling than the indexing delays is the high rate of deindexing. 

The research found that a significant percentage of pages initially indexed by Google eventually get removed. 

But why?

Google has strict quality guidelines, and deindexing is often a sign that a page isn’t meeting those standards. Some common reasons for deindexing include:

• Thin or low-value content: Pages stuffed with keywords but lacking real substance
• Duplicate content: Too many similar pages competing for the same topic
• Spammy practices: Overuse of AI-generated content or aggressive link-building
• Manual deindexing requests: Webmasters removing content using meta robots tags or Google Search Console

The research highlights how crucial it is to keep a close eye on things from the start. 

Did you know that nearly 2% of pages get deindexed in just a week and about 8% within a month? If you notice your page being deindexed quickly, it could be a good idea to consider doing a content audit!

Can Indexing Tools Help?

With so many pages struggling to get indexed, website owners often turn to indexing tools. That said, the study suggests that these tools don’t always deliver the desired results

• Only 29.37% of URLs submitted through indexing services were successfully indexed.
• That means a whopping 70.63% of submitted pages remained unindexed.

This means while indexing services can help in some cases, they aren’t a guaranteed solution. Google’s algorithms still prioritize organic quality over manual submission methods.

What This Means for SEO and Website Owners

While Google’s indexing system is improving, the competition for visibility is fiercer than ever. Websites that fail to meet quality standards or rely on outdated SEO tactics risk being ignored—or worse, removed.

Well, for businesses and content creators, this means:

• Quality over quantity: Focus on creating valuable, user-centric content rather than churning out mass-produced pages.
• Regular audits: Monitor your indexed pages and address deindexing issues early.
• Technical optimization: Ensure fast load speeds, mobile-friendliness, and structured data to improve indexing chances.
• Avoid black-hat tactics: Google’s AI is getting smarter, and spammy tricks no longer work.

What’s Next for Google’s Indexing?

With the exciting advancements in AI and the continually evolving search landscape, we can expect Google’s indexing process to keep evolving, too! 

The steady improvement in indexing rates suggests that Google is refining its ability to process and store new content. 

However, as competition increases, simply being indexed won’t be enough—ranking will depend on content quality and relevance.

For the time being, remember this golden rule: If you want to stay in Google’s good graces, make sure to focus on creating high-quality, user-friendly content that everyone will appreciate.

Key Takeaways

• Google’s indexing rates have improved since 2022, but many pages still don’t get indexed.
• Most indexed pages are indexed within six months—if it’s not indexed by then, it likely won’t be.
• Over 21% of indexed pages are eventually deindexed, often due to quality issues.
• Indexing services have a low success rate (29.37%), making manual optimization more critical.
• Website owners should focus on content quality and SEO best practices to improve indexing chances.

Dileep Thekkethil

Author

Dileep Thekkethil is the Director of Marketing at Stan Ventures, where he applies over 15 years of SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive growth and authority. A former journalist with six years of experience, he combines strategic storytelling with technical know-how to help brands navigate the shift toward AI-driven search and generative engines. Dileep is a strong advocate for Google’s EEAT standards, regularly sharing real-world use cases and scenarios to demystify complex marketing trends. He is an avid gardener of tropical fruits, a motor enthusiast, and a dedicated caretaker of his pair of cockatiels.