The domain name industry is constantly evolving. Whether you’re a domain investor, reseller, or a business looking to secure the perfect online identity, domain industry trends offer valuable insights into the state of the digital landscape. Let’s dive into the latest statistics on domain names to understand the numbers and what they mean for the industry.
How many domains are there?
As of December 2024, there are 1,591 different domain extensions on the Internet. These include:
- 1,249 generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com and .net.
- 316 country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), such as .nl and .de.
- 10 test domains, used for testing and development only.
- 1 infrastructure domain (.arpa), used exclusively for technical network infrastructure management.
What are the most popular domains?
As of September 30, 2024, the global total of domain name registrations reached 362.3 million. The largest TLDs by reported domain names are:
- .com: 156.7 million domain names
- .cn: 19.7 million domain names
- .de: 17.7 million domain names
- .net: 12.9 million domain names
- .org: 11.0 million domain names
- .uk: 10.4 million domain names
- .ru: 6.6 million domain names
- .nl: 6.2 million domain names
- .br: 5.4 million domain names
- .au: 4.3 million domain names
.com and .net: industry mainstays are facing declines
The .com and .net TLDs, long-standing cornerstones of the domain world, had a combined total of 169.6 million registrations in Q3 2024. This reflects a quarterly decrease of 0.6% (1.1 million registrations) and a year-over-year decline of 2.5% (4.4 million registrations).
Interestingly, the renewal rate for these domains was just 72.3%, suggesting that while these TLDs remain popular, businesses and individuals are exploring other options, such as newer gTLDs and ccTLDs.
Adding to this challenge, the wholesale price of .com domains has risen steadily in recent years Between 2021 and 2024, the .com price increased by 28%, and further hikes are expected. These rising costs are likely a key driver for businesses to explore more affordable and creative TLD options.
Another reason for this decline could be the saturation of the .com namespace, Many attractive, memorable .com domain names are already taken, and the remaining ones are sold for exorbitant prices on the domain aftermarket. This may be a reason why many business owners are more likely to opt for a more affordable choice these days.
Other legacy gTLDs, such as .org and .info, showed modest growth, ending Q3 2024 with 17.3 million registrations in total. Renewal rates for these TLDs remain strong at 85.2%, a testament to their enduring relevance for organizations worldwide, particularly within the nonprofit sector.
ccTLDs hold their ground
Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) are seeing steady growth, reaching 140.1 million combined registrations in Q3 2024. This represents a modest 0.05% increase from the previous quarter and a 1.4% rise year-over-year.
Dominating the ccTLD space are well-known extensions .de (Germany) and .uk (United Kingdom). These domains often appeal to businesses targeting specific geographic regions, and their popularity remains robust.
While European ccTLDs have historically been popular, Asia-Pacific and Africa are now gaining steam too, with extensions like .cn (China) and .za (South Africa) experiencing a steep increase in registrations in recent years.
.ai, the ccTLD of the island state of Anguilla, has also experienced a surge in popularity due to its association with Artificial Intelligence.
New gTLDs: the rising stars
One of the most dynamic segments of the industry is the new generic TLDs (ngTLDs), which grew by 2.4% from Q2 to Q3 2024, reaching 35.4 million registrations. Even more impressive is the year-over-year growth of 17.4%.
This category includes extensions like .tech, .shop, and .cloud, which offer businesses and individuals more creative options for branding – often at an accessible price.
The renewal rate for these domains, however, lags behind at 35.7%, highlighting the challenges of maintaining interest beyond the initial (often very cheap) year of registration.
What these trends mean to you
The domain name industry is a dynamic space, and the latest statistics offer a clear view of its current trajectory. While legacy gTLDs like .com and .net continue to hold significant market share, their modest declines and lower renewal rates signal an evolving preference for alternative TLDs.
Country-code TLDs remain a steadfast choice for businesses with geographic focus, and emerging markets are fueling growth in regions like Asia-Pacific and Africa. Meanwhile, new gTLDs are carving out a space as innovative branding tools, particularly for businesses seeking creative and memorable online identities.
For resellers and businesses in the domain industry, these trends underscore a valuable opportunity: staying ahead requires a forward-thinking partner who can provide access to an extensive range of TLDs, simple tools, and a clear path to success.
At Openprovider, we make domain management straightforward. With over 1,900 TLDs, transparent pricing, and a reseller platform built for growth, we’re here to help you navigate the changing landscape. Ready to expand your domain business? Partner with Openprovider today and secure your place in the future of the industry. Let’s grow together.
