The Wide Wide Web is flooded with millions of websites, but have you ever wondered how many domains are there? Don’t worry; we will let you know in detail.
The internet has become an integral part of modern life. Almost everything that we do online requires us to use a domain name, whether it’s sending an email, browsing a website, or streaming a video. But how many domains are there? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
In this article, we will explore the world of domains, their types, and how many domains there are.
What is a Domain?
In the context of the internet, a domain is a human-readable name that is used to identify a website or a collection of related websites on the World Wide Web. It is part of a website’s URL that comes after the “https://” or “http://” protocol and before the first forward slash (“/”).
For example, in the URL “https://www.example.com/index.html”, “example.com” is the domain name.
A domain name consists of two or more parts separated by periods (“.“) known as labels. The label on the left side of the domain name is the top-level domain (TLD), while the label on the right side of the domain name is the second-level domain (SLD).
For example, in the domain name “example.com“, “com” is the TLD, and “example” is the SLD.
There are several types of domains, each with a specific purpose. Let’s take a look at them in detail.
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) are one of the categories of top-level domains (TLDs) in the Domain Name System (DNS). They are the most recognizable and widely used domain extensions on the internet and are not tied to any specific country or geographic location.
gTLDs were first introduced in 1985 with the creation of seven gTLDs: .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, .org, and .int. These gTLDs were intended for specific purposes. For example, .com was meant for commercial entities, .edu was intended for educational institutions, and .org was designated for non-profit organizations. Over time, the usage of gTLDs has expanded beyond their original purpose, and they are now used for a wide range of purposes.
Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)
Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) are a category of top-level domains (TLDs) in the Domain Name System (DNS) that are tied to specific countries or geographic locations. They are made up of two letters that represent the country code of the country or territory for which the domain is intended.
For example, .uk is the ccTLD for the United Kingdom, .ca is the ccTLD for Canada, .fr is the ccTLD for France, and so on.
ccTLDs were first introduced in 1985, shortly after the creation of the DNS. They were originally intended to be used by countries and territories to manage their country-specific domain name registrations. Over time, however, ccTLDs have become widely used by individuals, organizations, and businesses around the world, often as a way to establish a local or regional presence online.
Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs)
Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs) are a category of top-level domains (TLDs) in the Domain Name System (DNS) that are created and managed for specific communities or interest groups. Unlike generic top-level domains (gTLDs) or country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), which are open to anyone to register, sTLDs have specific eligibility requirements that must be met to register a domain name within the sTLD.
sTLDs are typically created and managed by a sponsoring organization or group, often a professional association, industry group, or government agency. The sponsoring organization has the responsibility of managing and regulating the use of the sTLD, and ensuring that it is used in a way that is consistent with the interests of the community or group it represents.
Examples of sTLDs include .gov, which is reserved for government agencies in the United States, and .edu, which is reserved for accredited educational institutions in the United States. These sTLDs are managed by the General Services Administration and the Educause organization, respectively.
Infrastructure Top-Level Domains (iTLDs)
Infrastructure Top-Level Domains (iTLDs) is a category of top-level domains (TLDs) in the Domain Name System (DNS) that are used to manage critical Internet infrastructure. Unlike generic top-level domains (gTLDs), country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), or sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs), iTLDs are not intended for general use or registration by individuals or organizations.
iTLDs are managed by organizations that are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Internet’s infrastructure, such as the root servers, domain name system (DNS) servers, and other critical components. The use of iTLDs helps to ensure the stability, security, and reliability of the Internet by providing a secure and stable platform for the management of critical infrastructure.
Examples of iTLDs include .arpa, which is used for the Address and Routing Parameter Area, an infrastructure domain used in Internet Protocol (IP) addressing and domain name resolution. .int is used for international organizations established by treaty, while .root is used for the management of the Internet root zone file.
How Many Domains Are There?
It is difficult to determine exactly how many domains there are. The number of registered domains changes every day as new domains are registered and old domains expire. However, we can get an idea of the number of domains by looking at the statistics provided by various organizations.
As of March 2023, there are over 370 million registered domains worldwide. This includes all gTLDs, ccTLDs, and sTLDs. Of these, the most popular TLD is .com, with over 156 million registered domains. The second most popular is .net, with over 13 million registered domains. Other popular TLDs include .org, .info, and .biz.
It is worth noting that the number of registered domains does not necessarily reflect the number of active websites. Many domain names are registered but not used for a website. Additionally, some websites use subdomains instead of registering a new domain name. For example, blog.example.com is a subdomain of the example.com domain.
The total number of websites on the internet is estimated to be around 1.7 billion. This includes all websites, including those not currently active or publicly accessible. However, it is difficult to determine the exact number of websites on the internet, as this number is constantly changing due to new websites being created and old ones being removed or abandoned.
According to the latest statistics from Netcraft, as of March 2023, there are over 1.9 billion websites on the internet. However, this number is constantly fluctuating and may be influenced by factors such as the availability of hosting services, changes in technology and internet infrastructure, and global events.
It is worth noting that not all websites are created equal, and the vast majority of them receive very little traffic or engagement. Many websites are created for personal or experimental purposes, and may not be designed to attract a large audience.
In contrast, many websites receive a large amount of traffic and generate significant revenue. These may include e-commerce websites, news and media outlets, social media platforms, and other popular online destinations.
Domain Names Registered in the Past Decade:
Here is a table showing the number of registered domain names for each year from 2011 to 2021, based on data from Verisign:
| Year | Number of Registered Domain Names |
| 2011 | 215 million |
| 2012 | 240 million |
| 2013 | 271 million |
| 2014 | 284 million |
| 2015 | 299 million |
| 2016 | 327 million |
| 2017 | 332 million |
| 2018 | 348 million |
| 2019 | 362 million |
| 2020 | 366 million |
| 2021 | 370 million |
Please note that the numbers above are approximate and may vary slightly depending on the source of the data. However, they provide a general idea of the trend in the number of registered domain names over the past decade.
Most Popular Domains Worldwide:
The most popular domain extensions, in terms of the number of registered domain names, vary by region and market segment. However, according to data from Verisign, which manages the registry for several top-level domains including .com and .net, the top 5 most popular domain extensions worldwide as of September 2021 were:
- .com – 151.7 million registered domain names (40.94% market share)
- .tk – 31.1 million registered domain names (8.41% market share)
- .cn – 22.4 million registered domain names (6.06% market share)
- .de – 16.5 million registered domain names (4.47% market share)
- .net – 13.4 million registered domain names (3.63% market share)
It’s worth noting that .tk, the second most popular domain extension, is a ccTLD for the territory of Tokelau, a small island nation in the South Pacific. The domain is managed by the Dutch company Freenom, which offers free domain name registration services.
In addition to the above, other popular domain extensions include .org, .uk, .ru, .nl, and .br, among others. The popularity of a given domain extension can be influenced by factors such as the size and demographics of the target market, the availability of alternative domain extensions, and the marketing and branding efforts of the domain registry.
Top Largest TLDs By Number of Reported Domain Names:
As of September 2021, according to data from Verisign, the top 10 largest TLDs (Top-Level Domains) by the number of reported domain names are:
- .com – 151.7 million domain names (40.94% market share)
- .tk – 31.1 million domain names (8.41% market share)
- .cn – 22.4 million domain names (6.06% market share)
- .de – 16.5 million domain names (4.47% market share)
- .net – 13.4 million domain names (3.63% market share)
- .uk – 11.7 million domain names (3.17% market share)
- .org – 10.3 million domain names (2.79% market share)
- .nl – 6.1 million domain names (1.65% market share)
- .ru – 5.8 million domain names (1.57% market share)
- .br – 4.6 million domain names (1.25% market share)
Please note that these numbers are subject to change over time and may vary depending on the source of the data. Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that the popularity of a TLD can vary depending on factors such as regional and cultural differences, marketing efforts, and the availability of alternative domain extensions.
How Many ccTDLs are There?
As of September 2021, there are 322 ccTLDs (Country Code Top-Level Domains) that have been delegated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). These ccTLDs represent different countries and territories around the world.
According to data from Verisign, the top 10 ccTLDs by the number of reported domain names as of September 2021 are:
- .cn (China) – 22.4 million domain names
- .tk (Tokelau) – 31.1 million domain names
- .de (Germany) – 16.5 million domain names
- .uk (United Kingdom) – 11.7 million domain names
- .ru (Russia) – 5.8 million domain names
- .nl (Netherlands) – 6.1 million domain names
- .br (Brazil) – 4.6 million domain names
- .eu (European Union) – 3.6 million domain names
- .fr (France) – 3.5 million domain names
- .au (Australia) – 3.1 million domain names
Some ccTLDs have restrictions on who can register domain names under them, such as requiring a local presence or specific documentation.
Existing NgTLDs and Their Market Shares:
As of September 2021, there are over 1,500 ngTLDs (New Generic Top-Level Domains) that have been delegated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). These ngTLDs represent a wide range of industries, interests, and communities, and are intended to offer more options for website owners to find a domain name that fits their needs.
According to data from nTLDStats, the top 10 ngTLDs by the number of reported domain names as of September 2021 are:
- .xyz – 3.9 million domain names (17.3% market share)
- .top – 2.5 million domain names (11.1% market share)
- .loan – 1.7 million domain names (7.7% market share)
- .win – 1.5 million domain names (6.7% market share)
- .club – 1.4 million domain names (6.2% market share)
- .site – 1.4 million domain names (6.1% market share)
- .online – 1.3 million domain names (5.9% market share)
- .vip – 1.3 million domain names (5.8% market share)
- .icu – 1.1 million domain names (5% market share)
- .store – 767,000 domain names (3.4% market share)
It’s worth noting that the market share of ngTLDs is much smaller than that of traditional TLDs like .com, .org, and .net. Additionally, some ngTLDs have specific restrictions or requirements for registering domain names, such as requiring proof of affiliation with a particular industry or community.
Dominance of Domains:
Yes, domains continue to be an essential part of the internet infrastructure and the digital economy. Domain names provide a way for individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments to establish their online presence, create a recognizable brand, and communicate with their audience.
Despite the emergence of social media platforms and other online channels, having a dedicated domain name is still considered a vital element of a successful online strategy. A domain name is a unique identifier that can be used across various online channels, including websites, email, social media profiles, and more.
The domain industry has experienced significant growth over the years, with millions of new domain names being registered every year. The popularity of domain names is driven by various factors, including the increasing adoption of the internet, the proliferation of online businesses, the growth of e-commerce, and the expanding digital economy.
As the internet continues to evolve, domains are expected to remain a critical component of the online ecosystem. With the introduction of new TLDs, including ngTLDs, domains are becoming more accessible and more relevant to a broader range of individuals and businesses, providing new opportunities for innovation, branding, and online engagement.
FAQs:
Q: How Many Domain Names are There inTotal?
A: As of September 2021, there are over 360 million registered domain names across all TLDs.
Q: How Many TLDs are There?
A: There are currently over 1,500 TLDs, including gTLDs, ccTLDs, and new gTLDs.
Q: What is The most Popular TLD?
A: The most popular TLD is .com, which has over 150 million registered domain names.
Q: How Many ngTLDs are There?
A: As of September 2021, there are over 1,500 ngTLDs.
Q: What is the Market Share of NgTLDs?
A: The market share of ngTLDs is much smaller than that of traditional TLDs like .com, .org, and .net, with the top ngTLD (.xyz) having a market share of 17.3%.
Q: How Many ccTLDs are there?
A: There are over 300 ccTLDs, with each one representing a specific country or territory.
Q: How Many New Domain Names are Registered Each year?
A: The number of new domain name registrations varies each year, but on average, around 15 million new domain names are registered each month.
Q: Can Anyone Register a Domain Name?
A: In most cases, anyone can register a domain name, provided it has not already been registered by someone else. However, some ngTLDs have specific requirements or restrictions for registration, such as being affiliated with a particular industry or community.
Q: What is the Process For Registering a Domain Name?
A: The process for registering a domain name involves choosing a domain name, checking its availability, selecting a registrar, and paying the registration fee. The registrar will then submit the registration request to the appropriate registry for approval.
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Register a Domain Name?
A: The cost of registering a domain name varies depending on the TLD and the registrar. On average, domain registration fees range from $10 to $50 per year.
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, the number of domains has grown significantly over the years, with over 360 million registered domain names across all TLDs as of September 2021. The popularity of domains is driven by various factors, including the increasing adoption of the internet, the proliferation of online businesses, and the growth of e-commerce. While traditional TLDs like .com, .org, and .net remain the most popular, the introduction of new gTLDs and ngTLDs has provided new opportunities for innovation, branding, and online engagement. Overall, domains are an essential part of the internet infrastructure and are expected to continue playing a critical role in the digital economy.
