Domain names are a critical part of the internet infrastructure, allowing websites and other online properties to be easily identified and accessed. But just how many domain names exist? While getting an exact number is challenging due to the constant registration of new domains, estimates provide insight into the massive scale of the domain name system.
Current Estimates
As of 2021, it was estimated that there are approximately 367 million registered domain names. Although estimates vary slightly, most reputable sources agree that the number exceeds 365 million and continues to grow steadily. For context, in 2015, there were around 294 million registered domains, indicating substantial growth over a relatively short period.
Popular Top-Level Domains (TLDs)
There are over 1,500 registered top-level domains (TLDs), but a small number dominate in terms of popularity. Here are some of the most notable:
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.com: The ubiquitous .com TLD accounts for over half of all registered domains, with over 157 million .com domains registered as of 2021.
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.net and .org: These legacy TLDs date back to the early days of the internet. There are over 13 million .net domains and over 10 million .org domains, although they are gradually losing market share.
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Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): ccTLDs correspond to different countries and territories. Popular options include:
- .co (Colombia)
- .ai (Antigua)
- .in (India)
- .uk (United Kingdom)
There are 308 possible ccTLDs in total.
Emerging Trends
Some newer TLDs, such as .io and .ai, are gaining popularity among technology startups and forward-looking brands. However, the .com TLD continues to dominate, holding over 50% of the global market share. This dominance is largely due to its 15+ year head start over more recently introduced TLDs.
Conclusion
In summary, experts estimate that there are over 365 million registered domains globally and counting. The .com TLD accounts for a significant majority of these registrations, while legacy TLDs like .net and .org still maintain millions of domains. Country code TLDs are also widely used, providing localized identity to many sites and brands. As the internet continues to expand its reach to more people and devices, we can expect the pool of domain names to grow rapidly.