Domain names have cemented their status as the world’s most valuable virtual assets, far surpassing the speculative allure of cryptocurrencies. Domain Names have a global track record of over 39 years, their value is not just theoretical—it’s documented, proven, and continues to grow in significance as the backbone of the internet.
In this article, we’ll break down some compelling statistics that shed light on the role domain names play in shaping the World Wide Web. We’ll also tackle key questions, including:
- How many domain names are registered globally?
- What are the most popular domain extensions?
- How many .COM domains exist today?
- What about .ORG domains?
- Why are .COM and .ORG domains considered so valuable and trusted?
Let’s dive in.
How Many Domains Are There?
Currently, there are over 700 million registered domain names worldwide.
Of these, 43% fall under generic top-level domains (gTLDs), making them the largest segment of registered domains.
Among these, 37% are .COM domains, reaffirming its dominance as the most widely used and recognized domain extension globally.
Domain Registrations Over Time
The growth trajectory of domain registrations offers insights into how digital real estate is evolving in tandem with the global internet economy.
The number of registered domain names has seen consistent year-over-year growth, with a notable surge between 2020 and 2024.
As the data indicates, the upward trajectory, which began in the early 2000s, spiked sharply in 2021. This increase coincided with the global shift toward remote work, which led to a boom in website creation as businesses and entrepreneurs rushed to capitalize on a growing digital audience.
What is a TLD?
A TLD, or top-level domain, refers to the final segment of a domain name—the portion that follows the last dot. For example, in https://www.gdfn.com, the .com is the TLD.
TLDs can be broken down into three distinct categories:
- Generic TLDs (gTLDs) – The most common, including popular extensions like .com, .org, and .net.
- Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) – Extensions specific to a country or geographic area, such as .uk, .de, or .jp.
- New gTLDs – Recently introduced options such as .xyz, .online, and .tech.
Below is a table that breaks down the number of registered domains by TLD.
TLD type Registered domains Number of different extensions and Breakdown of registered domains by TLD.
As you can see, more registered domains use Generic TLDs than any other type of top-level domain (233.5 million), making this the most common domain name TLD. Only 8 gTLDs are widely considered to be the ‘core’ domain extensions: .com, .net, .org, .gov, .int, .edu, .arpa, and .mil.
.COM is the most popular Generic top-level domain (gTLD) with over 233,000,000 registered domains. .ORG is second most popular Generic top-level domain (gTLD) with 16,200,00 registered domains.
Country TLDs (or ccTLD) are the second-most common TLD type with 250,200,000 registrations. These top-level domains refer to countries, states, and territories and ccTLDs consist of two letters representing the country code (e.g. .us, .tk, etc.).
There are 340 country TLDs. .tk is most common with 26.9m registered domains.
New gTLDs are new extensions that ICANN released as the internet grew and demand for domain names increased. There are 1,254 new TLDs which cover fields like technology, science, etc.
These are the least most common type with only 107.9m registrations. .XYZ is most common new TLD with 11,000,000 domain names.
How many .com domains are there?
There are over 233.6 million .com domain names, which is 37.16% of all registered domains. This makes it by far the most common domain name extension.
Top 10 most common domain name extensions
TLD extension Number of registered domains % share and most common domain name extensions.
Registered domains by country:
There are over 144,000,000 registered domains in the USA which makes the USA the country with the most domain name registrations. Both Iceland and China come in second place with around 20,000,000 registered domains for each country.
What is the most popular domain name registrar?
GoDaddy is the #1 Domain Registrar and Namecheap is in 2nd place.
Top 10 domain name registrars
The Domain registrar market share consists of over 2,400 domain name registrars accredited with ICANN. These companies are spread worldwide and provide domain registration services and support.
The best domain name extension is the .COM extension by most metrics. The .COM Domain is the most valuable, memorable, and trusted domain extension on the entire internet. The .ORG is the #2 domain name extension based on domain name value, trust, and memorability.
Taking all of this information into consideration, let’s examine the what makes the .COM and the .ORG domain extensions the most powerful and sought after domain names on the entire internet.
The ranking of the world’s top website domain names is determined by user and visitor traffic data from the top 1,000,000 websites out of a total universe of more than 700,000,000 Domain Names registered globally.
The list of Top Websites in the World is based on the Traffic data for the Top 1,000,000 sites globally.
In the top 1 million sites there are 482,668 sites ending with .COM Domain.
87,710 of the World’s Top Million websites use the .ORG domain extension. The .ORG domain is the world’s second most valuable domain extension following .COM.
If you’re aiming to amplify the business economics of owning a domain, especially in competitive billion-dollar industries, securing a .COM domain is essential. Its established reputation and universal recognition make it the dominant choice for businesses across sectors. For startups and enterprises looking to scale, a .COM domain provides a built-in layer of trust and authority that’s critical for long-term growth and market positioning.
However, if your ideal .COM isn’t available, .ORG is a strong alternative. Over 85,000 of the top 1 million websites are powered by the .ORG extension. It is the clear #2 domain extension and, in some scenarios, even stronger than the .COM. To illustrate its strength, here are 10 of the top .ORG domains:
- Wikipedia.org
- Archive.org
- Mozilla.org
- WordPress.org
- UN.org
- Craigslist.org
- TED.org
- BBB.org
- Ghost.org
- Telegram.org
While newer extensions like .XYZ and .AI are gaining traction in emerging tech sectors, the reality is that .COM and .ORG still lead by a significant margin in terms of business adoption, user traffic, and brand trust. Their proven value, both in consumer perception and performance metrics, remains unparalleled, making top domains critical success factors for businesses aiming to thrive in competitive landscapes.
With a staggering 700 million+ registered domains spanning New gTLDs, Generic TLDs, and Country TLDs, there are many options for domain name buyers and users. The top domain extensions serve as unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of virtual real estate. The first internet domain names began in 1995, marking 39 years of technological evolution and cultivating a vast ecosystem of global domain technology providers.
Numerous marketplaces facilitate the trading of domain names, enabling transactions through both online and in-person auctions. Much like physical real estate, the domain name industry is supported by thousands of professionals and specialized software tools. These services encompass a diverse array of critical areas, including:
- Domain Name Registrars: Platforms to register new domains and manage existing domains.
- Valuation Analysts: Professionals who assess the market value of domain names, ensuring fair pricing in transactions.
- Domain Marketplace Platforms: Online hubs that streamline the buying and selling process for domain names, providing visibility to sellers and options for buyers.
- Brand Protection Services: Solutions designed to safeguard intellectual property by monitoring domain registrations and preventing cybersquatting.
- Domain Portfolio Management: Comprehensive services for managing a collection of domain names, optimizing their use for branding and SEO.
- Startup Domains: Every year startups spend millions of dollars in cash and sometimes equity to acquire the best possible domain name.
- SEO & Traffic Monetization Experts: SEO experts can increase every metric related to domain name valuation.
- Domain Name Upgrades: Strategic domain name acquisition for marketing re-branding campaigns.
- Multiple Domain Strategies: Branding, copyrights, trademarks, Intellectual property and company asset value are all tied to corporate domain name portfolios.
Among these domains, .COM and .ORG stand out as powerful virtual assets that can significantly enhance the total asset value of a business or brand. These extensions have become synonymous with credibility and trustworthiness, acting as vital components of a company’s identity. For billion-dollar and even trillion-dollar market cap companies, owning an elite tier 1 domain is not just advantageous; it is often essential. These domains are literally one of a kind, and their scarcity means they can be considered priceless.
The world’s largest companies by market cap understand the strategic importance of having a strong online presence. A premium domain name can drive brand recognition, improve search engine rankings, and ultimately enhance customer trust. In a competitive landscape, the right domain can be a differentiator that propels a brand’s value and market position, showcasing how virtual assets like domains are not just digital addresses but integral components of a company’s overall asset portfolio.
The ideal length for a domain name is typically the shortest option available. Shorter URLs are associated with higher click-through rates (CTR), making them more effective for attracting visitors.
The most valuable domain names are not only concise but also brandable. Short, memorable names that resonate with users can significantly enhance a brand’s visibility. Additionally, exact match single-word English dictionary domains hold immense value due to their direct relevance and easy recall. These types of domains serve as powerful digital assets that can elevate a brand’s online presence and marketability.