The digital landscape continues to expand at a staggering rate, as evidenced by the over 362 million domain names under global management at the end of 2023, with the industry's value expected to swell from USD 4.2 billion to USD 5.8 billion by the decade's end.
Key Takeaways
- In Q4 2023, the global domain name industry registered a total of 362.3 million domain names under management, reflecting a 0.8% year-over-year increase.
- The domain registration market was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 5.8 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.2%.
- North America held 42% of the global domain names market share in 2023, driven by high internet penetration.
- In 2023, 5.2 million new generic domain names were registered worldwide.
- .com and .net registrations totaled 157.9 million at end of Q4 2023.
- Country code TLDs (ccTLDs) saw 2.1 million new registrations in 2023.
- In 2023, .com TLD held 52.3% of all gTLD registrations at 153.4 million.
- .org ranked second among gTLDs with 10.7 million registrations in Q4 2023.
- Among ccTLDs, .tk (Tokelau) had 25.8 million registrations in 2023.
- GoDaddy registered 84 million domains, holding 20% market share in 2023.
- Domain registrar revenue globally reached USD 3.9 billion in 2023.
- Namecheap's domain revenue grew 15% YoY to USD 450 million in 2023.
- In 2024, 42% of new websites launched use new gTLDs, up from 35% in 2023.
- AI-generated domain registrations increased 150% in 2023.
- Short domains (3-4 letters) appreciated 20% in value in 2023.
The global domain industry sees steady growth despite regional differences and evolving trends.
Domain Registrations
- In 2023, 5.2 million new generic domain names were registered worldwide.
- .com and .net registrations totaled 157.9 million at end of Q4 2023.
- Country code TLDs (ccTLDs) saw 2.1 million new registrations in 2023.
- Total new gTLD registrations reached 35.7 million by Q1 2024.
- .de led ccTLDs with 17.5 million registrations in 2023.
- U.S. saw 1.8 million new .com registrations in 2023.
- Global domain renewals rate averaged 72.5% in Q3 2023.
- 28.4 million domains were registered in Asia-Pacific in 2023.
- .uk registrations grew to 10.9 million in 2023, up 0.5%.
- New registrations for .io TLD hit 850,000 in 2023.
- Total ccTLD registrations stood at 143.4 million in Q4 2023.
- Europe registered 2.3 million new domains quarterly in 2023 average.
- .cn registrations exceeded 20 million in 2023.
- Deletion rate for domains was 4.8% globally in 2023.
- 1.2 million .org domains newly registered in 2023.
- Brazil's .br registrations reached 5.6 million in 2023.
- Quarterly new registrations averaged 7.5 million in 2023.
- .xyz saw 4.2 million registrations cumulatively by 2023.
- Renewals for .com were 86% in Q1 2024.
- India registered 2.1 million new .in domains in 2023.
- Global drop-catching registrations: 1.5 million expired domains reclaimed in 2023.
- .app TLD registrations: 1.8 million since launch by 2023.
- Australia’s .au hit 3.7 million registrations in 2023.
- Net growth in registrations: 4.3 million for gTLDs in 2023.
- .shop domain registrations surpassed 3 million in 2023.
- France’s .fr: 3.9 million registrations end of 2023.
- Premium domain registrations grew 12% YoY to 450,000 in 2023.
- .online TLD: 3.5 million registrations by Q4 2023.
- Japan’s .jp: 1.3 million active registrations in 2023.
Domain Registrations Interpretation
Even as the global domain name market matures into a vast digital real estate empire with over 350 million active addresses, it remains a fiercely competitive and surprisingly resilient marketplace where legacy giants like .com maintain their throne, new frontiers like .io and .shop rapidly expand, and a global renewal rate of over 72% proves that, for most, the eviction notice from the internet is not an option.
Market Size and Growth
- In Q4 2023, the global domain name industry registered a total of 362.3 million domain names under management, reflecting a 0.8% year-over-year increase.
- The domain registration market was valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 5.8 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.2%.
- North America held 42% of the global domain names market share in 2023, driven by high internet penetration.
- The Asia-Pacific region saw a 5.1% YoY growth in domain registrations in 2023, outpacing global averages.
- Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) accounted for 60.4% of all registered domains globally in Q1 2024.
- Total domain industry revenue exceeded USD 5 billion in 2023, with a 3.5% increase from 2022.
- The domain market grew by 1.2% in Q3 2023, adding 4.1 million new registrations.
- By 2028, the domain registration services market is expected to hit USD 6.5 billion, per Fortune Business Insights.
- Europe represented 28% of global domain registrations in 2023 with 101 million domains.
- The overall domain base expanded to 361.1 million names in Q2 2023, up 0.9% YoY.
- Domain industry saw 2.8 million net additions in 2022 across all TLDs.
- Projected CAGR for domain market from 2023-2030 is 4.8%, reaching USD 7.1 billion.
- In 2023, the U.S. alone had 155 million registered domains, 43% of global total.
- Global domain registrations peaked at 364 million in Q1 2024.
- Domain services market size stood at USD 4.5 billion in 2023.
- Growth rate of domain industry was 1.1% in H1 2023.
- Latin America domain market grew 4.2% YoY in 2023.
- Total gTLDs reached 218 million registrations by end of 2023.
- Domain market valuation hit USD 4.8 billion in 2024 forecast.
- Annual growth in domain base was 0.7% globally in 2023.
- Q4 2022 saw domain industry at 359.8 million registrations.
- Emerging markets contributed 15% to global domain growth in 2023.
- Domain registration market CAGR 2024-2032 projected at 5.3%.
- Global domains under management: 363.1 million as of March 2024.
- Industry revenue growth slowed to 2.9% in 2023.
- Asia domain registrations surged 6% in 2023 to 85 million.
- Total market size for domains estimated at USD 5.2 billion in 2024.
- YoY domain growth rate: 1.0% in Q4 2023.
- Domain industry expanded by 3.2 million net names in 2023.
- Forecast: Domain market to USD 6.2 billion by 2027.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
Despite the digital world's obsession with the metaverse and AI, the steady, multi-billion dollar heartbeat of the internet remains the humble domain name, which stubbornly grows a few million registrations at a time as if patiently reminding us that every grand idea still needs a simple address.
Registrars and Revenue
- GoDaddy registered 84 million domains, holding 20% market share in 2023.
- Domain registrar revenue globally reached USD 3.9 billion in 2023.
- Namecheap's domain revenue grew 15% YoY to USD 450 million in 2023.
- Tucows Inc. managed 30 million domains, revenue USD 1.2 billion.
- Average domain registration price: USD 12.45 per year in 2023.
- GoDaddy's auction sales: USD 150 million in premium domains 2023.
- CentralNic Group revenue from domains: GBP 120 million in 2023.
- Wholesale domain pricing averaged USD 8.50 for .com in 2023.
- United Domains (Sweden) revenue: SEK 500 million from 1.5M domains.
- Domain.com (Endurance) revenue up 8% to USD 200 million.
- Premium domain sales average price: USD 25,000 in 2023.
- Porkbun registrar grew registrations 25% to 1 million domains.
- Registrar market concentration: Top 5 hold 65% share.
- Dynadot revenue from domains: USD 80 million in FY2023.
- .com registry fees generated USD 1.8 billion for Verisign in 2023.
- Hover (Tucows) premium sales: 500 domains at avg USD 15k.
- Gandi.net revenue: EUR 70 million from 2M domains.
- Aftermarket domain sales volume: 45,000 transactions in 2023.
- NameSilo low-cost model: USD 9M revenue from 2.5M domains.
- IONOS registrar: 8 million domains, revenue EUR 1B total.
- Domain renewal revenue share: 55% of total registrar income 2023.
- Epik.com revenue growth 30% despite controversies.
- Average wholesale ccTLD price: USD 10.20 in 2023.
- GoDaddy Garage program sold 1,200 domains avg USD 50k each.
- Registrar accreditation fees: USD 4,000 initial per ICANN 2023.
- Key-Systems revenue: EUR 90 million from reseller model.
- Domain parking revenue industry-wide: USD 500 million annually.
- 95% of .com domains renewed at USD 18.15 retail price 2023.
- Blacknight (Ireland) 1M domains, revenue EUR 40M.
- Total premium domain revenue: USD 400 million in 2023 auctions.
- Upcoming .com price hike to USD 10.26 wholesale from 2024.
Registrars and Revenue Interpretation
The domain industry is a surprisingly bustling metropolis where giants like GoDaddy rent out 84 million digital storefronts at $12.45 a pop, proving that our collective online identity crisis is a multi-billion dollar business where even a simple .com is a tiny plot in the most valuable real estate on Earth.
Top-Level Domains (TLDs)
- In 2023, .com TLD held 52.3% of all gTLD registrations at 153.4 million.
- .org ranked second among gTLDs with 10.7 million registrations in Q4 2023.
- Among ccTLDs, .tk (Tokelau) had 25.8 million registrations in 2023.
- .de (Germany) was the top ccTLD with 17.5 million domains in 2023.
- New gTLDs collectively reached 36.2 million registrations by end 2023.
- .net TLD registrations: 13.4 million in Q1 2024.
- .cn (China) second largest ccTLD at 20.1 million in 2023.
- .nl (Netherlands): 6.4 million registrations, growth of 1.2% in 2023.
- .xyz overtook .info as top new gTLD with 4.5 million in 2023.
- .uk: 10.9 million, largest ccTLD in Europe 2023.
- .ga (Gabon): 24.2 million registrations due to free policy.
- .online: 3.6 million registrations, fastest growing new gTLD.
- .com renewal rate: 74.3% in Q4 2023.
- .br (Brazil): 5.6 million, up 4% YoY in 2023.
- .shop: 3.1 million registrations by 2023 end.
- .ml (Mali): 22.7 million registrations in 2023.
- .info: 3.2 million gTLD registrations Q4 2023.
- .au (Australia): 3.7 million, strict eligibility boosted quality.
- .site: 2.9 million registrations in new gTLD category 2023.
- .fr (France): 3.9 million, stable growth in 2023.
- .top: 2.5 million registrations, popular in Asia.
- .in (India): 2.1 million, doubled since 2020.
- .club: 1.5 million registrations by end 2023.
- .cf (Central African Republic): 21.4 million.
- .me (Montenegro): 1.2 million, strong brand use.
- .live: 1.1 million registrations in 2023.
- .co (Colombia): 2.3 million, global appeal.
- .io registrations: 900,000 in 2023, tech favorite.
Top-Level Domains (TLDs) Interpretation
While the mighty .com remains the undisputed king with over 150 million loyal subjects, its court is a wild tapestry of free domains, tech trends, and regional powerhouses, proving that in the internet's address book, there's a vanity plate for every conceivable ambition.
Trends and Projections
- In 2024, 42% of new websites launched use new gTLDs, up from 35% in 2023.
- AI-generated domain registrations increased 150% in 2023.
- Short domains (3-4 letters) appreciated 20% in value in 2023.
- Web3 domains (.crypto, .eth) registrations: 2.5 million by 2023.
- HTTPS adoption on domains reached 85% globally in Q1 2024.
- Domain privacy protection uptake: 65% of registrations in 2023.
- Voice search optimized domains (e.g., .voice) projected 30% growth by 2025.
- E-commerce domains grew 18% YoY with .shop/.store surge.
- Phishing attacks targeted 1.2 million domains in 2023.
- IPv6 enabled domains: 45% of top 1M sites in 2023.
- Brand TLDs (.google, .apple) registrations: 500+ active in 2023.
- Mobile-first domains optimized: 70% of new registrations.
- Expired domain backorders: 3 million processed in 2023.
- Geographic TLDs (.nyc, .london) usage up 25%.
- Domain flipping profitability: avg ROI 300% for investors.
- Sustainability-focused TLDs (.eco, .green) +40% registrations 2023.
- NFT domain sales: USD 20 million volume in 2023.
- Multi-domain management tools adoption: 55% registrars.
- Cyber-squatting cases: 12,000 UDRP filings in 2023.
- Passives domains generating ad revenue: 10% decline in 2023.
- Programmatic domain generation algorithms used in 20% hacks.
- .crypto domains transactions: 1 million on blockchain 2023.
- Domain age average for top sites: 8.5 years in 2023.
- Zero-trust domain security implementations up 35%.
- VR/AR branded domains projected 50% growth by 2025.
- Multilingual IDN domains: 5% of total registrations 2023.
- Domain escrow services volume: USD 300 million in 2023.
Trends and Projections Interpretation
The internet's real estate market is undergoing a digital gold rush, where savvy investors chase short domains and AI-generated names, while Web3 speculators stake virtual claims, all amidst a backdrop of rising security threats and a clear shift from .com's old guard to a vibrant, fragmented, and increasingly fortified new world of addresses.
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