Domain Names: The Domain Name Industry Brief – Q3 2021 Data and Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The third quarter of 2021 closed with 364.6 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains, a decrease of 2.7 million domain name registrations, or 0.7%, compared to the second quarter of 2021.^1,2 Domain name registrations have decreased by 6.1 million, or 1.6%, year over year.^1,2

The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of 172.1 million domain name registrations in the domain name base³ at the end of the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 1.5 million domain name registrations, or 0.9%, compared to the second quarter of 2021. The .com and .net TLDs had a combined increase of 8.3 million domain name registrations, or 5.1%, year over year. As of Sept. 30, 2021, the .com domain name base totaled 158.6 million domain name registrations, and the .net domain name base totaled 13.5 million domain name registrations.

New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled 10.7 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021, compared to 10.9 million domain name registrations at the end of the third quarter of 2020.

Total country-code TLD domain name registrations were 152.9 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of 4.8 million domain name registrations, or 3.0%, compared to the second quarter of 2021.^1,2 ccTLDs decreased by 7.7 million domain name registrations, or 4.8%, year over year.^1,2

Total new gTLD domain name registrations were 23.5 million at the end of the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 0.6 million domain name registrations, or 2.7%, compared to the second quarter of 2021. ngTLDs decreased by 6.7 million domain name registrations, or 22.2%, year over year.

Source: read on Verisign

1. The figure(s) includes domain names in the .tk ccTLD. .tk is a ccTLD that provides free domain names to individuals and businesses. Revenue is generated by monetizing expired domain names. Domain names no longer in use by the registrant or expired are taken back by the registry and the residual traffic is sold to advertising networks. As such, there are no deleted .tk domain names. The .tk zone reflected here is based on data from Q4 2020, which is the most recent data available. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131216006048/en/Freenom-Closes-3M-Series-Funding#.UxeUGNJDv9s

2. The generic TLD, ngTLD and ccTLD data cited in this brief: (i) includes ccTLD Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), (ii) is an estimate as of the time this brief was developed and (iii) is subject to change as more complete data is received. Some numbers in this brief may reflect standard rounding.

3. The domain name base is the active zone plus the number of domain names that are registered but not configured for use in the respective TLD zone file plus the number of domain names that are in a client or server hold status. The .com and .net domain name registration figures are as reported in Verisign’s most recent SEC filings.