Since the second half of the 2020s, the global domain market has entered a new phase of development, driven by the rapid digitalization of the global economy. Domain names have evolved far beyond their original technical function and are now widely recognized as strategic assets for business development, brand positioning, national identity and even geopolitical visibility.
According to Nominus’s global forecast, the number of registered domains worldwide surpassed 364 million in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately 460 million by 2030. This growth is primarily fueled by the expansion of digital commerce, the ongoing digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises, and intensifying competition among personal and corporate brands in the online environment.
Despite the emergence of new technologies, generic top-level domains (gTLDs) have retained their dominant position since the 1990s. The .com domain continues to lead the market, with 55% of its registrations originating from the United States. By 2030, gTLD registrations are expected to reach 294 million, reflecting a projected growth rate of 3.3%.
At the same time, country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are gaining increasing strategic importance. Their projected growth rate over the same period stands at 3.4% and they currently account for approximately 30 – 40% of the global domain market.
In the Asia-Pacific region, China remains the dominant player in the ccTLD segment. Registrations under the .cn domain are forecast to grow from 21 million to 33.1 million by 2030, representing an estimated 7% of the global domain market.
By contrast, the European domain market currently totaling 115 million registrations is expected to experience modest growth of only 0.8%. Within Europe, which also includes Armenia, Germany leads the region with 17.717 million .de domain registrations, 70% of which are generated domestically.
Meanwhile, the smaller domain markets of the Middle East and Africa are projected to record the fastest growth rates globally by 2030. These regions are expected to double their 2023 figures, which currently stand at 5.7 million registered domains across the African continent.
In terms of domain registration growth, North America will lag behind other regions. Nevertheless, it will retain its leading position primarily due to the U.S. domain market, which currently has 132 million registered domains.
