VeriSign’s Q4 2024 Domain Registration Report Reveals Subtle Shifts and Global Trends in Online Identity
VeriSign, Inc. recently announced its quarterly report for the fourth quarter of 2024, detailing the latest figures in domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs) based on the DNIB.com Domain Name Industry Brief Quarterly Report. The data shows that by the end of Q4 2024, the total number of domain name registrations reached 364.3 million, marking an increase of 2.0 million, or 0.5%, compared to the previous quarter. This modest rise is accompanied by a year-over-year increase of 4.4 million registrations, or 1.2%, which underscores a steady, albeit incremental, growth in the overall domain landscape. Despite this general upward trend, the report reveals a nuanced performance among different domain categories. The .com and .net TLDs, which together make up a significant portion of the digital domain ecosystem, experienced a slight contraction in their combined registration numbers, falling by 0.5 million, or 0.3%, from the third quarter of 2024. This dip extended over the past year as well, with a combined decrease of 3.7 million registrations, or 2.1%, although the resilient interest in these domains is evidenced by the fact that new registrations for .com and .net reached 9.5 million in Q4 2024, up from 9.0 million in Q4 2023. As of December 31, 2024, the .com domain had accumulated a substantial 156.3 million registrations while .net accounted for 12.7 million, solidifying their continued relevance despite the slight decline.
The report also casts a spotlight on the encouraging performance of country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), which had amassed 140.8 million registrations by the end of the quarter, representing a 0.6% increase from the previous quarter and an annual uptick of 1.8%. This growth reflects a broader trend towards regional online identities and the increasing importance of localized digital presences. The top ccTLDs—including .cn, .de, .uk, .ru, .nl, .br, .au, .fr, .in, and .eu—continue to play a vital role in shaping the internet’s global infrastructure by catering to distinct national and cultural communities. The steady climb in ccTLD registrations hints at a growing diversification in the digital realm, as businesses and individuals alike seek to establish their presence in both global and local markets. The report’s comprehensive statistics offer a window into the evolving dynamics of domain registration trends, suggesting that while traditional domains like .com and .net remain foundational to online identity, there is a palpable shift towards embracing a more diversified and regionally representative internet landscape, a development that could pave the way for further innovation and expansion in the digital infrastructure of tomorrow.