According to the latest Verisign Domain Name Industry Brief there are now approximately 342.4 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), which is an increase of approximately 2.6 million domain name registrations (0.8%) over the second quarter of 2018. That’s an increase of circa 11.7 million more domain name registrations, or 3.5 percent, than at the same time last year.
For the first time in a few years the total number of country-code TLD (ccTLD) domain name registrations decreased, reaching approximately 149.3 million at the end of the third quarter of 2018, a decrease of approximately 0.5 million domain name registrations compared to the second quarter of 2018. Nevertheless, this was a rise of approximately 4.6 million year on year.
At 30 September 2018, the .com domain name base stood at approximately 137.6 million domain name registrations.
Meanwhile there were approximately 23.4 million new gTLD domain name registrations at the end of the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 1.6 million domain name registrations, or 7.5 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2018.
The overall trend in domain registrations remains on an upward trajectory, with new gTLDs apparently recovering from the hammering they took when cheap domain registrations hit regular priced renewals. We’ll be watching and will keep you updated over the coming months to see what other factors impact these rates.