Q3 2025 Domain Name Industry Insights
The latest quarterly update on the global domain name industry, published by Domain Name Industry Brief, has been released, offering valuable insights into how the digital landscape continues to grow and evolve. With over 378 million domain names now registered worldwide, it’s clear that online presence remains essential for businesses, brands, and individuals.
Key Highlights from Q3 2025
Domain Registrations Continue to Rise
In the third quarter of 2025 alone, more than 6.8 million new domains were added, bringing the total number of global registrations to 378.5 million. That is a 1.8% increase since the last quarter, and a 4.5% rise compared to the same period last year.
Legacy TLDS such as .com Still Popular
- The worlds most trusted domain extensions, .com and .net, remain firmly in the lead with over 171 million combined registrations.
- .com accounts for the majority, with 159.4 million names under management.
- Despite nearing maturity, these domains added over 1.4 million new registrations this quarter alone.
- Renewal strength remains strong too, sitting at 75%, a clear sign of ongoing value in these extensions.
LccTLDs Remain Strong in Local Markets
Country code domains such as .cn (China), .de (Germany) and .uk (United Kingdom) continue to hold their ground, making up almost 40% of all domain registrations worldwide.
With 144.8 million active registrations and a 3.4% year-on-year growth, ccTLDs reinforce the importance of localised domain strategies for brands expanding into global or region-specific markets.
New gTLDs Gaining Momentum
The market for new domain extensions, such as .xyz, .shop, .online, and .store, is rapidly expanding, now totalling 42.9 million registrations. That’s an 8.5% jump this quarter, and an impressive 21% year-on-year growth.
These newer, more creativity-friendly extensions now represent 11% of all registered domains globally, offering fresh branding opportunities.
Renewal Rates
- Traditional, legacy extensions like .org, .info continue to show strong performance with renewal rates over 80%.
- Among these, .org stands out with an 86% renewal rate, reaffirming its place as a reliable and respected domain for not-for-profits and community-driven initiatives.
- Newer domains see higher churn, so it’s important for brands to secure and manage these names strategically.
Top 10 Most Registered Domain Extensions – Q3 2025
1) .com
2) .cn
3) .de
4) .net
5) .org
6) .uk
7) .ru
8) .nl
9) .xyz
10) .br
What This Means for Brand Owners
Whether you’re protecting your brand globally, expanding into new markets, or launching a campaign with a tailored domain strategy, staying on top of trends like these is critical. The dominance of .com is still clear, but the growth of new gTLDs and ccTLDs offers creative and strategic opportunities, especially when backed by solid renewal behaviour.
At brandsec, we help organisations navigate this evolving landscape with strategic domain management, brand protection solutions, and tailored advice to keep your digital presence secure and aligned with business goals.
Get in touch if you’d like support with domain strategy, acquisitions, or protection.
About brandsec
brandsec is a team of highly experienced domain name management and online brand protection experts. We provide corporate domain name management and brand enforcement services, helping brands eliminate phishing platforms across the internet. Supporting some of the largest brands in the region, we offer innovative solutions to combat threats across multiple industries.
