Every domain name starts with an idea. And at GoDaddy, we help people take that step millions of times a year. So when we look at all of those domain decisions together, the patterns are fascinating.
To study these patterns a bit more, we've compiled our 2025 domain name registration data to see what's trending as we continue to move through 2026.
Interested? Let's get into it.
Where the world's domains come from
The global domain market is more concentrated than you might think. Just five countries account for nearly 70% of all registrations.
The United States leads by a wide margin at 41.77% of global registrations, meaning nearly half the world's new domains originate from American entrepreneurs and businesses. India comes in second at 9.54%, followed by China (8.24%), the United Kingdom (6.40%), and Canada (3.73%).
.com still owns half the internet
It’s not surprising that .com domain names capture 50.25% of all domain registrations worldwide. That's more than the next 14 extensions combined.
In the United States, the .com preference is even stronger: nearly 65% of all U.S. registrations are .com domains.
But globally, the picture is more nuanced. The .com dominance varies wildly depending on where you are:
- United States: 64.98%
- Canada: 46.16%
- India: 45.96%
- United Kingdom: 36.68%
- China: 20.41%
A closer look at the U.S. market
Since the United States drives over 40% of global registrations, it's worth taking a closer look at what American business owners are actually choosing.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the top five domain extensions registered in the United States:
The weekly pattern of new U.S. domain registrations is something interesting to note. Wednesday is the peak day at 16.8% of weekly volume, and weekends drop 35% below the weekday average.
Seasonal patterns are also interesting. February sees a spike in domain registrations as businesses start moving on their New Year plans. Then, mid-November picks up again as Q4 kicks into high gear. So while domain registrations are strong all year, they definitely pick up in the busy business seasons.
Local domain extensions reign outside the U.S.
In much of the world, country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are top choices:
- In the United Kingdom, the .co.uk ccTLD is 35.89% of registrations, which is nearly tied with .com at 36.68%. Add in the .uk extension, and these local domain extensions account for over 41% of all domains registered in the United Kingdom.
- For India, the .in extension alone captures 24.91% of Indian registrations. Add .co.in, and you're at nearly 32%, meaning almost one in three Indian domains is a ccTLD.
- Canada follows the pattern too, with .ca coming in at 34.78%.
So, what is this particular data showing us? If your business serves customers in a specific country outside the U.S., pairing a .com with a local extension can be a strategic move, as ccTLDs tend to be the norm outside of the United States.
.ai was the breakout extension of 2025
Over 2025, .ai registrations grew 62.6% year-over-year, pushing the extension from #18 to #14 in the global rankings.
And the growth wasn't driven by a few large buyers either. Total registrations and daily average registrations grew at nearly identical rates, which tells us this was a wide-spread, sustained demand from thousands of individual businesses.
The United States is the main driver of the .ai boom, accounting for over 60% of all .ai registrations globally. Nearly 2% of all U.S. domain registrations are now .ai, which is a remarkable share for a relatively young extension.
The UK (6.3%), India (5.2%), and Canada (3.7%) round out the top markets for .ai registrations.
Whether .ai makes sense for your business depends on what you do. If you're building AI-powered products or positioning yourself in the tech space, it's becoming an increasingly popular choice.
China's domain market operates by its own rules
Every other major market in the world has .com at #1. China doesn't. In China, .top leads at 22%, followed by .com at 20.41%, and .vip at 20.12%. Together, .top and .vip outpace .com by a significant margin.
This is likely due to:
- Price: .top domains typically cost $1–3 per year compared to $10+ for .com. When you're a small business owner registering multiple domains, that difference adds up fast.
- Availability: Newer extensions offer more options, including short numeric domains.
- Cultural fit: .vip carries a prestige signal that resonates strongly in China's business environment.
China is also the only major market where weekend domain registration activity barely dips at all. It’s just 15% below weekdays, compared to 35% in the United States. Domain decisions in China are spread much more evenly across the week.
Ecommerce extensions are becoming mainstream
A few years ago, extensions like .shop and .store felt experimental. Our 2025 data shows that they're growing in popularity.
The .shop extension ranks #4 globally at 2.82% of all registrations. And .store sits at #11 with 1.93%. Together, they represent millions of business owners choosing an extension that immediately tells customers what their website is all about.
What does this data mean for your business?
The domain landscape ahead in 2026 is more diverse and more strategic than ever. Here's a quick summary and a few additional tips to help you choose the best extension for your website:
- .com is still your foundation. At 50% of global registrations and 65% in the U.S., it remains the extension customers trust most instinctively.
- One domain often isn't enough. Businesses targeting the UK, Canada, or India should seriously consider pairing a .com with a local extension.
- .ai is having a real moment. If your business focuses on artificial intelligence or you want to position yourself in the tech space, .ai has moved from a novelty to a credible choice.
- Ecommerce has its own lane. If you're selling online, .shop and .store carry real recognition. They're established domain extensions with millions of users.
- Timing matters more than you'd think. Most domain registrations happen midweek during business hours. If you're worried about competition for a name you want, don't wait until the weekend to search.
Your next domain is out there. And based on what we're seeing from our 2025 data, you have more options than ever before.
