Q1 2021: domain registrations decrease by 2.8 million

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) today announced that the first quarter of 2021 closed with 363.5 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), a decrease of 2.8 million domain name registrations, or 0.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.^1,2 Domain name registrations have decreased by 3.3 million, or 0.9%, year over year.^1,2

The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of 168.0 million domain name registrations in the domain name base³ at the end of the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 2.8 million domain name registrations, or 1.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The .com and .net TLDs had a combined increase of 7.3 million domain name registrations, or 4.6%, year over year. As of March 31, 2021, the .com domain name base totaled 154.6 million domain name registrations, and the .net domain name base totaled 13.4 million domain name registrations.

New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled 11.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021, compared to 10.0 million domain name registrations at the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Executive Summary

The first quarter of 2021 closed with 363.5 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), a decrease of 2.8 million domain name registrations, or 0.8%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.^1,2 Domain name registrations have decreased by 3.3 million, or 0.9%, year over year.^1,2

Total country-code TLD (ccTLD) domain name registrations were 156.5 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 2.4 million domain name registrations, or 1.5%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.^1,2 ccTLDs decreased by 0.9 million domain name registrations, or 0.6%, year over year.^1,2

The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of 168.0 million domain name registrations in the domain name base³ at the end of the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 2.8 million domain name registrations, or 1.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The .com and .net TLDs had a combined increase of 7.3 million domain name registrations, or 4.6%, year over year. As of March 31, 2021, the .com domain name base totaled 154.6 million domain name registrations, and the .net domain name base totaled 13.4 million domain name registrations.

New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled 11.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021, compared to 10.0 million domain name registrations at the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Total new gTLD (ngTLD) domain name registrations were 22.8 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 3.2 million domain name registrations, or 12.3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. ngTLDs decreased by 9.5 million domain name registrations, or 29.3%, year over year.

Verisign publishes the Domain Name Industry Brief to provide internet users throughout the world with statistical and analytical research and data on the domain name industry. The first quarter 2021 Domain Name Industry Brief, as well as previous reports, can be obtained at verisign.com/dnib.