2024 review of .FR domains: +2.0% growth

Afnic, the association responsible for .FR domain names, published its annual review of .FR activity.

2024 key figures

802,202 new create operations

Having exceeded the 800,000 threshold in 2023 (801,427), the number of create operations further improved on the previous year’s record, reaching 802,202 new .FR names registered. This momentum exemplifies the growing and lasting importance of digital technology in the French economy, positioning the .FR TLD as a reliable and recognised solution for new online projects.

A retention rate of 82.6%

The retention rate for .FR (i.e. the proportion of domain names renewed from one year to the next) remains high, yet down slightly on 2023 (83.4%).

+2.0% growth

Although lower than the previous year (+3.4%), growth in the number of .FR domain names in 2024 remains above that of the French market for all TLDs taken together (+1.6%). The dynamics of the .FR TLD contrast with the negative performance of .COM, whose stock fell between an estimated -1.5% and -2.0%, and that of most of the major European TLD which also lost stock (-0.5%) in the last quarter. Given that the domain name market is often aligned with the economy in general, the outlook remains gloomy.

40.4% market share in France

The slight increase on 2023 (40.3%) marks a new all-time high for the .FR TLD, and while remaining modest, confirms the trend seen over recent years: users increasingly favour the national TLD when it comes to their online presence.