Namecheap Publishes Results Naming Highest TLD, Domain Registrations for 2024

PHOENIX, AZ – One of the most well-known domain registrars in the world, Namecheap, has released the results of a study outlining the highest number of domains registered through its service in the Top-Level Domain (TLD) as well as National Domain categories for the year 2024.

Namecheap’s report notes that the most popular TLD registered with the company in 2024, unsurprisingly, was .COM, which took a commanding lead with 3,661,899 registrations. The number two slot ended up raising some eyebrows, however, as .SHOP had the honor of taking that position with 721,532 registrations. Last year’s runner-up, .XYZ, however, dropped to third place with 519,800 registrations.

But the more interesting aspect of Namecheap’s study dealt with registrations of national domain zones, which are internet domains connected with countries which have been increasingly adopted in recent years by companies and individuals looking to stand out in a crowded marketplace. One noteworthy development in this category is the placing of Anguilla’s national domain, .AI; given its popularity with artificial intelligence-based groups and businesses, it didn’t place first on Namecheap’s list – instead, it came in at fourth place with a mere 52,715 registrations – a surprise.

Instead, the top national domain for 2024 was the national domain of Montenegro, .ME, with 143,244 names registered, followed in second place by the national domains of Colombia (.CO) with 119,134 registrations and the United States (.US) with 92,226 registrations.

But when it comes to established domains with the highest renewal rates on Namecheap’s service, the top spot – which is a tie – goes to the .DEV domain and the national domain of Canada, .CA, both of which have enjoyed this placing for several years running now.

In contrast, despite .COM being the number one registered out of all domain types, Namecheap notes that the average “lifetime” of any given one of these domains, once obtained, is just 2.1 years.

The study shows that there’s no knocking the .COM domain off the mountaintop, but it also highlighted the face that niche domains, such as .SHOP, .XYZ, and .DEV, are making progress entering the mainstream as growing alternatives.