The government of Anguilla has officially announced on social media that the number of registered domain names in the .AI country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) has surpassed one million. The most recent official data prior to this announcement dates back to January 2, 2025, when the number of .AI registrations stood at 598,007. As a result, the domain has grown by approximately 67 percent over the past year, according to Domain Name Wire. The surge in popularity of the .AI domain, initially viewed by many as a temporary trend or even a bubble, has continued steadily for several years. Increasingly, domain industry experts agree that .AI, even if it does not replace .COM, is likely to secure a strong and lasting position among leading global domain zones.
This success is of major significance not only for the global domain market but also for Anguilla, a small island with a population of around 15,000 and the status of a British Overseas Territory. The annual registration fee in the .AI ccTLD is approximately $70, with a minimum registration period of two years. As a result, each registrant pays about $140, of which 10 percent goes to Identity Digital, the company managing the domain zone, while the remainder is transferred to Anguilla’s budget. According to projections, revenue from .AI registrations in 2026 could reach approximately $220 million. In this context, it is easy to see how the national domain has become for Anguilla what oil has been for many Middle Eastern countries.
“Revenue generated from .AI domain registrations has directly supported major national development projects in Anguilla, including airport and road development, tax relief for locals and increased health services for the young and elderly. These investments are enhancing connectivity, strengthening economic resilience, and improving quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” the government post stated.
