Industry statistics: .nz domains set another record in April 2026
Have you ever considered how many .nz domains there are? The Domain Name Commission (DNC) releases monthly reports with the exact answer to that question.
How many .nz domains are there? #
As of April 2026 there are 767,053 .nz domains registered — a new all-time record. The previous record was 764,987, set just one month earlier in March 2026. Before that, the namespace hadn't reached these levels since the previous peak of 758,495 in June 2023.
What is the growth rate of .nz domains? #
Growth rate statistics show the percentage increase in domains from the year prior. April 2026 recorded 2.1% growth year-on-year, representing approximately 15,000 more domains than April 2025. This continues the upward trend in growth rates seen across early 2026.
How many .nz domains were created and deleted? #
The Domain Name Commission's data shows 8,998 domains were created and 9,044 were deleted in April 2026 — a gap of fewer than 50 domains. Creations and deletions are now running almost exactly level month-to-month, a significant shift from the sustained net-deletion pattern seen throughout most of 2024 and 2025.
Direct .nz domains driving growth #
InternetNZ's stats break down growth by second-level domain (2LD). The .nz direct 2LD continues to be the standout performer: there are now 166,765 direct .nz domains registered, making up approximately 22% of the total namespace. That figure grew by 7,342 year-on-year, accounting for around 50% of all .nz growth over the past 12 months.
Renewal rate stays steady, retention ratio is introduced #
Every month thousands of .nz domains reach their renewal date. The renewal ratio measures how many of those domains are actually renewed. The renewal ratio of .nz domains is currently 84.6%. The DNC has also begun reporting a similar but different metric called the "retention ratio". This is the total percentage of domains that are over 1 year old, and is currently 88.0%.
For comparison, .au domains are currently renewed at a 75% rate. In the UK, .uk domains are renewed 78–80% of the time.
The other number that matters #
If you'll be adding to the stock of .nz domains soon, remember to compare prices from retailers before you commit. A few dollars a year can really add up.