.africa geographic
The .africa TLD is a geographic top-level domain created to promote African identity, businesses, people, and culture on the Internet. It was developed as a Pan-African online identity to serve individuals, organizations, and enterprises with strong ties to the African continent.
Open for registration by anyone with a connection to Africa, including individuals, businesses, and organizations based on the continent or with African heritage.
.africa Domain Overview
The .africa extension is a geographic top-level domain in the Domain Name System (DNS). It is managed by ZA Central Registry NPC trading as Registry.Africa. .africa was introduced in 2017. There are currently 57,356 domains registered under this extension. DNSSEC adoption stands at 1.2%.
Registration Info
Registration pricing for .africa is not publicly listed. Contact an ICANN-accredited registrar for availability and pricing.
Security Features
- DNSSEC
What Is the History of .africa?
The .africa TLD was proposed during ICANN's early gTLD rounds but faced years of legal and political contention between competing applicants, primarily DotConnectAfrica and ZA Central Registry (Registry.Africa). After the African Union initially endorsed DotConnectAfrica, it later withdrew support and endorsed ZA Central Registry following an Expression of Interest process. The ICANN Board delegated .africa to ZA Central Registry on February 17, 2017. General availability began on July 4, 2017, following resolution of objections and appeals.
Did you know?
The .africa TLD serves a specific purpose in the domain ecosystem, providing users with clear context about the websites using this extension.
What Is .africa Used For?
The .africa TLD is commonly used for the following purposes:
Pan-African brand identity
Businesses operating in Africa
African diaspora online presence
Cultural and nonprofit initiatives
African media and entertainment
E-commerce targeting African markets
Educational institutions across Africa
Government-linked entities
Tourism promotion
Tech startups on the continent
Popular Websites
How Many .africa Domains Are Registered?
Total Registrations
57,356
DNSSEC Adoption
1.2%
Alternative TLDs
If .africa doesn't meet your needs, consider these alternatives:
How Does .africa Compare?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Extension | .africa |
| Type | Generic TLD (gTLD) |
| Total Registrations | 57,356 |
| DNSSEC Adoption | 1.2% |
| Registration Price | Contact registrar |
| Renewal Price | Contact registrar |
| Registry Operator | ZA Central Registry NPC trading as Registry.Africa |
| Introduced | 2017-02-17 |
| Restrictions | Open for registration by anyone with a connection to Africa, including individuals, businesses, and organizations based on the continent or with African heritage. |
How Available Are .africa Domain Names?
Registration density analysis for .africa domains by character length. Currently 46,938 domains are registered across all lengths.
Total Registered
46.9K
Peak Saturation
15.7%
2-char names
DNSSEC Adoption
1.2%
Top Provider
Namecheap
| Length | Registered | % Full | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 chars | 106 | 15.7% | |
| 3 chars | 1,284 | 7.3% | |
| 4 chars | 4,434 | 0.97% | |
| 5 chars | 5,229 | 0.04% | |
| 6 chars | 5,948 | <0.01% | |
| 7 chars | 6,151 | <0.01% | |
| 8 chars | 6,203 | <0.01% | |
| 9 chars | 5,641 | <0.01% | |
| 10 chars | 4,843 | <0.01% | |
| 11 chars | 3,946 | <0.01% | |
| 12 chars | 3,153 | <0.01% |
Top DNS Providers
Updated daily from zone file analysis. Alpha density = registered / 26^length.
Compare across all TLDs →How Do I Register a .africa Domain?
Eligibility
No formal residency or legal entity requirements. Registrants must demonstrate some association with Africa, such as presence, operations, heritage, or cultural connection.
Open Registration
The .africa TLD is available for registration through accredited domain registrars.
Registration Process
- Choose an accredited domain registrar that offers .africa domains
- Check domain availability using the registrar's search tool
- Complete the registration process and provide required information
- Pay the registration fee (typically )
- Manage your domain settings through your registrar's control panel
.africa vs Related Domain Extensions
How does .africa compare to similar top-level domains? This comparison covers pricing, type, and availability to help choose the right domain extension.
View the full TLD Directory to browse all 1,900+ top-level domains with pricing, registration density analysis, and DNSSEC adoption rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is This .africa Data Compiled?
DNS Checker maintains a comprehensive TLD directory covering all 1,900+ active top-level domains. The data on this page combines multiple authoritative sources to provide information not found in standard TLD listings.
Zone File Analysis
Domain registration counts and density analysis are computed daily from TLD zone files, providing accurate registration statistics rather than estimates.
DNSSEC Adoption Tracking
DNSSEC deployment percentages are measured by scanning actual DNS records across all registered domains in each TLD zone.
Registrar Price Monitoring
Registration, renewal, and transfer prices are checked hourly across multiple accredited registrars and compared automatically.
Provider Market Share
DNS provider distribution is calculated from nameserver records, showing which hosting providers serve the most domains in each TLD.
Use DNS Checker tools to inspect any .africa domain: run a full DNS health check, check DNS propagation, look up WHOIS records, or verify email authentication.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is sourced from IANA, ICANN, and respective registry operator publications, then structured and formatted with the assistance of AI. While accuracy is a priority, details such as pricing, registration requirements, and policies may change. Always verify with the official registry or an accredited registrar before making registration decisions.