Comprehensive information about all top-level domains (TLDs) including generic, country code, and brand-specific domains.
Showing 12 of 2000 TLDs ( 2000 total)
The .gov top-level domain is a sponsored gTLD reserved exclusively for United States government entities. It was one of the original six TLDs created in 1985 and is used to identify official government websites at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. Only verified U.S. government organizations may register .gov domains, ensuring public trust and authenticated digital identity.
Restricted to U.S. government entities including federal agencies, state and local governments, Native Sovereign Nations, and certain government-affiliated organizations. All registrations require official authorization by the CIO or senior IT official of the registering entity.
The .gov extension is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS). It is managed by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). .gov was introduced in 1985. There are currently 15,597 domains registered under this extension. DNSSEC adoption stands at 13.2%.
Registration pricing for .gov is not publicly listed. Contact an ICANN-accredited registrar for availability and pricing.
The .gov domain was established in 1985 as one of the original top-level domains alongside .com, .edu, .net, .org, and .mil. Initially delegated to the Federal Networking Council (FNC), administrative responsibility was transferred to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in 1997. In 2021, authority transitioned to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which now operates .gov under the get.gov platform to improve security, standardization, and service for government websites.
The .gov TLD serves a specific purpose in the domain ecosystem, providing users with clear context about the websites using this extension.
The .gov TLD is commonly used for the following purposes:
15,597
13.2%
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Extension | .gov |
| Type | Sponsored TLD (sTLD) |
| Total Registrations | 15,597 |
| DNSSEC Adoption | 13.2% |
| Registration Price | Contact registrar |
| Renewal Price | Contact registrar |
| Registry Operator | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) |
| Introduced | 1985-01-01 |
| Restrictions | Restricted to U.S. government entities including federal agencies, state and local governments, Native Sovereign Nations, and certain government-affiliated organizations. All registrations require official authorization by the CIO or senior IT official of the registering entity. |
Registration density analysis for .gov domains by character length. Currently 8,357 domains are registered across all lengths.
Total Registered
8.4K
Peak Saturation
10.7%
2-char names
DNSSEC Adoption
16.8%
Top Provider
Cloudflare
| Length | Registered | % Full | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 chars | 72 | 10.7% | |
| 3 chars | 251 | 1.4% | |
| 4 chars | 355 | 0.08% | |
| 5 chars | 483 | <0.01% | |
| 6 chars | 509 | <0.01% | |
| 7 chars | 649 | <0.01% | |
| 8 chars | 1,019 | <0.01% | |
| 9 chars | 1,049 | <0.01% | |
| 10 chars | 1,291 | <0.01% | |
| 11 chars | 1,260 | <0.01% | |
| 12 chars | 1,419 | <0.01% |
Updated daily from zone file analysis. Alpha density = registered / 26^length.
Compare across all TLDs →Government entities must be U.S.-based and authorized by a senior IT official (e.g. CIO). Local governments must include their state abbreviation or full name. Tribal governments require Bureau of Indian Affairs confirmation. All domains subject to CISA review for appropriateness.
The .gov TLD is available for registration through accredited domain registrars.
How does .gov 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.
DNSChkr 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.
Domain registration counts and density analysis are computed daily from TLD zone files, providing accurate registration statistics rather than estimates.
DNSSEC deployment percentages are measured by scanning actual DNS records across all registered domains in each TLD zone.
Registration, renewal, and transfer prices are checked hourly across multiple accredited registrars and compared automatically.
DNS provider distribution is calculated from nameserver records, showing which hosting providers serve the most domains in each TLD.
Use DNSChkr tools to inspect any .gov 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.