.gov sTLD
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.
.gov Domain Overview
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 15,885 domains registered under this extension. DNSSEC adoption stands at 13.1%.
Registration Info
Registration pricing for .gov is not publicly listed. Contact an ICANN-accredited registrar for availability and pricing.
Security Features
- DNSSEC
- CAA Record Support
What Is the History of .gov?
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.
Did you know?
The .gov TLD serves a specific purpose in the domain ecosystem, providing users with clear context about the websites using this extension.
What Is .gov Used For?
The .gov TLD is commonly used for the following purposes:
Official U.S. federal government agency websites
State and territorial government portals
Local government city and county sites
Tribal nation digital services
Government public service portals
Official institutional communication
Popular Websites
How Many .gov Domains Are Registered?
Total Registrations
15,885
DNSSEC Adoption
13.1%
How Does .gov Compare?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Extension | .gov |
| Type | Sponsored TLD (sTLD) |
| Total Registrations | 15,885 |
| DNSSEC Adoption | 13.1% |
| 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. |
How Available Are .gov Domain Names?
Registration density analysis for .gov domains by character length. Currently 8,406 domains are registered across all lengths.
Total Registered
8.4K
Peak Saturation
10.7%
2-char names
DNSSEC Adoption
16.7%
Top Provider
Cloudflare
| Length | Registered | % Full | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 chars | 72 | 10.7% | |
| 3 chars | 252 | 1.4% | |
| 4 chars | 355 | 0.08% | |
| 5 chars | 483 | <0.01% | |
| 6 chars | 511 | <0.01% | |
| 7 chars | 653 | <0.01% | |
| 8 chars | 1,027 | <0.01% | |
| 9 chars | 1,058 | <0.01% | |
| 10 chars | 1,303 | <0.01% | |
| 11 chars | 1,264 | <0.01% | |
| 12 chars | 1,428 | <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 .gov Domain?
Eligibility
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.
Open Registration
The .gov TLD is available for registration through accredited domain registrars.
Registration Process
- Choose an accredited domain registrar that offers .gov 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
.gov vs Related Domain Extensions
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is This .gov 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 .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.