Country Code TLDs: The Complete Guide

## What Is a Country Code TLD? A **country code top-level domain** (ccTLD (Country-Code Top-Level Domain)) is the rightmost label in a domain name that corresponds to a specific country, territory, or geographic region. When you see `.de`, `.jp`, or `.br` at the end of a web address, you are looking at a ccTLD. These two-letter codes follow the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard, which assigns a unique pair of letters to every country and many dependent territories on Earth. The distinction from gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)s such as `.com`, `.org`, or `.net` is fundamental. Generic TLDs serve global audiences without geographic restriction. A ccTLD, by contrast, is delegated by IANA to a specific national entity — typically a government agency, a university, or a nonprofit designated by the state — and the policies governing who can register, what content is permitted, and how pricing works are set largely at the national level rather than by ICANN globally. TLD Finder ## The Scale of the ccTLD Ecosystem As of 2026, there are 316 ccTLD strings delegated in the DNS Root Zone, covering: - **193 UN member states**, each with their own two-letter code - **Dozens of dependent territories**, overseas departments, and special administrative regions (e.g., `.gg` for Guernsey, `.mq` for Martinique, `.hk` for Hong Kong) - **A handful of exceptional entries** such as `.eu` for the European Union (technically a regional rather than a national code) and `.su` for the former Soviet Union, which remains delegated despite the country's dissolution in 1991 Total registrations across all ccTLDs exceed **160 million domains**, making ccTLDs collectively larger than any single gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain) except `.com`. The top five ccTLDs by registration volume are `.tk` (Tokelau, used as a free-domain service), `.cn` (China), `.de` (Germany), `.uk` (United Kingdom), and `.nl` (Netherlands). ## How ccTLD Delegation Works The delegation process flows through a clear hierarchy. IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority — technically a function of ICANN — maintains the authoritative list of which organization operates each ccTLD Registry Operator. When a ccTLD is first delegated, the assigned operator signs an agreement with IANA describing their responsibilities: maintaining DNS (Domain Name System) stability, publishing a WHOIS service (see WHOIS), protecting the interests of registrants, and coordinating with the national government. National governments hold considerable leverage over their ccTLDs even when the operator is an independent body. Many governments have used that leverage to retake control of poorly managed ccTLDs, to impose registration restrictions, or to mandate local data storage for Domain Registration records. The IANA delegation model is ultimately a matter of trust rather than contract: IANA can re-delegate a ccTLD to a new operator if the existing one fails its responsibilities, but this process is slow, contentious, and rare. ## Open vs. Restricted ccTLDs One of the most commercially significant distinctions within the ccTLD world is between **open** and **restricted** registries. **Open ccTLDs** allow anyone worldwide to register a domain regardless of connection to the country. Classic examples include `.cc` (Cocos Islands), `.io` (British Indian Ocean Territory), `.co` (Colombia marketed globally), and `.tv` (Tuvalu). The national governments of these territories often license their ccTLD commercially, generating revenue from global registrations that dwarf what local residents would ever create. **Restricted ccTLDs** require registrants to demonstrate a local presence, citizenship, or business registration. Germany's `.de` registry (DENIC) requires registrants to have a German administrative contact. `.jp` in Japan requires a local presence or a Japanese-based administrative contact for most registrations. `.cn` in China requires extensive documentation and a Chinese business entity. The degree of restriction affects market size dramatically. `.de` has over 17 million registrations despite restrictions — because Germany is Europe's largest economy and any business operating there genuinely needs one. `.cn` has roughly 22 million registrations, almost all held by Chinese entities. ## The ISO 3166-1 Connection Every ccTLD derives from the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code list, maintained by the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency. When a new country achieves international recognition, it receives an ISO code, which then becomes eligible for ccTLD delegation. When a country dissolves (like Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia), its ISO code is eventually retired — but ccTLD delegation does not automatically disappear. `.su` for the Soviet Union, `.cs` for Czechoslovakia, and `.yu` for Yugoslavia were all delegated and have followed different paths: `.su` remains active with millions of registrations, while `.cs` and `.yu` were eventually removed after extended transition periods. This ISO dependency also means IANA does not create ccTLD codes — it delegates them. If the ISO assigns a code, IANA has a framework to act on a delegation request. If a territory lacks an ISO code (because its political status is contested), it cannot receive a ccTLD through the standard process. ## ccTLDs and National Policy Governments treat their ccTLDs with varying degrees of strategic interest. Some view the ccTLD as critical infrastructure requiring strict local control. France's AFNIC, operating `.fr`, maintains detailed governance documentation and actively cooperates with French data protection authorities. The UK's Nominet operates `.uk` as a nonprofit with a public benefit mandate. Others have commercialized their ccTLD aggressively. Tuvalu's government earns millions of dollars annually from `.tv` licensing fees, representing a significant portion of national GDP. The Federated States of Micronesia's `.fm` is heavily used by radio stations worldwide. These arrangements are legal under IANA policy as long as the registry meets its technical obligations. A third category of governments barely engages with their ccTLD at all, leaving management to technical bodies that may receive little oversight. This neglect occasionally creates problems: ccTLDs for some smaller or less stable states have experienced prolonged DNS outages, lapsed WHOIS services, or disputes between competing claimants to the registry role. ## Why ccTLDs Matter for Users For ordinary internet users, ccTLDs serve as **trust signals** (see TLD Trust Signal). Studies consistently show that local-market consumers prefer websites on their country's ccTLD over the same content on a generic extension. A `.de` website signals to German shoppers that the business understands the German market, likely accepts payment in euros, and is subject to German consumer protection law. This perception translates to measurable conversion improvements. For international businesses, the decision of which ccTLD to register — and whether to use ccTLDs at all versus a single `.com` with subdirectories or subdomains — is a significant strategic question. See ccTLD vs gTLD for International Business for a detailed analysis. ## The Future of ccTLDs The ccTLD landscape is evolving in two significant directions. First, IDN TLD (Internationalized Domain Name TLD)s (Internationalized Domain Names) are creating ccTLD equivalents in non-Latin scripts. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, and Devanagari script versions of country codes are now delegated and active, allowing internet users who don't read Latin script to navigate entirely within their native writing system. See IDN ccTLDs: Non-Latin Script Country Domains for details. Second, the relationship between ccTLDs and national sovereignty is intensifying. Several countries have passed legislation asserting full governmental control over their ccTLD registry, requiring data localization, or mandating content filtering at the registry level. These moves create friction with IANA's technical governance model and represent one of the central tensions in internet governance today. ## Summary Country code TLDs represent 316 delegated namespaces that together host over 160 million domain registrations. They are governed through a delegation model anchored in ISO country codes, administered by national registry operators under IANA oversight, and shaped by national policies that vary enormously across jurisdictions. Whether you are choosing a domain for a local business, building an international web presence, or simply trying to understand how the internet is organized, ccTLDs are an essential piece of the global namespace architecture.