World Country Domains Map

Explore an interactive world map of country top-level domains (ccTLDs). Pan and zoom to see each country labeled with its domain, then challenge yourself in the quiz.

Looking to practice? Try the World Country Domains Quiz to learn and memorize ccTLDs fast: Start the quiz →

What is a ccTLD?

A country code top‑level domain (ccTLD) is a two‑letter domain extension assigned to a country or territory, such as .fr (France), .jp (Japan), or .br (Brazil). Assignments are based largely on the ISO 3166‑1 alpha‑2 list. ccTLDs help identify geographic origin and, in many cases, are treated by search engines as geo‑targeted to that location.

How assignment works

• Source of codes: Most ccTLDs correspond to ISO 3166‑1 alpha‑2 codes.
• Delegation: The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) delegates each ccTLD to a designated country registry/administrator.
• Retirements/changes: Codes evolve when countries split, merge, or rename; old codes may be phased out (e.g., .cs for Czechoslovakia).

Exceptions and special cases

• .uk vs .gb: The UK primarily uses .uk even though GB is the ISO alpha‑2 code; .gb exists but is not in active use.
• .eu: Assigned to the European Union as a special regional ccTLD.
• Legacy code: .su (Soviet Union) remains in limited use despite the country no longer existing.
• Overseas territories: Many have their own ccTLDs (e.g., .gg for Guernsey, .pn for Pitcairn Islands).

IDN ccTLDs (non‑Latin scripts)

Internationalized domain names allow countries to use native scripts in their top‑level domains, such as .рф (Russia), .中国 and .中國 (China), and .السعودية (Saudi Arabia). These are implemented via Punycode under the hood (xn‑‑… form) but display in local scripts for users.

Second‑level structure and use

Some registries use structured second‑level domains, like:

• .co.uk, .org.uk (United Kingdom)
• .com.au, .net.au (Australia)
• .co.jp, .ne.jp (Japan)

Others allow registrations directly at the top level (example: example.fr). Policies differ widely by registry.

Registration policies and restrictions

Rules vary by country and can include:

• Local presence or residency requirements
• Intended‑use restrictions (e.g., commercial vs. non‑commercial)
• Documentation checks or trustee services Many ccTLDs are open globally, but some remain restricted to residents, entities, or trademark holders.

Genericized or marketed ccTLDs

Several ccTLDs are popular beyond their country because their meanings align with global terms or industries:

• .co (Colombia) for companies
• .tv (Tuvalu) for streaming/television
• .me (Montenegro) for personal sites
• .io (British Indian Ocean Territory) in tech
• .ai (Anguilla) for artificial intelligence These are country codes, not generic TLDs, but many registries promote them internationally.

Security and DNSSEC

Many ccTLDs support DNSSEC to authenticate DNS data and reduce spoofing. Adoption is registry‑specific; check the ccTLD’s technical policies for current status.

FAQs — quick answers

• Are ccTLDs always two letters? Yes for Latin‑script ccTLDs; IDN ccTLDs appear longer due to Punycode encoding.
• Does a ccTLD boost local SEO? Search engines often geotarget ccTLDs to their country, which can help with local intent.
• Can anyone register a ccTLD? It depends. Some are open worldwide (e.g., .io, .co), others require local presence or additional vetting.