.ca Domain Zone: Comprehensive Statistics & Trends for 2026
The .ca country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) has been a cornerstone of Canada's digital identity since its inception in 1987. Managed by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), .ca is one of the most trusted and widely used ccTLDs globally. Understanding its domain statistics is crucial for investors, SEO specialists, and developers seeking to optimize their digital strategies. With over 1.6M+ registered domains, an average length of 12.04 characters, and a strong preference for letter-only names (93.47%), .ca offers a unique landscape. This data-driven analysis covers key metrics, trends, and actionable insights to help you make informed decisions in 2026 and beyond.
Domain Length Distribution: Why 10 Characters Dominate
The most common domain length in .ca is 10 characters, with 128 213 domains. The average length is 12.04 characters, and the maximum is 63. A representative domain like '001-traductions.ca' (15 chars) illustrates typical naming patterns. Shorter domains are often more memorable and valuable for branding.
Infographics for .ca
Domain length distribution by number of characters
Character Composition: Letters, Digits, and Hyphens in .ca
Letter-only domains make up 93.47% of all .ca registrations (1 489 487 domains). Domains with digits and letters account for 2.68%, while pure numeric domains are rare at 0.12%. Hyphen usage is low: only 3.72% of domains contain a hyphen (59 277). This suggests a market preference for clean, readable names.
Average domain name length
Most Frequent Characters and Words: The Letter 'e' and Word 'pro'
The most common character in .ca domains is 'e', appearing 2 044 332 times. The most frequent first character is 'c' (149 825 domains). The top word embedded in domains is 'pro', found in 32 263 domains (2.02% share). These patterns can guide keyword-rich domain selection.
Character frequency in domain names
| # | Symbol | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e | 2044332 |
| 2 | a | 1756406 |
| 3 | r | 1408940 |
| 4 | o | 1376540 |
| 5 | i | 1372866 |
| 6 | n | 1335742 |
| 7 | t | 1319269 |
| 8 | s | 1272242 |
| 9 | l | 985488 |
| 10 | c | 911353 |
| 11 | d | 615723 |
| 12 | m | 591420 |
| 13 | u | 568382 |
| 14 | h | 519867 |
| 15 | p | 507148 |
| 16 | g | 492847 |
| 17 | b | 365956 |
| 18 | y | 332711 |
| 19 | f | 284377 |
| 20 | v | 249787 |
| 21 | w | 244249 |
| 22 | k | 241981 |
| 23 | j | 74247 |
| 24 | x | 73947 |
| 25 | z | 50830 |
| 26 | q | 40547 |
| 27 | 1 | 15257 |
| 28 | 2 | 14482 |
| 29 | 0 | 12546 |
| 30 | 4 | 10670 |
| 31 | 3 | 9721 |
| 32 | 5 | 5798 |
| 33 | 6 | 5563 |
| 34 | 9 | 4853 |
| 35 | 8 | 4574 |
| 36 | 7 | 4089 |
Vowel vs. Consonant Balance: 38.83% Vowels in .ca
Vowels constitute 38.83% of all characters (7 451 237), while consonants make up 60.37% (11 585 960). Digits account for only 0.46% and hyphens 0.35%. This balance affects domain pronounceability and memorability—key factors for SEO and user experience.
Most common first character in domain names
| # | First char | Domains count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 289 |
| 3 | 1 | 3446 |
| 4 | 2 | 2239 |
| 5 | 3 | 2546 |
| 6 | 4 | 2110 |
| 7 | 5 | 1149 |
| 8 | 6 | 762 |
| 9 | 7 | 721 |
| 10 | 8 | 688 |
| 11 | 9 | 838 |
| 12 | a | 104243 |
| 13 | b | 93851 |
| 14 | c | 149825 |
| 15 | d | 71207 |
| 16 | e | 61219 |
| 17 | f | 57671 |
| 18 | g | 62165 |
| 19 | h | 56236 |
| 20 | i | 45852 |
| 21 | j | 36697 |
| 22 | k | 36612 |
| 23 | l | 68366 |
| 24 | m | 113636 |
| 25 | n | 45649 |
| 26 | o | 37742 |
| 27 | p | 89131 |
| 28 | q | 8049 |
| 29 | r | 69609 |
| 30 | s | 145170 |
| 31 | t | 105557 |
| 32 | u | 15424 |
| 33 | v | 34428 |
| 34 | w | 48316 |
| 35 | x | 3498 |
| 36 | y | 12070 |
| 37 | z | 6479 |
Numeric Tokens and Special Characters: The Role of '2'
The most frequent numeric token in .ca domains is '2', appearing in 6 828 domains. With only 0.46% of characters being digits and 0.35% hyphens, numeric and special characters are used sparingly, reinforcing the dominance of alphabetic names.
Character distribution in domain names
Historical Context: .ca as a Trusted ccTLD
Since its launch in 1987, .ca has grown to over 1.6M+ registrations. Its strict registry policies (e.g., Canadian presence requirement) have fostered a high-trust environment. This history makes .ca a premium choice for local businesses and international brands targeting the Canadian market.
Domain names with numbers and letters
Why .ca Statistics Matter for Domain Investors and SEO
Data on domain length, character composition, and top words helps investors identify undervalued niches. For SEO, understanding that 93.47% of domains are letter-only and the average length is 12.04 chars can inform keyword strategy. The low hyphen usage (3.72%) suggests hyphenated domains may be less desirable.
Most frequent word fragments inside domain names
| # | Word | Domains count | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | pro | 32263 | 2.02 |
| 2 | go | 28636 | 1.80 |
| 3 | car | 28026 | 1.76 |
| 4 | home | 22021 | 1.38 |
| 5 | one | 21099 | 1.32 |
| 6 | my | 19513 | 1.22 |
| 7 | net | 13212 | 0.83 |
| 8 | tech | 12889 | 0.81 |
| 9 | app | 9145 | 0.57 |
| 10 | new | 9131 | 0.57 |
| 11 | life | 8464 | 0.53 |
| 12 | shop | 7960 | 0.50 |
| 13 | media | 7228 | 0.45 |
| 14 | web | 7125 | 0.45 |
| 15 | lab | 6900 | 0.43 |
| 16 | market | 6772 | 0.42 |
| 17 | top | 6455 | 0.41 |
| 18 | fit | 6271 | 0.39 |
| 19 | get | 6251 | 0.39 |
| 20 | star | 5772 | 0.36 |
Trends & Insights 2026
Hyphen usage in domain names
Popular numeric tokens in domain names
| # | Token | Domains count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 6828 |
| 2 | 4 | 5703 |
| 3 | 3 | 3979 |
| 4 | 1 | 3602 |
| 5 | 360 | 1336 |
| 6 | 5 | 1320 |
| 7 | 8 | 1135 |
| 8 | 9 | 1011 |
| 9 | 7 | 993 |
| 10 | 6 | 828 |
| 11 | 24 | 553 |
| 12 | 21 | 495 |
| 13 | 10 | 489 |
| 14 | 123 | 442 |
| 15 | 365 | 426 |
| 16 | 100 | 424 |
| 17 | 911 | 400 |
| 18 | 0 | 396 |
| 19 | 101 | 365 |
| 20 | 411 | 321 |