Website Lifespan in Georgia
GDE.ge Analytical Report | April 2026
This study analyzes the database of Georgia’s national domain (.ge) in order to assess the lifespan of local web projects, identify the most устойчивые business sectors, and determine which industries exhibit the highest rates of website discontinuation. The analysis is based on a dataset of 25,474 active websites, excluding parked domains, redirects, placeholder pages, and inactive resources, thereby focusing exclusively on websites with substantive content.
1. Age Structure of the Georgian Web: Evidence of a Relatively Young Ecosystem
The findings indicate that the majority of active websites in Georgia are relatively recent. In this context, the median age provides a more representative measure than the mean, as it reflects the central tendency of the distribution: 50% of active websites are less than three years old. While legacy domains from earlier periods increase the average age, the overall distribution suggests a continuously renewing digital environment.
Distribution of websites by age (cohorts):
- Up to 1 year: 24.3% (6,207 websites)
- 1–3 years: 24.5% (6,240 websites)
- 3–5 years: 14% (3,574 websites)
- 5–10 years: 22.4% (5,712 websites)
- Over 10 years: 14.7% (3,741 websites)
Conclusion: Approximately half of all active websites have been launched within the past three years. This indicates a high level of recent digital adoption, but also suggests relatively high attrition rates, as a significant proportion of projects do not persist beyond five years.
2. Six-Month Dynamics: Expansion Trends in the .GE Domain Zone
To evaluate short-term dynamics, we examined domain activity over a six-month period (October 1, 2025 – April 2026). The observed data indicate net growth:
- Discontinued domains (expired or abandoned): 3,477
- New registrations: 5,909
The .ge domain zone demonstrates sustained expansion. For each discontinued website, approximately two new domains are registered. This reflects ongoing experimentation and entry of new market participants into the digital space.
3. Sectoral Variation in Website Lifespan
Websites were categorized by business sector to assess differences in lifespan across industries. The results reveal substantial variation between sectors.
Top 5 Sectors by Median Lifespan
| № | Business sector | Number of websites | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insurance | 54 | 7.84 years |
| 2 | Banking | 291 | 7.79 years |
| 3 | Broadcast Media (TV & Radio) | 102 | 7.56 years |
| 4 | Higher Education Institutions | 305 | 7.23 years |
| 5 | Schools | 180 | 7.17 years |
These sectors are characterized by higher barriers to entry, substantial capital investment, and institutional stability, which contribute to longer website lifespans. Similarly, government-related websites (6.58 years) and religious organizations (6.39 years) demonstrate above-average longevity.
Sectors with the Shortest Median Lifespan (High Turnover)
| № | Business sector | Number of websites | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nightlife (clubs, bars) | 32 | 0.97 years |
| 2 | Medical diagnostics | 20 | 1.02 years |
| 3 | Car shipping | 60 | 1.03 years |
| 4 | Automotive services | 240 | 1.07 years |
| 5 | Gambling (casinos and betting) | 366 | 1.16 years |
Sectors with high operational turnover in the offline economy exhibit similar patterns online. Websites in industries such as restaurants (1.87 years), cleaning services (1.74 years), and nightlife rarely persist beyond two years. In many cases, businesses either cease operations or transition to social media platforms. The gambling sector frequently relies on short-lived domains, including mirror sites and temporary landing pages.
4. Technological Factors and Website Longevity
The choice of content management system (CMS) is also associated with differences in website lifespan.
Websites built on Drupal (median 7.66 years) and Joomla! (7.20 years) tend to be significantly older. These platforms are often associated with long-standing projects that have undergone limited technological updates.
WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the dataset (over 6,600 websites). Its median lifespan of 3.25 years closely aligns with the overall median, indicating its role as a standard solution across a wide range of use cases.
Websites built using Wix exhibit shorter lifespans (median 2.86 years). These platforms are commonly used for rapid deployment, short-term projects, or experimental initiatives.
Conclusion
The Georgian web ecosystem can be characterized as dynamic and expanding, with a relatively high rate of turnover. Established institutional actors provide continuity and stability, while small and medium-sized businesses contribute to ongoing churn through frequent market entry and exit. The findings highlight the coexistence of long-term institutional presence and short-term project cycles within the same digital environment.
This study was prepared by the GDE.ge analytics team based on publicly available data from the .GE domain zone database.