The internet is an ever-expanding digital universe, with millions of websites created every year. As of March 2025, there are approximately 1.13 billion websites on the internet. However, only about 200 million of these websites are actively maintained and visited, while the rest are inactive or parked domains. In this article, we will explore the history of the web, the most popular websites, the role of content management systems, mobile vs. desktop traffic trends, and the future of websites.
The World Wide Web was invented in March 1989 by British physicist Tim Berners-Lee while working at CERN in Switzerland. His groundbreaking proposal introduced key technologies such as the first web server, the first browser and editor (the “WorldWideWeb.app”), the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and the first version of HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The first-ever website, info.cern.ch, went live on August 6, 1991.
On April 30, 1993, CERN made the World Wide Web technology available on a royalty-free basis, allowing it to flourish worldwide. The web experienced exponential growth, with over 630 million websites by 2013, a number that has since soared to over 1 billion. Today, Apache and Nginx remain dominant web servers, powering more than 50% of all websites.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, search engines like Google revolutionised web navigation. The rise of social media platforms in the 2000s and cloud computing in the 2010s further transformed how people engage with online content. Today, the internet is a vital part of global communication, commerce, and information exchange.
Active vs. Inactive Websites
While 1.13 billion websites exist, only 200 million are regularly updated and used. This means that approximately 75% of websites are either parked, abandoned, or under maintenance.
Not all websites receive significant traffic. A handful of websites dominate global internet usage.
Data source: https://explodingtopics.com/blog/most-visited-websites
Additionally, Google dominates global web searches, accounting for 90.68% of searches worldwide as of December 2023.
Content Management Systems (CMS) make website creation and management easier for individuals and businesses.
The way users access websites has evolved dramatically over the years, with mobile usage now dominating desktop traffic.
The internet is continuously evolving, with emerging technologies shaping its future. Some key trends include:
The web has come a long way since its inception in 1989, with over 1.13 billion websites today. While only 200 million websites remain active, the internet continues to grow, with thousands of new websites launched daily. As mobile browsing, AI, and Web3 technologies continue to shape the future, website owners must adapt to remain relevant in the ever-changing digital landscape.
Hind is a Data Scientist and Computer Science graduate with a deep passion for research and development in data analytics and machine learning. With a solid foundation in business intelligence and statistics, Hind has experience working with a variety of programming languages such as Python, Java, and R. Through previous roles in internships and remote projects, Hind has gained expertise in transforming raw data into actionable insights. Focused on advancing the field of data science, Hind contributes to research and articles exploring the latest trends and breakthroughs in R&D.