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.

Brief History of the World Wide Web

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.

Key Website Statistics:

New Websites Daily: Around 252,000 new websites are created every day.
Domain Registrations: As of Q2 2024, there were 362.4 million domain name registrations, with .com remaining the most popular.
Website Lifespan: The average lifespan of a website is 2 years and 7 months before it is abandoned or replaced.

The Role of Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems (CMS) make website creation and management easier for individuals and businesses.

CMS Market Share:

WordPress: The most popular CMS, powering over 60% of all websites.
Shopify, Wix, Joomla, and Drupal are other widely used CMS platforms.
Open-source CMS solutions like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal continue to grow, whereas proprietary CMS usage is declining.

Mobile vs. Desktop Web Traffic

The way users access websites has evolved dramatically over the years, with mobile usage now dominating desktop traffic.

Key Mobile Traffic Stats:

As of December 2023, two-thirds of global web traffic came from mobile devices.
Websites optimised for mobile perform better in search rankings and user engagement.
Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites in search rankings due to its mobile-first indexing approach.

The Future of the Web

The internet is continuously evolving, with emerging technologies shaping its future. Some key trends include:

AI-Driven Websites: Artificial intelligence is being used for personalised content, chatbots, and automation.
Web3 & Decentralisation: Blockchain-based websites and decentralised domain systems are on the rise.
Cybersecurity & Privacy: Stricter data protection regulations and security measures are becoming more important.
Voice Search Optimisation: More users rely on voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to browse the web.

Conclusion

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.