Data center electricity use was 485 TWh in 2025 and is projected to reach 950 TWh by 2030.
Why this market is moving now
- Leading hyperscalers and neoclouds announced a 75% rise in capital spending for 2026, to $715 billion.
- Electricity use by AI-focused data centers rose 50% in 2025, so new sites need large power and grid capacity.
- Energy sector investment tied to the data center build-out reached about $105 billion in 2025.
- Cumulative data center investment of $3.9 trillion is projected for 2026 to 2030.
Key figures
Global figures for this market, with the year each one describes. Use Cite to copy a reference to this page.
| Figure | Value | Year | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global spending on data center IT and other equipment, plus energy for data centers, reached $565 billion in 2025, up 17% from 2024. | 565 USD billion | 2025 | |
| Energy sector investment for the global data center build-out, covering grid upgrades, power equipment and generation, was about $105 billion in 2025. | 105 USD billion | 2025 | |
| Cumulative global investment in data centers is projected at $3.9 trillion between 2026 and 2030. | 3.9 USD trillion | 2026 | |
| Leading hyperscalers and neoclouds announced a 75% increase in capital spending for 2026, to $715 billion. | 715 USD billion | 2026 | |
| Global data center electricity use is projected to roughly double from 485 TWh in 2025 to 950 TWh in 2030, about 3% of world electricity demand. | 485 TWh | 2025 | |
| Electricity use by AI-focused data centers worldwide rose 50% in 2025, faster than data centers overall. | 50 % growth | 2025 | |
| The United States accounted for 45% of global data center electricity use in 2024, China for 25% and Europe for 15%. | 45 % of global data center electricity | 2024 | |
| Hyperscale companies operated 1,360 large data centers at the end of 2025 and accounted for 48% of worldwide data center capacity. | 1,360 hyperscale data centers | 2025 | |
| Meta expects 2026 capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, of $135 billion to $145 billion. | 135-145 USD billion | 2026 | |
| Alphabet spent $51,355 million on property and equipment in the third quarter of 2026, against $23,953 million a year earlier. | 51,355 USD million | 2026 |
Calculated figures (shares, changes and prices per kilogram) are plain arithmetic on the reported values. Read how we work.
Companies to watch
Meta Platforms
Expects 2026 capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion, including principal payments on finance leases.
Alphabet
Spent $51,355 million on property and equipment in the third quarter of 2026, more than double a year earlier.
Microsoft
Reports quarterly capital spending on cloud and AI infrastructure in its earnings releases (
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the global market - 03Global market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Countries and regions
Demand, supply and trade by country and region - 05Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 06Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 07Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 08Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 09Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 10Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 11Method and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the global AI data center construction market?
Global spending on data center IT and other equipment, plus energy for data centers, reached $565 billion in 2025, up 17% from 2024. Energy sector investment for the build-out, such as grids and generation, was about $105 billion in 2025.
How fast is global data center investment growing?
Leading hyperscalers and neoclouds announced a 75% increase in capital spending for 2026, to $715 billion. Cumulative investment in data centers is projected at $3.9 trillion between 2026 and 2030.
How much electricity do data centers use worldwide?
Data centers used 485 TWh in 2025, and use is projected to reach 950 TWh in 2030, about 3% of world electricity demand. Electricity use by AI-focused data centers rose 50% in 2025.
Which countries use the most data center electricity?
The United States accounted for 45% of global data center electricity use in 2024, China for 25% and Europe for 15%.
Which companies spend the most on AI data centers?
Meta expects 2026 capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion. Alphabet spent $51,355 million on property and equipment in the third quarter of 2026, against $23,953 million a year earlier.
How many hyperscale data centers are there in the world?
Hyperscale companies operated 1,360 large data centers at the end of 2025 and accounted for 48% of worldwide data center capacity, counting both owned and leased sites.
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