The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure has spurred explosive growth in demand and capacity of data centers globally.
In 2005, global installed data center capacity stood at 21.4 gigawatts (GW). As of 2025, that figure stands at an estimated 114 gigawatts — up more than fivefold in 20 years, according to statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Data center capacity grew fastest in 2019 at 18.6%, and 2025 is set to be the second-best year with an estimated 17.7% increase in installed capacity.
These energy-intensive facilities consume about 485 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, representing 1.7% of global demand. By 2030, electricity consumption for data centers is projected to reach around 945 TWh.
Regionally, the U.S. remains the dominant data center hub globally, both in terms of installed capacity and electricity usage, followed by China and Europe. The U.S. and China are also projected to be the biggest drivers of data center electricity consumption through 2030.
