As of 2025, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan continue to lead the expansion of data infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s Asia Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, these three countries are actively pushing forward with large-scale data centre development projects.
Malaysia stands out for its rapid advancement, with plans to significantly reduce its population-to-megawatt ratio — from over 60,000 people per megawatt today to approximately 14,000 by 2030. This highlights the country’s aggressive and focused investment in digital infrastructure.
Thailand is also showing strong progress, with a projected 70% drop in its population-to-megawatt ratio — from nearly 800,000 people per megawatt in 2024 to around 220,000 by 2030. This signals a promising outlook for the domestic data centre market, as the country continues to ramp up development and capacity.
Meanwhile, Japan is positioning itself as a key regional hub, with its ratio expected to decline from 94,000 to 30,000 people per megawatt by 2030. This reflects Japan’s political stability and its ability to attract substantial foreign investment in the sector.
Pritesh Swamy, Head of Data Centre Insights at Cushman & Wakefield, notes that the Asia-Pacific region continues to see strong demand for data infrastructure, as many markets remain underdeveloped. The regional average stands at more than 350,000 people per megawatt — significantly higher than in the United States, where the figure is around 30,000. As such, investment in digital infrastructure has become a crucial enabler of economic growth in the digital age.
Thailand, in particular, has emerged as a market to watch. Its rapid data centre development is enabling the country to position itself as a new regional hub for cloud and AI investments. This growth is driven by fast construction timelines and increasing capacity to meet future demand.
In summary, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan remain at the forefront of data infrastructure development in Asia-Pacific. Their proactive strategies offer a competitive edge in attracting investment and supporting the rapidly growing demand for digital services. Ultimately, their commitment to digital infrastructure will be a key driver of sustainable economic success in the digital era.
Full report: Asia Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape External Link