2025 Key Takeaways
- If the global data center market could be summed up in two words, they would be “accelerated growth.” The industry grew rapidly throughout the year, and operational capacity across the 97 markets tracked in this report now exceeds 40GW globally.
- Power availability remains the industry’s top concern. Foundational data center demand, which includes cloud computing, data storage, and data processing, grew steadily, while demand from AI and machine learning surged.
- Emerging markets attracted heightened levels of interest due to shorter power delivery timelines, favorable land pricing, and less competition for prime parcels. However, established markets still capture the bulk of data center activity.
- Investment in the data center and related infrastructure industries grew considerably in 2024. Joint ventures became more common, institutional capital commitments rose, M&A activity increased, and hyperscale capital expenditures jumped 58% year-over-year (YOY).