Countries With the Most Data Centers in 2026

Data centers are the infrastructure layer that keeps the global digital economy running. Every Google search, cloud application, AI model, online payment, and streaming video relies on physical server facilities distributed across the world.

As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data analytics, and enterprise digitization accelerates, the number and scale of data centers have become a clear indicator of a country’s technological strength. Here’s a list of countries with the most data centers in 2026.

The United States leads by a wide margin, with more than 5,400 operational data centers. That accounts for roughly 45 percent of the world’s total by site count. Northern Virginia remains the largest data center cluster globally, followed by major hubs in Texas, California, Illinois, and Arizona. The country’s scale reflects decades of enterprise IT demand, a massive cloud market, and the presence of the world’s largest technology companies.

The surge in generative AI has accelerated construction across the country. Big Tech firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta, are investing tens of billions of dollars into new hyperscale campuses designed to support AI training and inference workloads. These facilities require far more power and cooling than traditional cloud data centers. In some regions, especially Virginia, electricity supply and grid capacity have become constraints. Even so, the U.S. remains the central hub for global cloud infrastructure and AI computing capacity.

Germany hosts more than 520 operational data centers, making it the largest market in continental Europe. Frankfurt is the primary hub and home to DE-CIX, one of the world’s largest internet exchange points by traffic volume. Other important clusters are located in Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. Germany’s position reflects its role as Europe’s industrial and financial backbone, with strong enterprise IT demand across manufacturing, automotive, banking, and logistics sectors.

Investment continues as cloud adoption expands and AI workloads grow across European enterprises. Operators are building higher-density facilities with stricter energy efficiency standards in response to EU climate regulations. Power pricing and sustainability requirements are shaping where new projects are approved, but Germany remains central to Europe’s cloud and colocation infrastructure.

The United Kingdom operates more than 500 data centers, with London serving as the dominant cluster. The city’s long-standing role as a global financial center has driven strong colocation demand, while subsea cable connections link the U.K. directly to North America and continental Europe. Secondary growth markets include Manchester, Birmingham, and Slough, where land availability supports new builds.

The rise of artificial intelligence and cloud migration is driving new hyperscale expansion beyond central London. Power availability and land constraints are pushing developers outward, but demand remains strong from fintech, media, and enterprise customers. The U.K. continues to function as a major gateway for transatlantic data traffic and European cloud services.

China has roughly 450 operational data centers, concentrated in major metropolitan areas such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. While its site count trails the United States, many Chinese facilities are built at hyperscale levels, designed to handle massive volumes of cloud computing, e-commerce transactions, and AI training workloads. The country’s large domestic internet ecosystem underpins this scale.

Government initiatives have encouraged the development of large data center clusters in inland provinces, where electricity is more abundant and often cheaper. These western regions are increasingly hosting high-performance computing and AI infrastructure. As China continues investing in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, its total compute capacity is expanding rapidly, even if its site count grows more gradually.

Canada operates more than 330 data centers, with Toronto and Montreal as its largest hubs. Montreal has attracted significant hyperscale investment due to access to low-cost hydroelectric power and a cooler climate that reduces cooling expenses. Vancouver and Calgary also serve as regional infrastructure nodes supporting domestic and cross-border traffic.

Canada benefits from close integration with the United States digital economy. Many global cloud providers maintain Canadian regions to meet data residency and compliance requirements. Stable energy supplies and strong fiber connectivity support steady growth, positioning Canada as both a domestic infrastructure market and a strategic extension of North American cloud capacity.

France hosts more than 320 operational data centers, centered largely around Paris. The country serves as a key digital node within the European Union, supporting enterprise IT systems, cloud services, and public sector infrastructure. Strong fiber networks and regulatory alignment with EU data protection standards have supported steady development.

Recent expansion has been linked to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing deployments. France has promoted digital sovereignty initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic cloud capabilities. While energy policy and permitting processes influence the pace of development, France remains one of Europe’s most important and steadily growing data center markets.

Australia operates more than 310 data centers, concentrated primarily in Sydney and Melbourne. These cities anchor the country’s digital infrastructure, supporting enterprise systems, financial services, telecommunications, and government workloads. Due to Australia’s geographic distance from other major markets, domestic data center capacity is critical for latency-sensitive applications.

Global hyperscale cloud providers have expanded their footprint in Australia in recent years to support regional demand. Investment is focused on scaling power capacity and improving energy efficiency. As digital services deepen across Asia-Pacific, Australia continues to strengthen its position as a regional cloud and enterprise infrastructure hub.

The Netherlands hosts nearly 300 data centers, with Amsterdam serving as one of Europe’s most important connectivity gateways. The Amsterdam Internet Exchange is among the largest globally by traffic, making the country a central transit point for international data flows. Its strategic location and strong fiber networks have attracted global cloud and colocation providers.

In recent years, energy concerns and regulatory oversight have slowed certain new developments. Even so, the Netherlands retains an outsized influence within Europe’s digital ecosystem due to its connectivity density. Its infrastructure supports content distribution networks, multinational enterprises, and cross-border cloud services.

Russia operates around 250 data centers, with the majority located in Moscow and surrounding regions. The market is largely driven by domestic enterprise, financial institutions, telecommunications firms, and government agencies. International hyperscale presence is limited compared to Western markets.

Digital modernization efforts within key industries continue to support moderate growth. Investment is concentrated in major urban centers where power and connectivity infrastructure are strongest. While geopolitical factors influence foreign participation, domestic demand sustains the country’s data center footprint.

Japan hosts more than 220 data centers, concentrated mainly in Tokyo and Osaka. As one of Asia’s most advanced digital economies, Japan supports strong enterprise IT demand across manufacturing, finance, and telecommunications. Its dense fiber networks and mature telecom infrastructure underpin reliable data center operations.

Japan is investing in next-generation facilities to support artificial intelligence, robotics, and high-performance computing applications. Earthquake resilience standards significantly influence facility design, increasing construction complexity and cost. Despite geographic constraints, Japan remains a critical infrastructure hub within the Asia-Pacific region.