Market overview
The global data center real estate market is worth USD 101 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 344 bn by 2036, growing at a 13.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Wholesale and hyperscale is the largest by lease type segment.
| Scope | Leased data centre capacity: colocation, wholesale and powered-shell space let to cloud, enterprise and AI customers, measured as rental and interconnection revenue. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Services and Utilities |
| Value 2025 | USD 88.0 bn |
| Value 2026 | USD 101 bn |
| Value 2036 | USD 344 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 13.0% |
| Volume 2026 | 32,040 MW |
| Volume 2036 | 103,470 MW |
| Average price 2026 | USD 3,159,000 per MW |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Data Center Real Estate market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 101 bn |
| 2027 | USD 114 bn |
| 2028 | USD 129 bn |
| 2029 | USD 146 bn |
| 2030 | USD 165 bn |
| 2031 | USD 186 bn |
| 2032 | USD 211 bn |
| 2033 | USD 238 bn |
| 2034 | USD 269 bn |
| 2035 | USD 304 bn |
| 2036 | USD 344 bn |
Data Center Real Estate market segmentation
By lease type
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and hyperscale | 48.0% | 56.7% | USD 48.6 bn | 14.9% |
| Retail colocation | 40.0% | 30.3% | USD 40.5 bn | 9.9% |
| Build-to-suit and powered shell | 12.0% | 13.0% | USD 12.1 bn | 13.9% |
By customer
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud and hyperscale | 44.0% | 48.1% | USD 44.5 bn | 14.0% |
| AI and high performance computing | 18.0% | 30.1% | USD 18.2 bn | 19.0% |
| Enterprise | 24.0% | 12.8% | USD 24.3 bn | 6.1% |
| Telecom and content providers | 14.0% | 9.0% | USD 14.2 bn | 8.1% |
By facility size
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 MW | 24.0% | 13.4% | USD 24.3 bn | 6.6% |
| 10 to 50 MW | 36.0% | 31.8% | USD 36.4 bn | 11.6% |
| Over 50 MW | 40.0% | 54.7% | USD 40.5 bn | 16.6% |
By power density
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 8 kW per rack | 33.0% | 19.0% | USD 33.4 bn | 6.9% |
| 8 to 20 kW per rack | 45.0% | 38.0% | USD 45.5 bn | 11.1% |
| Over 20 kW per rack | 22.0% | 43.0% | USD 22.3 bn | 20.8% |
By cooling method
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air cooling | 61.0% | 38.0% | USD 61.7 bn | 7.8% |
| Liquid cooling | 14.0% | 34.0% | USD 14.2 bn | 23.5% |
| Hybrid air and liquid | 25.0% | 28.0% | USD 25.3 bn | 14.3% |
Top 25 countries for data center real estate by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 84.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 96.1%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | USD 43.5 bn | 43.0% | USD 154 bn | 13.4% |
| 2 | China | USD 11.1 bn | 11.0% | USD 33.0 bn | 11.5% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | USD 5.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 16.5 bn | 12.5% |
| 4 | Germany | USD 5.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 16.5 bn | 12.5% |
| 5 | Japan | USD 5.1 bn | 5.0% | USD 13.7 bn | 10.5% |
| 6 | Singapore | USD 3.5 bn | 3.5% | USD 8.6 bn | 9.3% |
| 7 | India | USD 3.5 bn | 3.5% | USD 19.2 bn | 18.4% |
| 8 | Australia | USD 3.0 bn | 3.0% | USD 10.6 bn | 13.4% |
| 9 | France | USD 3.0 bn | 3.0% | USD 10.0 bn | 12.6% |
| 10 | Netherlands | USD 2.5 bn | 2.5% | USD 6.9 bn | 10.5% |
| 11 | Ireland | USD 2.4 bn | 2.4% | USD 8.3 bn | 13.1% |
| 12 | Canada | USD 1.9 bn | 1.9% | USD 6.6 bn | 13.1% |
| 13 | South Korea | USD 1.5 bn | 1.5% | USD 5.3 bn | 13.2% |
| 14 | Italy | USD 1.2 bn | 1.2% | USD 4.3 bn | 13.1% |
| 15 | Spain | USD 1.0 bn | 1.0% | USD 3.4 bn | 13.1% |
| 16 | Sweden | USD 799 mn | 0.8% | USD 2.7 bn | 13.1% |
| 17 | Brazil | USD 638 mn | 0.6% | USD 2.7 bn | 15.4% |
| 18 | Hong Kong | USD 516 mn | 0.5% | USD 1.5 bn | 11.3% |
| 19 | United Arab Emirates | USD 415 mn | 0.4% | USD 1.8 bn | 15.5% |
| 20 | Malaysia | USD 334 mn | 0.3% | USD 1.6 bn | 17.1% |
| 21 | Indonesia | USD 263 mn | 0.3% | USD 1.3 bn | 17.1% |
| 22 | Switzerland | USD 213 mn | 0.2% | USD 721 mn | 13.0% |
| 23 | Mexico | USD 172 mn | 0.2% | USD 721 mn | 15.4% |
| 24 | Poland | USD 142 mn | 0.1% | USD 584 mn | 15.2% |
| 25 | South Africa | USD 111 mn | 0.1% | USD 481 mn | 15.8% |
| Rest of world | USD 3.9 bn | 3.9% | USD 13.0 bn | 12.6% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Equinix
- Digital Realty
- NTT Global Data Centers
- Vantage Data Centers
- CyrusOne
- QTS
- Iron Mountain Data Centers
- Compass Datacenters
- Global Switch
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- STACK Infrastructure
- CoreSite
- Switch
- GDS Holdings
- AirTrunk
- Chindata Group
- NEXTDC
- Colt Data Centre Services
- ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Princeton Digital Group
- DataBank
- Aligned Data Centers
- Flexential
- EdgeConneX
- Cologix
- Yondr Group
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the data center real estate market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 13.0% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by lease type, by customer, by facility size, by power density, by cooling method. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the data center real estate market?
The global data center real estate market is estimated at USD 88.0 bn in 2025 and USD 101 bn in 2026.
How fast will the data center real estate market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 344 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 13.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 242 bn.
Which country is the largest market for data center real estate?
United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 43.5 bn in 2026, 43.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 59.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 18.4% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which data center real estate segment is largest?
In the by lease type split, Wholesale and hyperscale is the largest segment with 48.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading data center real estate companies?
Global leaders include Equinix, Digital Realty, NTT Global Data Centers, Vantage Data Centers.
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