EstimateAll sizesGlobal
485 TWh
of electricity used by data centers worldwide in 2025, up 17%; the IEA expects about 950 TWh by 2030
EstimateUpdated 23 Oct 2026
4.4%of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028
4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028 (2023, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report)
EstimateChecked at source, 23 Oct 2026All sizesUSAAI · Energy
US data center electricity use (Berkeley Lab)
| Group | Terawatt hours |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2023 | 176 |
In plain words
What this number really says
4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028 (2023).
4.4%
the latest figure (2023)
Estimate
type of source
Why you can trust it. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: estimate, modelled or extrapolated, not counted.
Key facts
- Period 2023
- Region USA
- Company size All sizes
- Next data Irregular
Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, 2023
Compare
How 4.4% compares
Where does your business stand?
Compare yourself with the published data for firms your size.
24.3%
of US firms with 1 to 4 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, close to the 24.6% national rate (small firms, USA). All firms: 24.6%.
Most firms your size have not started either, so an early start is still an edge.
US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey, Oct 2026
Method and use
How it was measured, and how to use it
How it was measured
- Publisher
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report
- Source type
- Estimate: Modelled or extrapolated, not counted
- What it measures
- 4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028
- Data period
- 2023 (ends 31 Dec 2023)
- Published by the source
- 15 Jan 2025
- In the source's words
Data centers consumed about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity in 2023 and, depending upon how much the rest of the economy grows, are expected to consume between 6.7 and 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028.
- Checked at source
- 23 Oct 2026: Read on newscenter.lbl.gov (15 Jan 2025 news release on the Berkeley Lab report for DOE) on 2026-10-23. Modelled estimate.
- Reuse
- Public (US DOE lab); quote with credit. Modelled estimates for 2023 with scenarios to 2028.
- Next expected update
- Irregular (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, irregular)
- Original page
- newscenter.lbl.gov: United States Data Center Energy Usage Report
- Data files
- CSV · JSON (stable links)
Full change log
No changes recorded yet. First checked at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
Cite this number
APA
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. (2025). 4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028. Via digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-data-centers-share-of-electricity
MLA
"4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028." Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report, 2023. digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-data-centers-share-of-electricity.
HTML link
<a href="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-data-centers-share-of-electricity">4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028</a> (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2023)
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FAQ
Questions about this number
What is the latest figure for energy (USA)?
4.4% of all US electricity was used by data centers in 2023 (176 TWh); Berkeley Lab projects 6.7% to 12% by 2028, for 2023, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report. We checked it at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
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