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2023: These Are the World’s 12 Largest Hyperscalers
U.S. tech giants still top the charts, but hyperscalers in China are not far behind.
Data Center Knowledge
February 7, 2023
5 Min Read
Ted Hsu / Alamy
Hyperscalers have often partnered with colo providers to meet demand and address their needs. But as they grow ever larger, hyperscalers have turned to building their own data centers.
“Scale is a key determining factor behind the choice to self-build, but other variables have emerged, including the desire for vendor reduction, customization and control of design and access to renewable energy resources,” notes the latest report on the global hyperscale data center self-build landscape from Structure Research, a research and consulting firm focusing on tracking the internet infrastructure market.
In its report, Structure Research estimated that in 2022, the total amount of global hyperscale self-build capacity reached 13,177 megawatts (MW). The world’s four largest hyperscale platforms — AWS, Google Cloud, Meta, and Microsoft Azure — represent around 78% of that capacity.
Geographically, North America has the largest operational self-build capacity, with U.S. hyperscalers accounting for 77% of that capacity. This is followed by the Asia-Pacific region — wherein China accounts for 24% of capacity — EMEA, and Latin America. Unsurprisingly, the dominant hyperscalers in all regions except Latin America remain to be Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, yet Apple, Oracle, and French firm OVH are not far behind.
In China, homegrown companies Alibaba, Huawei, Baidu, Tencent, and Kingsoft Cloud are the leading hyperscalers, but international players such as Amazon and Apple have also worked their way into the country’s standings.
Here are the world’s 12 largest hyperscalers, ranked according to self-build critical power capacity:
1. Google
Entrance view of a Google data center in Eemshaven, The Netherlands.
2022 operational data center capacity: 3,024 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 2,905 MW
2. Microsoft
Drone view of Microsoft Agriport cloud datacenter in Hollands Kroon taken on January 8, 2023.
2022 operational data center capacity: 2,176 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 3,344 MW
3. Amazon
Amazon’s Seattle headquarters feature distinctive spheres.
2022 operational data center capacity: 2,480 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 2,533 MW
4. Meta
Site Manager Tony Perea tours the main data frame room at the Meta Los Lunas data center.
2022 operational data center capacity: 1,790 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 2,595 MW
5. Apple
Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows a data center of Apple in Gui'an New Area of southwest China's Guizhou Province.
2022 operational data center capacity: 600 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 1,403 MW
6. Alibaba
A technician examines the pipeline at Alibaba's data center in Zhangbei County, north China's Hebei Province.
2022 operational data center capacity: 1,350 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 487 MW
7. Huawei
Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the
2022 operational data center capacity: 494 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 192 MW
8. Baidu
Lobby of Baidu headquarters.
2022 operational data center capacity: 608 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 36 MW
9. Tencent
A staff member introduces Tencent's Internet Data Center (IDC) cloud computing service during a government-organized media tour to Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province China September 27, 2020.
2022 operational data center capacity: 487 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 152 MW
10. OVH
Firefighters near large data center OVH Cloud in Strasbourg, France.
2022 operational data center capacity: 52 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 6 MW
11. Kingsoft Cloud
Dr. Hongjiang Zhang, CEO of Kingsoft and former Managing Director of Microsoft Advanced Technology Center (ATC), attends the 14th China Internet Conference (CIC) in Beijing, China.
2022 operational data center capacity: 36 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 0 MW
12. Oracle
Oracle signage on the firm’s headquarters in Austin, TX.
2022 operational data center capacity: 21 MW
Future capacity (under development and land banks): 0 MW
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