Data center demand has exceeded expectations in the first half of 2026 in North America, with hyperscaler-driven growth pushing absorption to a record 25GW, according to JLL.
In its midyear 2026 North America Data Center Report, the commercial real estate services firm said that data center demand in North America doubled year-over-year in H1 2026, as companies compete for “scarce” capacity.
According to the report, data center demand is now five times what it was two years ago, with vacancy rates in the region sustained at 1 percent for the third consecutive year, despite “unprecedented” construction activity.
Meanwhile, rental rates have increased by nearly 70 percent since 2020. Rent growth is averaging 9 percent annually. JLL expects this trend to hold through to 2030.
JLL said North America has 66GW of data center capacity under construction, of which 95 percent is pre-committed.
