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Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

Does Arizona rank in the top 10 for data centers nationwide?

Tallulah Anne, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
yes

Arizona has 164 data centers statewide, outpacing much of the country and ranking 7th nationally, according to Data Center Map, which tracks the centers globally. Most of Arizona’s data centers are concentrated in Maricopa County and surrounding areas, with roughly 10 located in the southern part of the state.

The centers support cloud computing, AI services and other digital‑infrastructure needs, helping attract major tech companies and related jobs to the state. But they’ve also raised concerns about water use, energy consumption and other environmental impacts, especially in drought‑prone areas. 

Almost all of Arizona is currently experiencing some level of drought, and many data centers require millions of gallons of water annually for cooling systems. The resulting strain on already limited water resources has sparked debate over whether the industry’s economic benefits outweigh its environmental costs.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.

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