Data Centres in Africa 2026: The Economic Report
- With over 40 countries enacting data protection laws, data centres are increasingly positioned as critical national infrastructure; however, Africa still accounts for only 0.6% of global capacity.
- Active capacity stands at 360 MW, with 238 MW under construction and 656 MW planned, though this growth is projected to maintain — rather than increase — Africa’s global share.
- Power availability has overtaken connectivity as the principal constraint, with operators adopting long-term PPAs and energy-led siting models.
- While internet access gaps have narrowed, a 64% usage gap persists, and limited local hosting capacity continues to affect latency and AI-readiness.
