New leaked documents reveal that Amazon’s physical footprint is massive—and far larger than anyone previously estimated. Data reported by SourceMaterial indicates that Amazon Web Services (AWS) operated more than 900 data centers across 50 countries in 2023. Before this leak, industry experts guessed the number sat somewhere between 100 and 475. Given the explosive demand for AI over the last two years, the current count is likely much higher.
Amazon rarely speaks about specific building counts. Instead, the tech giant prefers to categorize its network into broad “regions” and “availability zones.” Officially, AWS lists 38 regions and 120 availability zones. The leaked records show a stark contrast between these public figures and reality. For instance, while Amazon publicly identifies details for four data centers in Germany, the internal data suggests they actually run nearly 50. Similarly, in Mumbai, where Amazon claims three zones, records point to 16 active facilities.
The company continues to invest heavily in expansion. AWS has lined up multi-billion dollar projects to support this growth, including a $15 billion investment in Northern India and a $3 billion campus in Mississippi. They also plan to spend $50 billion on infrastructure specifically for the US government.
This massive scale puts Amazon in a tough spot when it comes to the environment. The company faces heavy scrutiny over its carbon emissions. To defend its record, Amazon argues its massive scale actually helps efficiency. They claim a global Power Usage Effectiveness rating of 1.15, which beats the industry average of 1.25. Amazon also states that its centralized infrastructure is about four times more energy-efficient than typical corporate server rooms because it can afford the latest, most efficient chips. Despite the environmental concerns, the race for AI dominance means Amazon will likely keep building at a breakneck pace.
