Fermi question · Technology
About how much electricity did data centers worldwide consume in 2025?
Make a fast, defensible estimate before you reveal the reference answer. Think in factors, not exact recall.
What is your estimate?
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Reference answer
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≈ 485 TWh per year
Fermi estimates are judged by scale, so a reasonable approximation can still earn a strong score.
One way to estimate it
Estimate average global data-center power draw, then multiply by hours in a year.
- Average load≈ 55 GW
- Hours per year≈ 8,760
- Estimate55 GW × 8,760 h ≈ 482 TWh
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