diff --git a/.changelog/37002.txt b/.changelog/37002.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b6795a33d3a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/37002.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:enhancement
+data-source/aws_instance: Add `launch_time` attribute
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source.go b/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source.go
index c382443ba122..42d9c2dfe7f6 100644
--- a/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source.go
+++ b/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source.go
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ func DataSourceInstance() *schema.Resource {
 				Type:     schema.TypeString,
 				Computed: true,
 			},
+			"launch_time": {
+				Type:     schema.TypeString,
+				Computed: true,
+			},
 			"maintenance_options": {
 				Type:     schema.TypeList,
 				Computed: true,
@@ -479,6 +483,7 @@ func instanceDescriptionAttributes(ctx context.Context, d *schema.ResourceData,
 	d.Set("ami", instance.ImageId)
 	d.Set(names.AttrInstanceType, instanceType)
 	d.Set("key_name", instance.KeyName)
+	d.Set("launch_time", instance.LaunchTime.Format(time.RFC3339))
 	d.Set("outpost_arn", instance.OutpostArn)
 	d.Set("private_dns", instance.PrivateDnsName)
 	d.Set("private_ip", instance.PrivateIpAddress)
diff --git a/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source_test.go b/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source_test.go
index 84e223a0ac4c..d8b31d377b50 100644
--- a/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source_test.go
+++ b/internal/service/ec2/ec2_instance_data_source_test.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_basic(t *testing.T) {
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrARN, resourceName, names.AttrARN),
 					resource.TestCheckNoResourceAttr(datasourceName, "user_data_base64"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttr(datasourceName, "outpost_arn", ""),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 				),
 			},
 		},
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_tags(t *testing.T) {
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "tags.%", resourceName, "tags.%"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 				),
 			},
 		},
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_azUserData(t *testing.T) {
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrAvailabilityZone, resourceName, names.AttrAvailabilityZone),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "user_data", resourceName, "user_data"),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 				),
 			},
 		},
@@ -103,6 +106,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_gp2IopsDevice(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.#", resourceName, "root_block_device.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type"),
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_gp3ThroughputDevice(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.#", resourceName, "root_block_device.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type"),
@@ -157,6 +162,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_blockDevices(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.#", resourceName, "root_block_device.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_size"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type", resourceName, "root_block_device.0.volume_type"),
@@ -220,6 +226,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_rootInstanceStore(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ebs_block_device.#", resourceName, "ebs_block_device.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ebs_optimized", resourceName, "ebs_optimized"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "root_block_device.#", resourceName, "root_block_device.#"),
@@ -245,6 +252,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_privateIP(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "private_dns_name_options.#", resourceName, "private_dns_name_options.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "private_dns_name_options.0.enable_resource_name_dns_aaaa_record", resourceName, "private_dns_name_options.0.enable_resource_name_dns_aaaa_record"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "private_dns_name_options.0.enable_resource_name_dns_a_record", resourceName, "private_dns_name_options.0.enable_resource_name_dns_a_record"),
@@ -272,6 +280,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_secondaryPrivateIPs(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "secondary_private_ips", resourceName, "secondary_private_ips"),
 				),
 			},
@@ -295,6 +304,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_ipv6Addresses(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ipv6_addresses.#", resourceName, "ipv6_address_count"),
 				),
 			},
@@ -324,6 +334,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_keyPair(t *testing.T) {
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "tags.%", resourceName, "tags.%"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "key_name", resourceName, "key_name"),
 				),
 			},
@@ -347,6 +358,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_vpc(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "user_data", resourceName, "user_data"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "associate_public_ip_address", resourceName, "associate_public_ip_address"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "tenancy", resourceName, "tenancy"),
@@ -393,6 +405,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_securityGroups(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "user_data", resourceName, "user_data"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "vpc_security_group_ids.#", resourceName, "vpc_security_group_ids.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "security_groups.#", resourceName, "security_groups.#"),
@@ -418,6 +431,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_vpcSecurityGroups(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "vpc_security_group_ids.#", resourceName, "vpc_security_group_ids.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "security_groups.#", resourceName, "security_groups.#"),
 				),
@@ -610,6 +624,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_creditSpecification(t *testing.T) {
 				Config: testAccInstanceDataSourceConfig_creditSpecification(rName),
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "credit_specification.#", resourceName, "credit_specification.#"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "credit_specification.0.cpu_credits", resourceName, "credit_specification.0.cpu_credits"),
 				),
@@ -681,6 +696,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_blockDeviceTags(t *testing.T) {
 				Config: testAccInstanceDataSourceConfig_blockDeviceTags(rName),
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 				),
 			},
 		},
@@ -731,6 +747,7 @@ func TestAccEC2InstanceDataSource_timeout(t *testing.T) {
 				Check: resource.ComposeTestCheckFunc(
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "ami", resourceName, "ami"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, "tags.%", resourceName, "tags.%"),
+					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrSet(datasourceName, "launch_time"),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrInstanceType, resourceName, names.AttrInstanceType),
 					resource.TestCheckResourceAttrPair(datasourceName, names.AttrARN, resourceName, names.AttrARN),
 				),
diff --git a/website/docs/d/instance.html.markdown b/website/docs/d/instance.html.markdown
index 38071202494c..9b685f5eebca 100644
--- a/website/docs/d/instance.html.markdown
+++ b/website/docs/d/instance.html.markdown
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ interpolation.
 * `instance_type` - Type of the Instance.
 * `ipv6_addresses` - IPv6 addresses associated to the Instance, if applicable. **NOTE**: Unlike the IPv4 address, this doesn't change if you attach an EIP to the instance.
 * `key_name` - Key name of the Instance.
+* `launch_time` - Time the instance was launched.
 * `maintenance_options` - Maintenance and recovery options for the instance.
     * `auto_recovery` - Automatic recovery behavior of the instance.
 * `metadata_options` - Metadata options of the Instance.