Provided is a database system and method in which storage is partitioned in an unbalanced format for faster access. In one example, the method may include one or more of receiving a request to store a data record, identifying a partition from among a plurality of partitions of a database based on a shard identifier in the request, automatically determining a unique range of data identifiers designated to the partition from the plurality of partitions, respectively, based on an unbalanced partitioning, determining whether the data identifier is available within the unique range of data identifiers of the identified partition, and storing the data record at the identified partition in response to determining the data identifier is available. The unbalanced partitioning according to various embodiments reduces the partitions that need to be checked during a data insert/access operation of the database.