Global Infrastructure Outlook to 2040

17 November 2017

The global infrastructure investment needs will reach US$ 94 trillion by 2040 in order to keep pace with profound economic and demographic changes across the globe. These needs will rise to US$ 97 trillion if the funding required for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is added.

The Global Infrastructure Outlook is a country-based report and online tool developed by the Global Infrastructure Hub with Oxford Economics, which forecasts infrastructure investment needs across fifty countries and seven sectors to 2040. The report forecasts that global infrastructure investment needs reach US$94 trillion by 2040 in order to keep pace with profound economic and demographic changes across the globe. Add the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of universal provision of clean water, sanitation, and electricity, and the total cost rises to US$97 trillion.

Infrastructure investment gap is proportionately largest for the Americas and Africa.

According to the report, 59% of estimated global infrastructure spending needs relate to Asia. However, the available data suggests that investment needs in the Americas are 47% greater than forecast investment under current trends. For Africa the equivalent figure is 39%. While the latter offers considerable growth potential, the African infrastructure market remains small in absolute terms: the region accounts for 6 percent of global infrastructure investment need.

Roads and energy are the infrastructure sectors in greatest need

By sector, spending needs are greatest for electricity and roads, which together account for two thirds of global infrastructure investment. Next to energy, meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals for universal access to drinking water and sanitation increases the investment need by a further US$ 3.5 trillion until 2030.

Link to Global Infrastructure Outlook