Over the next 25 years, global infrastructure investment will nearly double

Annual global infrastructure spending is expected to rise from $4.4 trillion in 2024 to $6.9 trillion in 2050, resulting in cumulative investment of $151.1 trillion over 25 years. The PwC analysis provides long-term projections until 2050 for 45 countries, accounting for 88% of the global economy, across nine sectors: transport, energy, digital infrastructure, defence, mining and extractive industries, water, social infrastructure (including schools and care homes), manufacturing, and agricultural infrastructure.

The strength of the report lies in its combination of a global perspective and a long-term horizon, according to Fons Kop: “It clearly demonstrates, based on solid analysis, what needs to be built and developed over the next 25 years. The scale of this global task is staggering and will demand a great deal from governments, businesses, and investors alike.”

In the Netherlands, scarcity is driving choices in infrastructure projects

“This applies equally to the Netherlands,” stresses Kop. “The calculations show an investment requirement of around $500 billion for the Netherlands up to 2050. In addition to social infrastructure, our security, economic vitality, and quality of life will require enormous investments in transport infrastructure, water, energy, defence, and data centres. At the same time, we face a lack of physical space, constraints on nitrogen emissions, a shortage of skilled workers, and a scarcity of financial resources.”

Kop also points to a lack of collective action: “We fail to connect these issues sufficiently and we retreat into our own positions, which then become the guiding principle for our decision-making. Scarcity forces us to make sharp choices—choices to which we must collectively commit for many years. Only then can we build a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Netherlands.”

Digital and physical infrastructure increasingly intertwined

The report also highlights how digital and physical infrastructure are converging. Automation, data analytics, and energy-efficient technologies will play an increasingly important role. “That is why the report outlines what future infrastructure will look like,” Kop explains. “What we see is infrastructure sectors becoming more integrated; the traditional separation between infrastructure sectors is gradually breaking down. Data centres are directly linked to wind or solar farms, and to water reuse systems for cooling. Ports use robotics and data analytics, and connect directly to rail lines and logistics hubs. The report underscores that the greatest value is created when infrastructure sectors are developed as a single interconnected system, rather than in isolation.”

The focus in Europe is on modernisation, sustainability, and future-proofing

Asia is the region with the fastest growth and the highest absolute investment volume in infrastructure up to 2050, driven by rapid population growth, urbanisation, and the emergence of megacities. Africa shows the fastest relative growth, driven by the need to expand basic infrastructure (water, energy, transport). In Europe, the main focus is on modernising, decarbonising, and future-proofing existing infrastructure, rather than large-scale new construction.

“Much of Europe’s infrastructure is ageing and in need of replacement or refurbishment,” Kop says. “The challenge is to modernise assets so they can withstand climate change, digitalisation, and geopolitical uncertainty. This includes increased defence spending, with its significant infrastructure component. It also includes Europe’s objective to operate more autonomously, which has implications for digital infrastructure, for example.

“I hope that reports like this, as well as our Building tomorrow starts with choosing today report, help policymakers make the necessary choices in a timely and consistent manner.”

Key findings from the Global Infrastructure Outlook 2025–2050  

The Global Infrastructure Outlook report shows that infrastructure is increasingly forming the backbone of economic growth, energy transition, digitalisation, and security. For the Netherlands, the challenge lies not only in mobilising capital, but also—and especially—in making coherent choices that remain valid in the long term.