Global Civil Engineering Market Set to Reach $23.0 Trillion

Global, September 11, 2025

News Summary

A major industry report projects the global civil engineering market will expand substantially, rising from USD 13.8 trillion to USD 23.0 trillion driven by a 5.2% CAGR. The planning & design and building segments are expected to lead revenues, supported by urban growth, infrastructure investment, smart city programs and renewable energy projects. Key drivers include adoption of BIM, modular construction and sustainable materials, while challenges include material price volatility, supply chain limits and labor shortages. Regional patterns show rapid expansion in Asia-Pacific and steadier modernization in North America and Europe, creating opportunities for technology-enabled, integrated service providers.

The global civil engineering market is poised to grow from USD 13.8 trillion in 2025 to USD 23.0 trillion by 2035, with a steady 5.2% CAGR that places planning & design and building as the leading segments driving demand. This projection reflects a broad portfolio of projects across infrastructure, urban development, and utilities, supported by governments and private partnerships increasingly aligned to modernization and resilience goals.

Key milestones and timeline highlights

From 2021 to 2025, the market expands from USD 10.7 trillion to USD 13.8 trillion, with annual increments of roughly USD 0.6 trillion in three consecutive years and USD 0.7 trillion in the final year of the period. The growth during this phase is characterized as a steady acceleration fueled by infrastructure development, rapid urbanization, and increased government spending on roads, bridges, and public works. In the 2026–2030 window, market values move from USD 13.8 trillion in 2025 to USD 16.9 trillion by 2030, with intermediate figures showing a climb to USD 14.6 trillion in 2027, USD 15.3 trillion in 2028, USD 16.1 trillion in 2029, and USD 16.9 trillion in 2030. This block is described as a period of strengthened growth, driven by investments in high-speed rail, smart cities, and industrial facilities.

Looking ahead to 2031–2035, the market is described as expanding from USD 17.8 trillion toward the USD 23.0 trillion mark, with intermediate cliff notes of USD 18.8 trillion, USD 19.7 trillion, USD 20.8 trillion, and USD 21.8 trillion along the way. The final stage suggests a mild deceleration in the rate of annual increments as some regions reach infrastructure maturity and saturation, yet overall growth remains robust as projects continue to evolve in scale and complexity.

Segments, applications and market structure

The civil engineering market is segmented by service into planning & design, construction management, maintenance, and other services such as consultancy and inspection. In 2025, planning & design is projected to hold about 39.6% of civil engineering market revenue, making it the largest service category, while the building segment is expected to account for roughly 45.1% of revenue, underscoring persistent demand for residential, commercial, and institutional structures amid urban growth and real estate development.

Application-wise, the market spans building, infrastructure, water resources, energy, and other areas like environmental engineering. The overall market is structured around five major parent markets that collectively drive growth and project demand. The construction and infrastructure segment is the largest slice, contributing about 28–32% of revenue and shaping the backbone of large-scale projects. Building materials and equipment contribute around 20–24%, while transportation and urban mobility add roughly 15–18%. Water and wastewater management accounts for about 10–12%, and energy and utilities round out the mix with around 8–10%.

Regional and technology drivers

The market’s geography shows Asia-Pacific taking the lead in new construction activity, with North America and Europe concentrating on modernization and retrofitting existing assets. Technological shifts are reshaping project delivery, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), modular construction, and the use of sustainable materials to improve efficiency and reduce rework costs. Growing environmental concerns push green design principles and climate-resilient structures to the forefront, while expanded funding for smart city developments and renewable energy infrastructure broadens the scope of civil engineering projects.

Growth drivers, challenges and opportunities

Key growth drivers include rising demand for infrastructure like transportation networks, urban development, and industrial facilities, along with rapid urbanization, the push for smart city projects, and public–private investments. Market challenges listed include raw material price volatility, supply chain constraints, labor shortages, and cross-regional regulatory compliance. Technical challenges involve geotechnical risks, structural integrity assessment, and efficient resource allocation. Opportunities are plentiful in smart city initiatives, industrial infrastructure, advanced construction materials, industrial automation, and renewable energy projects. Across all these dimensions, adoption of digital tools, automation, and BIM enhances efficiency and project management, positioning technology-enabled, high-quality, cost-effective engineering services to capture ongoing market growth.

Global reach and country-level dynamics

Regional dynamics show that Asia-Pacific leads in new construction activity, while China is identified as the fastest-growing market with a 7.0% CAGR from 2025 to 2035. Other notable country-level growth rates include India at 6.5%, France at 5.5%, the UK at 4.9%, and the USA at 4.4% over the same period. The market analysis covers more than 40 countries, reflecting a broad mix of rapidUpper-middle-income economies and advanced markets pursuing upgrades in transportation, energy, water, and urban services.

The overall trend shows steady expansion across multiple service categories and end-use applications, supported by ongoing infrastructure development, urban expansion, and public–private investment models. Modernization programs and the integration of digital project delivery are accelerating efficiency gains, while green and climate-resilient design choices are increasingly shaping project pipelines. In this context, firms capable of delivering integrated, technology-enabled civil engineering solutions are positioned to participate in a broad, globally distributed set of opportunities across building, infrastructure, water, energy, and environmental sectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is the projected size of the global civil engineering market by 2035?

The market is projected to reach USD 23.0 trillion by 2035, up from USD 13.8 trillion in 2025.

What is the CAGR for 2025–2035?

The compound annual growth rate is expected to be 5.2% per year.

Which service segments dominate the market in 2025?

Planning & design accounts for about 39.6% of revenue, while building accounts for about 45.1%.

Which regions are leading the market, and what are growth trends?

Asia-Pacific leads in new construction activity, with China identified as the fastest-growing market at around 7.0% CAGR; other notable growth is seen in India, France, the UK, and the USA at varying rates through 2035.

What are the main growth drivers and opportunities?

Growth is driven by infrastructure expansion, urbanization, smart city projects, and public–private investments. Opportunities exist in smart city initiatives, industrial infrastructure, advanced construction materials, industrial automation, and renewable energy projects, supported by digital tools like BIM and modular construction.

Key features table

Feature	Details
2025 market size	USD 13.8 trillion
2035 market size	USD 23.0 trillion
CAGR (2025–2035)	5.2% per year
Largest service in 2025	Planning & design (39.6%)
Largest application by revenue in 2025	Building (45.1%)
Top regional driver	Asia-Pacific leads new construction; China at 7.0% CAGR