Infrastructure projects and digital design tools represent growth in the global civil engineering market.
Global, September 11, 2025
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.
A recent market report dated September 11, 2025 projects steady long-term growth in civil engineering worldwide, with the market expanding from USD 13.8 trillion in 2025 to USD 23.0 trillion by 2035 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%. The report, spread across 250 pages, maps out a phased growth pattern and highlights which services and applications will lead demand in the coming decade.
The report breaks the market into three phases. From 2021 to 2025 the market rose from USD 10.7 trillion to USD 13.8 trillion, with yearly increments averaging between USD 0.6 trillion and USD 0.7 trillion. The next five-year block, 2026–2030, is shown as a period of strengthened growth, with values moving from USD 13.8 trillion in 2026 to USD 16.9 trillion in 2030. The final block, 2031–2035, sees expansion from USD 17.8 trillion to USD 23.0 trillion, with a mild slowdown in annual gains as some regional infrastructure reaches maturity.
Service-wise, the planning & design segment is the largest category in 2025, holding about 39.6% of market revenue. Reasons include its role in improving safety, controlling costs, and managing complex, multidisciplinary projects. Adoption of advanced digital tools such as 3D modeling and virtual simulations is noted as cutting rework and improving accuracy. The report also highlights wider uptake of sustainability assessments and environmental impact checks within design work.
By application, the building sector is dominant, expected to account for 45.1% of revenue in 2025. Ongoing demand for residential, commercial, and institutional construction driven by population growth and urbanization underpins this share. Prefabrication, improved construction materials, and smart building systems are cited as factors boosting efficiency and opening space for advanced projects.
Key growth drivers include large-scale infrastructure projects, rapid urban expansion, smart city programs, and rising public–private investments. Governments modernizing roads, bridges and public utilities are accelerating demand for specialized engineering work. Technological change — notably Building Information Modeling (BIM), modular construction, and automation — is reshaping how projects are planned and delivered.
The market faces challenges from raw material price swings, supply chain constraints, labor shortages, and varying regulations across regions. Technical hurdles include geotechnical risks, structural integrity checks, and the need to allocate resources efficiently on large and complex projects. Opportunities appear in smart cities, industrial infrastructure upgrades, advanced materials, automation, and renewable energy work.
The report covers more than 40 countries and separates regions into detailed groupings. Asia-Pacific is leading new construction, while North America and Europe concentrate on modernization and retrofitting. Country-level growth rates cited include China at 7.0% CAGR (2025–2035) and India at 6.5% CAGR. Among developed markets, figures include France 5.5% CAGR, UK 4.9% CAGR, and USA 4.4% CAGR.
Competition is shaped by project scale, technical skill and global reach. Market players moving to integrated delivery models, digital project management, and cross-border partnerships are best placed to win complex work. Firms that combine technology-enabled delivery with cost-efficient services are likely to capture a significant share of upcoming projects.
Several major projects and trends illustrate the market’s diversity — from high-speed rail and smart-city precincts to water treatment works and large cultural centers. One high-profile rail initiative in Southern Africa involves a planned multi-year concession to rehabilitate a historic single-track line linking mineral regions to a major port, backed by a multi-hundred-million-dollar investment program covering track upgrades, new locomotives and wagons, and ongoing maintenance over the concession period.
The report notes shifts in student interest and workforce flows in some regions’ civil engineering schools, with some top programs trimming undergraduate intake and reporting greater transfers out of the discipline in recent years. These patterns could affect the talent pipeline in specific markets over the medium term.
The next decade offers steady expansion for civil engineering firms that invest in digital tools, sustainability, and cross-disciplinary capabilities. Developers and public agencies should plan for moderate but persistent cost pressures and a growing need for climate-resilient designs. Investors may find opportunities in technology-enabled services, prefabrication, renewable energy infrastructure, and urban mobility projects.
A1: The market is projected to reach USD 23.0 trillion by 2035.
A2: The projected compound annual growth rate is 5.2% for the period 2025–2035.
A3: The planning & design segment is the largest service category, expected to hold about 39.6% of revenue in 2025.
A4: The building segment is forecast to command around 45.1% of the market in 2025.
A5: Projected faster growth is expected in several large Asian markets, with China at 7.0% CAGR and India at 6.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2035.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2025 market size | USD 13.8 trillion |
| 2035 market size | USD 23.0 trillion |
| CAGR (2025–2035) | 5.2% |
| Largest service (2025) | Planning & design — 39.6% share |
| Largest application (2025) | Building — 45.1% share |
| Top regional growth | Asia-Pacific leads new construction; North America & Europe focus on modernization |
| Fastest-growing countries | China 7.0% CAGR; India 6.5% CAGR |
| Key risks | Material price volatility; supply chains; labor shortages; regulatory differences |
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