By Brendan Hart 1 min read

Global Infrastructure 2040

Global governance — the lead element historically — is in ruins.
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Global Infrastructure 2040

The World Bank goes deep on the infrastructure gap — the distance between what needs to be spent and current spending trends.

It’s not pretty. Main points (in no particular order):

  • By 2040, the world population will increase by 2 billion, or 25%
  • The global city-based population will grow by 46%
  • By 2040, global infrastructure need will reach $97 trillion
  • Forecasted spending shortfall is $19 trillion
  • Half of infrastructure spending needs are in Asia
  • China needs to invest $28 trillion in infrastructure
  • The United States has the most significant investment gap: $3.8 trillion
  • China has the second largest investment gap: $1.9 trillion
  • Roads and electricity are the largest needs

The central tragedy of infrastructure is that when deep public-private investment is most needed, global governance — the lead element historically — is in ruins. Watch this space.

Brendan Hart

About the Author

Brendan Hart

Brendan Hart is the founder of The Power Curve, an independent platform for research and analysis on strategic competition, political economy, and applied AI.

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