GITNUXREPORT 2025

Civil Engineering Industry Statistics

Civil engineering market valued at $2.3 trillion; sustainable, digital growth doubling soon.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The average time to complete a large dam project is approximately 8-10 years

Statistic 2

The global civil engineering market was valued at approximately $2,287 billion in 2022

Statistic 3

The construction industry accounts for about 13% of the global GDP

Statistic 4

The U.S. civil engineering industry projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021-2026 is around 4.2%

Statistic 5

Bridges are the most common civil infrastructure element, with over 600,000 bridges in the United States alone

Statistic 6

The construction industry consumes about 40% of the world’s raw materials

Statistic 7

According to the World Bank, urban infrastructure investments will need to reach $4.5 trillion annually by 2030 to meet global demands

Statistic 8

Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide lack access to improved sanitation, often requiring civil engineering solutions

Statistic 9

The average cost of a large civil engineering project exceeds $1 billion, with some mega-projects costing over $20 billion

Statistic 10

The global market for concrete is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.2%

Statistic 11

The civil engineering industry is responsible for about 15% of energy consumption in the construction sector

Statistic 12

Steel reinforcement in concrete accounts for roughly 1.2 billion tons globally annually

Statistic 13

The global market for tunnel construction is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 14

Earthwork and excavation account for roughly 40% of civil construction project costs

Statistic 15

The global civil works market for airports and ports is projected to reach $100 billion by 2025

Statistic 16

The global demand for waterproofing systems in civil engineering is estimated to reach $12 billion by 2026

Statistic 17

Civil engineering structures account for around 30% of global infrastructure through roads, bridges, and dams

Statistic 18

The global infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) market related to civil engineering projects is expected to reach $32 billion by 2025

Statistic 19

Large-scale civil engineering projects can improve local economies, with some studies citing up to 20% increased local employment during construction phases

Statistic 20

The construction equipment market segment dedicated to civil projects is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2028

Statistic 21

Civil engineering projects contribute approximately $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy

Statistic 22

The global geosynthetics market in civil engineering is expected to reach $8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%

Statistic 23

The global demand for sustainable infrastructure is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 24

Construction waste accounts for nearly 40% of the total waste generated globally

Statistic 25

The use of recycled materials in civil engineering projects has increased by over 35% in the last decade

Statistic 26

The average lifespan of a highway bridge in the U.S. is approximately 50 years without major repairs

Statistic 27

Concrete recycling can save up to 30% of project costs and reduce landfill emissions significantly

Statistic 28

The use of green building materials in civil projects increased by 25% between 2018 and 2022

Statistic 29

Building commissioning can reduce energy consumption of civil infrastructure by up to 15%

Statistic 30

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) can reduce project costs by up to 20%

Statistic 31

Civil engineering projects are increasingly adopting smart and autonomous technologies, with 65% integrating IoT solutions as of 2023

Statistic 32

The use of drones in civil engineering surveys has increased by over 300% between 2018 and 2022

Statistic 33

The adoption of modular construction in civil projects is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 34

The application of AI in civil engineering project management can improve efficiency by up to 35%

Statistic 35

Construction safety incidents have decreased by 12% in projects that utilize advanced safety monitoring technologies

Statistic 36

The average age of a civil engineer in the United States is approximately 47 years old

Statistic 37

In 2022, labor costs constitute approximately 30-50% of total project costs in civil engineering

Statistic 38

The industry is projected to face a worldwide shortage of approximately 56 million skilled workers by 2030

Statistic 39

Approximately 60% of civil engineering students worldwide are male, indicating gender disparity in engineering education

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Key Highlights

  • The global civil engineering market was valued at approximately $2,287 billion in 2022
  • The construction industry accounts for about 13% of the global GDP
  • The U.S. civil engineering industry projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021-2026 is around 4.2%
  • The average age of a civil engineer in the United States is approximately 47 years old
  • Bridges are the most common civil infrastructure element, with over 600,000 bridges in the United States alone
  • The global demand for sustainable infrastructure is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2023 to 2030
  • The construction industry consumes about 40% of the world’s raw materials
  • According to the World Bank, urban infrastructure investments will need to reach $4.5 trillion annually by 2030 to meet global demands
  • Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide lack access to improved sanitation, often requiring civil engineering solutions
  • Construction waste accounts for nearly 40% of the total waste generated globally
  • The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) can reduce project costs by up to 20%
  • The average cost of a large civil engineering project exceeds $1 billion, with some mega-projects costing over $20 billion
  • In 2022, labor costs constitute approximately 30-50% of total project costs in civil engineering

Discover how the civil engineering industry, with a staggering market valuation of over $2.2 trillion and vital contributions to global infrastructure, is paving the way for sustainable growth, technological innovation, and economic impact worldwide.

Construction Materials and Project Management

  • The average time to complete a large dam project is approximately 8-10 years

Construction Materials and Project Management Interpretation

Building a large dam may be a centuries-long commitment, but the real question is: are we willing to invest in such patience when the benefits are measured in decades?

Market Size and Economic Impact

  • The global civil engineering market was valued at approximately $2,287 billion in 2022
  • The construction industry accounts for about 13% of the global GDP
  • The U.S. civil engineering industry projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021-2026 is around 4.2%
  • Bridges are the most common civil infrastructure element, with over 600,000 bridges in the United States alone
  • The construction industry consumes about 40% of the world’s raw materials
  • According to the World Bank, urban infrastructure investments will need to reach $4.5 trillion annually by 2030 to meet global demands
  • Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide lack access to improved sanitation, often requiring civil engineering solutions
  • The average cost of a large civil engineering project exceeds $1 billion, with some mega-projects costing over $20 billion
  • The global market for concrete is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.2%
  • The civil engineering industry is responsible for about 15% of energy consumption in the construction sector
  • Steel reinforcement in concrete accounts for roughly 1.2 billion tons globally annually
  • The global market for tunnel construction is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2023 to 2030
  • Earthwork and excavation account for roughly 40% of civil construction project costs
  • The global civil works market for airports and ports is projected to reach $100 billion by 2025
  • The global demand for waterproofing systems in civil engineering is estimated to reach $12 billion by 2026
  • Civil engineering structures account for around 30% of global infrastructure through roads, bridges, and dams
  • The global infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) market related to civil engineering projects is expected to reach $32 billion by 2025
  • Large-scale civil engineering projects can improve local economies, with some studies citing up to 20% increased local employment during construction phases
  • The construction equipment market segment dedicated to civil projects is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2028
  • Civil engineering projects contribute approximately $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy
  • The global geosynthetics market in civil engineering is expected to reach $8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%

Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation

Civil engineering's staggering $2.3 trillion footprint, from bridges to billion-dollar mega-projects, underscores its vital role in shaping global infrastructure, yet its soaring demand for raw materials and energy reveals a pressing need for sustainable innovation amidst rapid urban growth.

Sustainable and Green Infrastructure

  • The global demand for sustainable infrastructure is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2023 to 2030
  • Construction waste accounts for nearly 40% of the total waste generated globally
  • The use of recycled materials in civil engineering projects has increased by over 35% in the last decade
  • The average lifespan of a highway bridge in the U.S. is approximately 50 years without major repairs
  • Concrete recycling can save up to 30% of project costs and reduce landfill emissions significantly
  • The use of green building materials in civil projects increased by 25% between 2018 and 2022
  • Building commissioning can reduce energy consumption of civil infrastructure by up to 15%

Sustainable and Green Infrastructure Interpretation

As the civil engineering industry accelerates toward sustainable practices—with recycling, green materials, and energy efficiency increasingly in focus—it's clear that constructing the future responsibly requires not just concrete plans, but a solid commitment to reducing waste and extending infrastructure longevity.

Technologies and Innovation in Civil Engineering

  • The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) can reduce project costs by up to 20%
  • Civil engineering projects are increasingly adopting smart and autonomous technologies, with 65% integrating IoT solutions as of 2023
  • The use of drones in civil engineering surveys has increased by over 300% between 2018 and 2022
  • The adoption of modular construction in civil projects is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2023 to 2030
  • The application of AI in civil engineering project management can improve efficiency by up to 35%
  • Construction safety incidents have decreased by 12% in projects that utilize advanced safety monitoring technologies

Technologies and Innovation in Civil Engineering Interpretation

As civil engineering embraces digital innovation—from BIM slashing costs and AI boosting efficiency to drones and IoT enhancing survey accuracy and safety—it's clear that building the future requires smarter, safer, and more cost-effective strategies that turn technological leaps into structural realities.

Workforce and Demographics

  • The average age of a civil engineer in the United States is approximately 47 years old
  • In 2022, labor costs constitute approximately 30-50% of total project costs in civil engineering
  • The industry is projected to face a worldwide shortage of approximately 56 million skilled workers by 2030
  • Approximately 60% of civil engineering students worldwide are male, indicating gender disparity in engineering education

Workforce and Demographics Interpretation

With the average civil engineer approaching retirement age amidst a looming global labor shortage and persistent gender disparities, the industry risks building its future on an aging foundation that urgently needs more diverse and youthful talent.

Sources & References