Project management budgets are fighting a losing battle with change and estimation, and the latest figures make that tension hard to ignore. In government projects, the average cost overrun reaches 80%, while digital work can end up 45% more expensive than planned. Even when teams use better methods, outcomes still swing dramatically, with agile projects overrunning by only 11% compared to 52% for waterfall.
Key Takeaways
- PMI 2022 Pulse reports average cost overrun of 27% across industries.
- McKinsey 2019 analysis shows mega-projects overrun by 50% on average.
- Standish Group 2020 CHAOS: Agile projects overrun costs by only 11% vs 52% waterfall.
- PMI 2021 finds 70% of organizations underutilize skilled resources, leading to inefficiencies.
- McKinsey 2022: Top firms allocate resources 2.1x better.
- Gartner 2023: 55% PMs lack resource visibility tools.
- PMI 2022 identifies top risk as scope creep affecting 43% of projects.
- McKinsey 2023: Unidentified risks cause 37% failures.
- Standish CHAOS 2020: Lack of risk mgmt in 50% failed projects.
- PMI 2022 reports average schedule overrun of 43% for challenged projects.
- McKinsey 2020: Mega-projects delay average 40% of schedule.
- Standish CHAOS 2020: Agile projects on time 37% vs 29% traditional.
- According to PMI's 2023 Pulse of the Profession report, high-performing organizations are 2.5 times more likely to deliver projects on time compared to low performers.
- The Standish Group 2020 CHAOS Report indicates that only 35% of software projects were successful in meeting time, budget, and quality goals.
- PMI's 2022 survey found that 52% of projects met their original goals and business intent.
Agile, mature project management can cut overruns and delays dramatically, improving delivery success and stakeholder satisfaction.
Related reading
01 · Category
Budget and Cost Management28 stats
01
PMI 2022 Pulse reports average cost overrun of 27% across industries.
02
McKinsey 2019 analysis shows mega-projects overrun by 50% on average.
03
Standish Group 2020 CHAOS: Agile projects overrun costs by only 11% vs 52% waterfall.
04
KPMG 2023 survey: 43% of projects exceed budgets by over 20%.
05
Deloitte 2021: Government projects average 80% cost overrun.
06
PwC 2020: 68% of orgs report budget overruns in strategic projects.
07
Gartner 2022: Poor cost estimation causes 30% of budget excesses.
08
BCG 2021: Mature PM reduces cost variance by 15%.
09
EY 2020 infrastructure: Average overrun 28% for transport projects.
10
Forrester 2023: Digital projects cost 45% more than planned.
11
Accenture 2022: AI in PM cuts overruns by 20%.
12
Capgemini 2021: Cloud migrations overrun by 31%.
13
IDC 2022: ERP implementations average 175% of budget.
14
Oxford 2020: Mega-projects final cost 96% higher than initial.
15
PMI 2021: Underestimating costs leads to 45% variance.
16
Harvard Business Review 2018: 65% of projects exceed budget by 50%+.
17
World Bank 2022: Infrastructure overruns average 50-100%.
18
Iron Triangle study: Cost overrun average 45%.
19
Chaos Report 2023: Successful projects under budget 71%.
20
McKinsey 2023: Agile cuts cost overruns by 28%.
21
Deloitte 2022: Energy sector overruns 35%.
22
KPMG 2021: 56% projects over budget due to scope changes.
23
PwC 2022: SMEs see 25% less overruns than enterprises.
24
Gartner 2023: PPM tools reduce overruns by 18%.
25
BCG 2022: Portfolio management saves 10-20% costs.
26
PMI 2023: Benefits realization averages 65% of projected.
27
Standish 2021: Failed projects waste $50K-$1M each.
28
EY 2023: PPP projects overrun 40% less than traditional.
Interpretation
Budget and Cost Management Interpretation
Despite this cavalcade of sobering statistics proving that the historical average for project cost overruns is "yes," the path to improvement is clearly illuminated by embracing agile methodologies, mature practices, and new technologies, which collectively offer a lifeline from this expensive comedy of errors.
02 · Category
Resource Allocation and Utilization27 stats
01
PMI 2021 finds 70% of organizations underutilize skilled resources, leading to inefficiencies.
02
McKinsey 2022: Top firms allocate resources 2.1x better.
03
Gartner 2023: 55% PMs lack resource visibility tools.
04
Deloitte 2022: Skill gaps affect 42% of project teams.
05
PMI 2023: Resource management maturity low at 2.6/5.
06
Standish 2021: Team executive sponsorship boosts utilization 28%.
07
BCG 2022: Dynamic allocation improves delivery 35%.
08
KPMG 2021: 60% overload resources in peaks.
09
PwC 2022: PPM software utilization at 65%.
10
EY 2023: Remote work drops utilization 15%.
11
Forrester 2021: Contractors fill 30% PM roles.
12
Accenture 2023: Upskilling increases capacity 20%.
13
Capgemini 2022: AI forecasting accuracy 85% for resources.
14
IDC 2023: 48% IT resources idle 20% time.
15
Harvard 2020: Multiproject resource conflict in 75% cases.
16
World Economic Forum 2022: PM skills shortage 11M by 2027.
17
Chaos Report 2022: User involvement ups utilization 24%.
18
McKinsey 2021: Zero-based allocation saves 10% resources.
19
Deloitte 2021: Diversity in teams boosts productivity 19%.
20
PMI 2020: Portfolio leveling reduces burnout 30%.
21
Gartner 2021: Hybrid skills demand up 40%.
22
BCG 2023: Capacity planning errors cost 12%.
23
KPMG 2023: Automation frees 25% PM time.
24
PwC 2023: Global mobility aids 15% better allocation.
25
Standish 2023: Clear vision improves engagement 33%.
26
EY 2022: Mentoring programs retain 22% more PMs.
27
PMI 2024: Generative AI matches resources 90% accurately.
Interpretation
Resource Allocation and Utilization Interpretation
Despite an arsenal of data and tools promising optimization, the persistent reality of project management is that we are often brilliantly equipped to see our own resources sit idle, burn out, or be mismatched, revealing a staggering gap between our technological potential and our organizational self-awareness.
03 · Category
Risk Management and Mitigation27 stats
01
PMI 2022 identifies top risk as scope creep affecting 43% of projects.
02
McKinsey 2023: Unidentified risks cause 37% failures.
03
Standish CHAOS 2020: Lack of risk mgmt in 50% failed projects.
04
Deloitte 2022: Cyber risks impact 28% projects.
05
Gartner 2023: Risk registers used by only 56% PMs.
06
PMI 2021: Risk maturity average 2.8/5.
07
BCG 2022: Proactive risk mgmt saves 20% costs.
08
KPMG 2023: Supply chain risks delay 35% projects.
09
PwC 2021: Stakeholder risks overlooked in 62%.
10
EY 2022: ESG risks emerging in 40% portfolios.
11
Forrester 2023: Vendor risks cause 25% overruns.
12
Accenture 2021: AI risk assessment 3x faster.
13
Capgemini 2023: Geopolitical risks up 50% post-COVID.
14
IDC 2022: Data privacy risks in 33% cloud projects.
15
Harvard 2023: Black swan events hit 15% projects.
16
World Bank 2021: Climate risks delay infra 20%.
17
Chaos 2023: Risk planning correlates with 71% success.
18
McKinsey 2020: Monte Carlo sims reduce risk impact 25%.
19
Deloitte 2023: Third-party risks audit only 40%.
20
PMI 2023: Opportunities captured in 55% risks.
21
Gartner 2021: ERM integration in PM low 35%.
22
BCG 2021: Stress testing covers 60% scenarios.
23
KPMG 2022: Fraud risks undetected 22% projects.
24
PwC 2023: Risk appetite misalignment 28%.
25
Standish 2022: Executive commitment mitigates 30% risks.
26
EY 2021: Pandemic risks unprepared 70% orgs.
27
PMI 2024: Predictive risk AI 88% accurate.
Interpretation
Risk Management and Mitigation Interpretation
While the statistics show risk management is still dangerously undervalued—with majorities overlooking key threats—the organizations that finally get serious about it are uncovering not just survival but a 20% cost advantage and a 71% higher chance of success.
More related reading
04 · Category
Schedule and Time Management27 stats
01
PMI 2022 reports average schedule overrun of 43% for challenged projects.
02
McKinsey 2020: Mega-projects delay average 40% of schedule.
03
Standish CHAOS 2020: Agile projects on time 37% vs 29% traditional.
04
KPMG 2022: 52% projects delayed by stakeholder issues.
05
Deloitte 2023: IT projects slip 30% behind schedule.
06
PwC 2021: Global average delay 22% due to poor planning.
07
Gartner 2022: 60% of projects miss deadlines by 25%+.
08
BCG 2023: Critical path misuse causes 35% delays.
09
EY 2021: Construction delays average 20 months.
10
Forrester 2022: DX projects take 28% longer than planned.
11
Accenture 2023: Automation shortens timelines by 25%.
12
Capgemini 2022: DevOps reduces delivery time 39%.
13
IDC 2021: BI projects delay 40%.
14
Oxford 2023: Large infra delays 50% of planned time.
15
PMI 2020: Scope creep adds 13% to timelines.
16
HBR 2021: Multitasking PMs delay projects 40%.
17
World Bank 2023: Power projects delay 4.5 years avg.
18
Chaos 2022: Success on time only 41%.
19
McKinsey 2022: SAFe framework cuts delays 30%.
20
Deloitte 2020: Agile gov projects 2x faster delivery.
21
KPMG 2023: Resource shortages delay 48% projects.
22
PwC 2023: Earned value mismanagement adds 15% time.
23
Gartner 2023: AI scheduling improves adherence 22%.
24
BCG 2020: Portfolio prioritization reduces delays 18%.
25
PMI 2023: Predictive analytics cut slippage 20%.
26
Standish 2024: Micro-projects on time 65%.
27
EY 2023: BIM reduces construction delays 25%.
Interpretation
Schedule and Time Management Interpretation
Despite a chorus of experts singing the same sad song about chronic project delays, the secret sauce to timely delivery seems to be a consistently elusive blend of sharp tools, disciplined processes, and the rare, heroic ability to say "no" at just the right moment.
05 · Category
Success and Failure Rates30 stats
01
According to PMI's 2023 Pulse of the Profession report, high-performing organizations are 2.5 times more likely to deliver projects on time compared to low performers.
02
The Standish Group 2020 CHAOS Report indicates that only 35% of software projects were successful in meeting time, budget, and quality goals.
03
PMI's 2022 survey found that 52% of projects met their original goals and business intent.
04
Harvard Business Review analysis shows 70% of projects fail to meet objectives due to poor strategy alignment.
05
McKinsey reports that organizations with mature PMOs have 38% higher project success rates.
06
Deloitte's 2021 survey reveals 47% of projects overrun budgets, contributing to overall failure perceptions.
07
KPMG's 2019 global survey states 41% of executives believe PM practices are below par, leading to failures.
08
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) 2020 report notes 33% project failure rate in large enterprises due to scope creep.
09
Gartner 2022 predicts that by 2025, 75% of enterprise projects will fail due to skill gaps in PM.
10
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study finds agile adopters see 28% fewer project failures.
11
EY 2021 infrastructure report shows 65% of mega-projects fail to meet success criteria.
12
Forrester Research 2023 indicates 40% of digital transformation projects fail outright.
13
Accenture 2022 analysis reveals mature PM practices boost success by 23%.
14
Capgemini 2020 report states 55% of IT projects challenged due to poor leadership.
15
IDC 2023 survey finds 62% of cloud projects fail to deliver expected ROI.
16
World Economic Forum 2021 notes PM maturity correlates with 30% success uplift.
17
PMI 2021 data shows hybrid methodologies increase success by 19%.
18
Chaos Report 2015 update claims 29% success rate for all project types.
19
Oxford University study 2022 estimates 80% of large projects over budget, deeming them failures.
20
Iron Triangle failure rate at 70% per University of Oslo research.
21
PMI 2020 reports 12% of projects fail outright, 47% challenged.
22
Standish 2023 small projects have 58% success vs 26% for large.
23
BCG 2019 agile projects 3x more successful than waterfall.
24
McKinsey 2021 top quartile PMOs deliver 92% on time.
25
Deloitte 2023 39% failure in gov projects due to PM issues.
26
KPMG 2022 70% of projects don't meet sponsor satisfaction.
27
PwC 2023 strategy execution failure at 67% linked to PM.
28
Gartner 2021 PMO-less orgs have 50% higher failure rates.
29
EY 2022 45% of projects cancelled mid-way.
30
PMI 2024 preview suggests AI boosts success by 25%.
Interpretation
Success and Failure Rates Interpretation
Despite a relentless barrage of grim statistics declaring most projects doomed, the clear, consistent takeaway is that investing in mature project practices is the only reliable way to defy the universal gravitational pull toward failure.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Project Management Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/project-management-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Project Management Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/project-management-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Project Management Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/project-management-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
