Ranked: Which European Sectors Need the Most Investment?
Europe’s infrastructure is under pressure—but not all sectors are being hit equally.
This graphic, created in partnership with Global X, visualizes which areas of the economy require the most investment to close Europe’s widening infrastructure gap, based on data from Infrastructure Outlook.
The $2 Trillion European Infrastructure Gap
Part 2 of this series highlighted that Europe could face a $2 trillion infrastructure shortfall by 2040—up from about $538 billion in 2024.
However, while every sector needs attention, some are in far more urgent need of funding. Which ones have the largest shortfalls?
A Sectoral Look at the Deficit
The top two sectors with the largest investment deficits fall under the transportation umbrella. Roads face the largest gap at an estimated $881 billion, followed by railways at $603 billion.
Energy ranks third with a $250 billion deficit. Investment in this sector is critical for meeting the EU’s 2050 net-zero goals through investment in green technologies.
| Sector | Cumulative Infrastructure Gap ($ billions) |
|---|---|
| Road | 881 |
| Rail | 603 |
| Energy | 250 |
| Ports | 121 |
| Airports | 81 |
| Telecommunications | 46 |
| Water | 9 |
Other key gaps include ports ($121 billion), airports ($81 billion), and telecommunications ($46 billion). The latter sector is crucial to meet the EU’s goals to digitize its economy across sectors in the post-pandemic recovery era. Water infrastructure has an estimated shortfall of $9 billion by 2040.
A Global Look at Infrastructure Needs
Globally, roads also lead the investment gap, with a projected $8.0 trillion shortfall by 2040. That’s followed by:
- Energy: $2.9 trillion
- Rail: $1.1 trillion
- Telecommunications: $1.0 trillion
- Water: $713 billion
- Ports: $555 billion
- Airports: $530 billion
Overall, Infrastructure Outlook expects the global infrastructure investment gap to reach $15 trillion by 2040.
Supporting Long-Term Growth
Europe’s transport and energy systems are showing the deepest cracks—underscoring the urgent need for long-term, strategic investment to support economic resilience and sustainable growth.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/european-infrastructure-needs-sectoral-breakdown-gxeu01/
