PwC Projects USD 3.2 Trillion for Global Data Center Construction Through 2050
A PwC survey of 377 global E&C executives projects USD 3.2 trillion flowing into data center construction through 2050, as firms shift away from conventional building work.
PwC has released its 2026 Global Engineering and Construction Sector Outlook, based on a survey of 377 engineering and construction executives worldwide. The report projects that data center construction linked to AI infrastructure will absorb USD 3.2 trillion through 2050, within total data center capital expenditure estimated at USD 31.6 trillion under the base scenario. These figures are projections prepared by PwC with Oxford Economics, not verified outcomes.
According to the survey, the share of executives expecting revenue from data centers has risen approximately 20 percent over five years, the largest relative increase among asset classes, with average data center revenue share expected to grow 26 percent. Meanwhile, 42 percent of respondents are reducing or abandoning residential and commercial building construction, while more than 51 percent plan growth in transport and energy infrastructure. Annual funding for data center buildings is projected to rise 2.2 times, from USD 113.8 million in 2024 to around USD 251.8 million in 2027.