Rank |
Country |
2015 (US$) |
Ranking change from 2013 |
1 |
China |
47.6tn |
+1 |
2 |
USA |
36.8tn |
-1 |
3 |
Japan |
18.2tn |
= |
4 |
India |
15.2tn |
= |
5 |
Germany |
10.2tn |
= |
6 |
Russia |
8.4tn |
+3 |
7 |
Italy |
7.914tn |
= |
8 |
France |
7.912tn |
-2 |
9 |
South Korea |
6.1tn |
-1 |
10 |
Brazil |
6tn |
+3 |
13 |
UK |
4.8tn |
-2 |
16 |
Australia |
3.3tn |
+2 |
17 |
Saudi Arabia |
3.2tn |
+1 |
20 |
Netherlands |
2.2tn |
-1 |
24 |
Belgium |
1.4tn |
-1 |
25 |
UAE |
1.3tn |
= |
30 |
Chile |
0.9tn |
= |
The shifting wealth to emerging economies
The Global Built Asset Wealth Index shows a dramatic shift of wealth to emerging economies, with the traditional economic superpowers – the G7 – showing a net decline in the value of their built assets since 2012. Structural assets depreciate at a rate of around 5% per year, meaning that this level of investment is the minimum required to maintain the status quo, a figure that equates to US$1.4 trillion in the US.
In Europe, the almost decade-long economic slowdown has also had the negative effect of holding back investment. Meanwhile, economies including Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines were amongst the biggest gainers.
How can built assets be made to last?
A strategically planned, highly developed and well maintained built environment is crucial to the economic and social success of a nation.
In order to understand the driver for built asset development it is important to better understand the cycle of development that each nation goes through on its journey to prosperity and then learn from other nations that have already been through that cycle, drawing on experience from around the world.
The built asset development race seems set to continue well into the next decade as developing nations look to secure their long term economic future. Establishing a foundation built on bricks, mortar and infrastructure is a fundamental priority.
Overall, the most successful nations will be those that consider the whole lifecycle of the assets they are building in order to thrive. Through doing this, built asset owners can be more confident that the assets they are creating will be built to last and can underpin a successful economic and social future.
Downloads:
Global Built Asset Wealth Index 2015
Global Built Asset Wealth Index 2013