A new survey of over 21,000 people worldwide shows French satisfaction with their national infrastructure sits above the global average and amongst the highest in Europe.
The Global Infrastructure Index 2026 is produced by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) and carried out in partnership with Ipsos.
At a time when many G7 countries are seeing sliding satisfaction rates amidst political turmoil and macroeconomic shocks, 43% of French respondents said they were satisfied with their overall national infrastructure. Only the Netherlands and Poland ranked higher within the European Union.
Only 26% of French respondents were dissatisfied with their national infrastructure, while 28% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
70% of French respondents believe investing in infrastructure will create new jobs and boost the economy. The same number also said they would be comfortable with private sector investment in national infrastructure if it delivers the improvements the country needs.
This support for private sector delivery comes against deep dissatisfaction with the public sector’s ability to build new infrastructure on time and within budget – with only 10% of French people believing in the public sector’s ability to deliver the former, and 15% the latter.
Respondents were overwhelmingly open to private and public sector collaboration in order to deliver infrastructure that is maintained in good condition, combats climate change, boosts the economy, and harnesses the latest technology. A majority of French respondents saw these benefits from either private sector delivery on its own or in combination with public funding.
The French public prioritise rail infrastructure, water supply, and renewables for investment. Support for investment in nuclear energy within France also remains ahead of the global average – reflecting the country’s leadership and ongoing investment in this field, currently sourcing 70% of its power from nuclear generation.
The private investment sector is poised to further support these sectors in leveraging not just capital but also their technical and operational expertise.
Jon Phillips, Chief Executive of GIIA, said:
“The French people have cast a real vote of confidence in the quality and resilience of their national infrastructure but are clear the government shouldn’t stop here. At a time when public finances are under pressure and demands on essential networks are growing, private capital is vital to keeping infrastructure operating reliably, well maintained, and ready for the future.
“Public trust overwhelmingly sits behind collaborative projects with the private sector to deliver results. With France’s leadership in nuclear energy and its clear ambition to reach net zero, long-term partnership between government and investors can help deliver the modern, low-carbon infrastructure to keep driving this.”
The full Global Infrastructure Index 2026 results deck can be found here.