Three quarters of American respondents believe that investing in infrastructure will boost the economy, create new jobs and build a stronger United States according to the Global Infrastructure Index 2026 by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) and Ipsos.
This comes as overall satisfaction with American infrastructure hits an all-time low, with only 25% of people in the U.S. saying they are satisfied with their current national infrastructure.
Nation-wide dissatisfaction with insufficient and aging infrastructure underscores the need for historic levels of private investment – with an estimated infrastructure funding gap of more than $3.7 trillion by 2033.
However, while over half of Americans believe that their country is not doing enough to meet current needs, there is growing support across the board for a collaborative public and private sector approach to building and maintaining vital infrastructure.
For example, well over 60% of respondents backed companies investing in U.S. infrastructure – either entirely privately or through collaborative public-private partnerships (P3s) if it meant the project was delivered on time.
Americans also favor forms of private financing as most likely to harness the full potential of emerging technology, update and sustain existing infrastructure, and keep infrastructure assets running in good condition.
While support for purely private investment in infrastructure is higher than in many other G7 nations, the unequivocal preference for most Americans was a blended approach to public-private financing. This included a firm belief that some form of private financing keeps projects within budget and on time.
GIIA has previously highlighted the power of P3s to deliver American infrastructure projects with enhanced efficiency and prolonged performance, including at state level. A previous Report Card developed by GIIA in collaboration with P3 Bulletin graded states from ‘A’ to ‘D’ and found many already leading the way, but also clearly identified states with the most opportunity for improvement.
Barriers to the deployment of further private capital in the American market include a fragmented P3 framework, lack of technical expertise for these models, and challenges around permitting – the latter of which has particularly impacted renewable energy generation in the past.
In regard to prioritizing where to place future investments, American’s held steady since the last Global Infrastructure Index was released in 2024: water supplies and sewage remained the top national priority for spending, followed by roads and highways, solar and wind energy, and rail infrastructure.
GIIA members represent over $2.18 trillion in assets under management globally and are ready to support the vast opportunity which remains untapped in these sectors and across U.S. infrastructure.
Jon Phillips, Chief Executive of GIIA, said:
“America remains the biggest global infrastructure investment market, with the opportunity to unlock trillions in private capital. As demands on existing infrastructure grow, and public budgets are increasingly strained, understandably so does public dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.
“Over half of Americans don’t believe the U.S. is currently doing enough to sustain the infrastructure they depend on to stay powered, connected, and moving. But they are pragmatic about how to close this funding and delivery gap – with openness to the role of private financing in delivering resilient infrastructure for future generations.
“Public-private partnerships (P3s) have a strong track record of building more efficient, cost-effective and resilient infrastructure in many states already. Not only are they the most efficient way to build better infrastructure, but now they are the most popular in the eyes of the American people. It is no longer a question of whether America needs private investment, but how much.”
Ross van Dongen, Director of United for Infrastructure, said:
“We know that America’s infrastructure needs are urgent. With an estimated $3.7 trillion funding gap facing our nation, we can’t afford to leave any tool on the table. Robust federal investment must remain the foundation, but when paired with private capital, public dollars go further, de-risking projects and unlocking billions more to get infrastructure built faster and delivered to more communities.”
The full Global Infrastructure Index 2026 results deck can be found here.