Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026 - Key Messages

The buildings and construction sector represents 11–13% of global GDP1, contributing around; it employs roughly 9% of the global workforce2, spanning construction, renovation, demolition, and civil engineering; its environmental footprint is equally significant; the sector is responsible for around 37% of global CO₂ emissions and nearly 50% of global material extraction—the largest of any sector. In 2024, global building floor area reached 273 billion square metres, growing by 1.7% in a single year; residential buildings account for 77% of total floor area and around 70% of buildings’ energy demand, placing housing at the heart of both economic growth and climate action.