The U.S. is currently home to the largest stock of built assets -- that is, infrastructure, worth $39.7 trillion -- in the world, but this might not hold true for much longer, according to the Global Built Asset Wealth Index, compiled by the Centre for Economic and Business Research and EC Harris.

With a stock of built assets worth $35.4 trillion, China is only a few trillion dollars behind, and at the rate it's going it could surpass the U.S. as soon as 2014, according to the EC Harris report. This is despite predictions that the U.S. will experience a healthy rate of growth in stock of built assets, which are an important indicator of future economic growth.

With the exception of Japan, the stock of built assets in Asian and Middle Eastern countries is rising quickly, with India and South Korea in the lead. European countries, however, are likely to experience subdued growth or even contraction as cash dwindles and assets depreciate.

Here’s an infographic with a snapshot of built-asset wealth around the world:

Built Asset Wealth
Home to the second-largest stock of built assets, China will likely overtake the U.S. by 2014. IBTimes/Lisa Mahapatra
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