CHAOS Report on IT Project Outcomes
Historical (1994)
In the original Standish Group survey, only 16.2% of software projects were delivered on-time and on-budget (Standish Group 1994). Meanwhile 31.1% were canceled before completion (Standish Group 1994). Budget overruns were massive: over half (52.7%) of projects ran 189% over the original cost estimate (Standish Group 1994). Large organizations fared worst – only 9% of their projects succeeded, with 61.5% challenged and 29.5% canceled (Standish Group 1994). Even completed projects delivered far less than planned: projects in large firms averaged only 42% of their original features (Standish Group 1994). Overall, across 3,682 projects in that sample, only 12% were on-time and on-budget (Standish Group 1994).
“CHAOS Manifesto” (2012)
By 2012, Standish data showed improved results: 37% of projects succeeded (on time, on budget, with full scope), 42% were challenged, and 21% failed (InfoQ summary of CHAOS Manifesto 2012).
Recent (2020)
The latest CHAOS data shows renewed difficulties: only 31% of projects were “successful” (Standish CHAOS 2020 Summary). Fully 50% were challenged and 19% failed (Standish CHAOS 2020 Summary). Small projects performed far better (~90% success), while large projects had <10% success (Standish CHAOS 2020 Summary).
Global Outcomes
Across all regions, approximately 30–34% of projects meet all goals (Standish CHAOS 2020 Summary). Cancellations dropped from ~31% in 1994 to ~19–21% in 2020. In 1994, successful projects in large firms delivered only ~42% of planned features (Standish Group 1994); by 2012, full-scope delivery was expected as part of success (InfoQ 2012 Summary).
U.S.-Specific Figures
Standish surveys include many U.S. firms. In 2020, 31% of U.S. projects were canceled, and 53% were challenged – implying only ~16% succeeded (Standish CHAOS 2020 Summary). Government IT projects fare worse:
Only 13% of major U.S. state and local IT projects succeed (18F: Why Government Digital Services Fail).
Only 13% of large federal IT procurements (>$6M) succeed (Belfer Center: IT Failures in Government).
Europe and Other Regions
Standish doesn’t regularly publish EU- or Asia-specific breakouts. However, regional reviews suggest similar trends:
A European analysis found 30% of projects succeed and 20% fail outright (Project Failure Rate in IT Sector – ResearchGate).
Summary Table
| Region / Year | On Time/On Budget (Success) | Within Budget | Meeting Scope | Canceled (Failure) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global (1994) | 16.2% | 16.2% | ~42% of features | 31.1% |
| Global (2012) | 37% | 37% | 37% | 21% |
| Global (2020) | 31% | 31% | 31% | 19% |
| U.S. Projects (2020) | ~16% | ~16% | ~16% | 31% |
| U.S. Gov't IT (2019) | 13% | 13% | 13% | 87% |
Note: 1994 scope data approximates features delivered. 2020 U.S. figures inferred from reported challenge/failure rates.
Sources
- Standish Group CHAOS Report 1994
- InfoQ: CHAOS Manifesto 2012 Summary
- CHAOS Report 2020 (Standish Group)
- 18F: Why Government Digital Services Fail
- Belfer Center: IT Failures in Government
- ResearchGate: Project Failure Rate in IT Sector