How 3D Printing is Transforming Developing Countries in 2025

Back in 2019, we explored how 3D printing could help developing countries. At the time, we highlighted early projects in housing, healthcare, and supply chains - showing the promise of additive manufacturing as more than just an industrial tool.

Six years on, the conversation has evolved. 3D printing has moved from pilot projects to real-world applications that are making a tangible difference in developing regions. From rapid housing to healthcare access, it’s proving itself as a technology that can solve critical infrastructure and humanitarian challenges.

Affordable Housing at Scale

One of the most pressing challenges in developing nations is safe, affordable housing. Since 2019, large-scale 3D printing has become a proven solution:

• ICON’s community in Mexico delivered dozens of 3D-printed homes in record time, at costs significantly lower than traditional methods.

• COBOD’s 3D printing systems are now being deployed in Africa and the Middle East, producing durable housing in days rather than months.

These projects demonstrate how 3D printing reduces dependency on scarce skilled labour while addressing urgent shelter shortages.

Schools and Community Infrastructure

Education is another area where 3D printing is stepping up. NGOs and construction innovators have collaborated to build Madagascar’s First 3D Printed School Completed - 3Dnatives. These buildings are not only quicker and cheaper to produce, but also designed to withstand local climates and natural disasters.

For many communities, these are the first permanent, purpose-built schools available - a powerful example of how additive manufacturing delivers social impact.

Medical and Humanitarian Relief

Healthcare access in developing countries is often limited by supply chains. 3D printing is helping bridge the gap:

• Prosthetics and orthotics are now being locally manufactured using low-cost 3D printers, providing custom solutions for patients who would otherwise go untreated.

• Emergency response organisations are experimenting with printing water filtration systems, shelters, and spare parts for medical equipment on-site, reducing reliance on international logistics.

The flexibility to print what’s needed, where it’s needed, is transforming aid delivery.

3D printing technology played a critical role in addressing COVID-19 medical supply shortages globally | Forgelabs

Economic Empowerment

Perhaps the most exciting change since 2019 is the growth of local entrepreneurship. Small-scale 3D printing hubs are emerging in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Local businesses are using additive manufacturing to produce spare parts, agricultural tools, and consumer goods - reducing dependency on imports and creating new economic opportunities.

This grassroots use of 3D printing shows its potential as a development tool: not just for corporations or NGOs, but for communities themselves.

From Promise to Progress

In 2019, the story was about potential. In 2025, we can say with confidence that 3D printing is making a measurable impact in developing countries. While challenges remain - from material supply to regulatory frameworks - the trajectory is clear. Additive manufacturing is no longer an experiment. It’s becoming an essential part of sustainable development.

At Authentise, we continue to believe in 3D printing’s power to reshape not only industries, but societies. By following these developments closely, we aim to provide insight into where the technology can do the most good.

READ NEXT: