Five-million robots now operating in factories worldwide; 9% growth expected this year
Five-million robots now operating in factories worldwide; 9% growth expected this year
The global operational stock of industrial robots surged 9% to a record five-million units last year, says the Germany-based International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
This was driven by an 11% jump in yearly installations, with factories worldwide installing more than 600 000 new units over the year.
The IFR is a professional non-profit organisation to promote, strengthen and protect the robotics industry worldwide.
“Industrial automation is progressing at high speed,” said IFR president Jane Heffner.
“The new mark of five-million robots operational in factories worldwide is more than double the number seven years ago.
“The strongest growth is taking place in Asia, followed by the Americas. Europe is moving ahead more slowly.”
According to the IFR report, China had further strengthened its position as the world leader in robot adoption.
Yearly installations grew by 20% year-on-year and now account for 59% of global deployments.
The latest figures showed that 354 000 industrial robots were installed in 2025 –exceeding 2024’s total by almost 60 000 units.
Chinese manufacturers had sold more robots than foreign suppliers in their home country, with their installations rising by 15% to reaching 195 000 units – a domestic market share of 55% in 2025 compared with 57% in 2024.
Japan was the second-largest market for industrial robots in Asia, with 36 219 units installed in 2025 – a 19% decrease.
On a global scale, Japan´s market size moved it down from second to third position, behind the US.
The market in the Republic of Korea installed 30 000 units in 2025 – down 1%.
Yearly installations in this market had been trending sideways at around 31 000 units since 2019.
The country remained the fourth largest market worldwide.
New investments from the automotive industry would, however, come into effect in 2027 and 2028 and could push up this number.
India installed almost 10 500 units in 2025 – up 15%, netting it sixth place worldwide, behind Germany.
Although the volume of new installations was still relatively low compared with the top five established robot-adopting countries, India’s growth was remarkable, says the IFR.
Between 2020 and 2025 yearly installations grew by 27% on average a year.
Germany was the fifth-largest robot market in the world, and by far the largest in Europe.
In 2025, it had a 41% share of the total installations in the EU.
Between 2020 and 2025, yearly installations across industries grew by 2% on average a year. However, sales fell 8% to fewer than 25 000 units in 2025.
The automotive industry was the largest user of industrial robots in Germany, but its share was in retreat, said the IFR.
The IFR projected that global robot demand would continue its growth trajectory.
Installations were forecast to rise by 9% to 655 000 units in 2026 and to reach 806 000 units in 2029.
The IFR believed that building manufacturing capacity in high-wage economies and countries facing labour shortages would drive the demand for automation technology.
Demographic change would also continue to support demand, while technological progress was expanding the range of technologically feasible and economically viable robot applications.
In particular, advances in AI, machine vision and sensing were increasing robot capabilities, while easier programming and system integration were reducing deployment costs and opening automation to new applications and customer groups.
