According to the latest World Robotics report, there are now 4,281,585 operational robots in factories around the globe, marking a 10% increase. For the third consecutive year, installations have surpassed half a million units annually. In terms of regional distribution, Asia accounted for 70% of all newly installed robots in 2023, while Europe and the Americas made up 17% and 10%, respectively.
China stands out as the world’s largest robotics market, with 276,288 industrial robots installed in 2023, which constitutes 51% of global installations. This figure is the second highest recorded to date, following the 290,144 units installed in 2022. The market share of domestic manufacturers has surged significantly, reaching 47% in 2023 compared to a fluctuating average of about 28% over the past decade. By the end of 2023, China’s operational stock of robots was nearly 1.8 million, making it the first nation to reach such a milestone. Anticipated demand for robots is projected to rise in the latter half of 2024, potentially leading to enhanced market stability by the year’s conclusion. Looking ahead, there remains substantial growth potential in Chinese manufacturing, with forecasts suggesting an average annual growth rate of 5-10% through 2027.
Japan retains its position as the second-largest market for industrial robots, trailing China. In 2023, 46,106 units were installed, reflecting a decline of 9%. This downturn follows two robust years, including a peak of 50,435 units in 2022, which was the second-best performance after 2018’s figure of 55,240 units. While robot demand in Japan is expected to remain stagnant in 2024, a rebound is anticipated in 2025 and the following years, likely resulting in medium to upper single-digit growth rates.
The Republic of Korea’s robotics market has shown steady trends, with 31,444 installations in 2023—a slight year-on-year decrease of 1%. This places South Korea as the fourth-largest global market for industrial robots, following the United States, Japan, and China.
India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, achieving a remarkable 59% increase in robot installations, which reached a record 8,510 units in 2023. The automotive sector was a significant contributor, with demand surging to 3,551 units—an increase of 139%—driven by both car manufacturers and their suppliers.
Europe
In Europe, industrial robot installations rose by 9%, achieving a record high of 92,393 units. A substantial 80% of these installations occurred within the European Union (73,534 units, a 2% increase). The completion of delayed projects and the clearance of backlogs significantly contributed to this growth, aided by the ongoing trend of nearshoring. The automotive industry played a crucial role in this expansion, particularly in established manufacturing nations like Spain (5,053 units, +31%), as well as in smaller markets such as Slovakia (2,174 units, +48%) and Hungary (1,657 units, +31%).
Germany, the largest market in Europe and the only European nation among the global top five, saw a 7% increase in installations, totaling 28,355 units. In contrast, Italy, the second-largest European market, experienced a 9% decrease, with 10,412 units installed. France, ranking third in Europe, also saw a decline of 13%, with installations totaling 6,386 units.
The UK witnessed a remarkable surge in industrial robot installations, which increased by 51% to 3,830 units in 2023. This growth was largely driven by investments in the automotive industry, particularly for assembly tasks.
The Americas
In the Americas, robot installations exceeded 50,000 units for the third consecutive year, reaching a total of 55,389 units in 2023, just 1% lower than the record set in 2022.
The United States, as the largest market in the region, accounted for 68% of installations, with 37,587 units installed in 2023—a 5% decrease. This figure ranks as the third highest recorded after 2022 and 2018. Demand from the automotive sector dropped by 15% to 12,421 units, aligning with average demand patterns over the last decade. Meanwhile, installations in the metal and machinery sector increased by 8% to 4,171 units, and the electrical/electronics industry remained stable at 3,900 units (+1%).
In Canada, installations rose by 37% to 4,311 units, primarily driven by the cyclical nature of automotive investments, with the automotive sector comprising 58% of the total installations in 2023.
In Mexico, the automotive sector remains a major driver, representing 70% of the market. However, installations in this sector fell by 5% to 4,087 units, reflecting the cyclical demand often seen in this industry segment. Overall, total installations in Mexico reached 5,832 units in 2023, indicating a decrease of 3%.
Outlook
The OECD forecasts a stabilization of global growth; however, geopolitical challenges continue to pose significant risks and uncertainties. Recent crises have highlighted the need for domestic production capabilities in key industries. Automation offers manufacturers the ability to establish production facilities in developed economies without compromising cost-effectiveness. By 2024, the global economic downturn is expected to have reached its lowest point, with global robot installations projected to stabilize at 541,000 units. An acceleration in growth is anticipated in 2025, with a continuation into 2026 and 2027, showing no signs of an end to the overall long-term growth trend.
Orders for the 2024 World Robotics Industrial Robots and Service Robots reports can be placed online, with additional downloadable content available.
About IFR
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) represents the voice of the global robotics industry, including national robot associations, academic institutions, and manufacturers of both industrial and service robots from over twenty countries.
The IFR Statistical Department is responsible for producing data for two annual reports on robotics:
- World Robotics – Industrial Robots: This detailed report provides comprehensive global statistics on industrial robots, presented in standardized tables for ease of national comparison. It includes data from around 40 countries, categorized by application areas, customer industries, robot types, and various technical and economic factors. Additionally, it presents production, export, and import data for selected countries, along with robot density metrics, which measure the number of robots per 10,000 employees as an indicator of automation levels.
- World Robotics – Service Robots: This report outlines marketable products, tasks, challenges, and new developments related to service robots. It includes findings from the IFR service robot survey on global sales of both consumer service and professional robots, as well as an industry structure analysis that features a comprehensive list of service robot manufacturers recognized by the IFR. This study is conducted in collaboration with robotics experts from Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart.
