Annual installations of commercial robots worldwide. | Supply: IFR
The Worldwide Federation of Robotics (IFR) immediately launched its World Robotics 2025 Report that confirmed 542,000 industrial robots had been put in worldwide in 2024. That is greater than double the quantity put in 10 years in the past, the IFR famous.
Annual installations topped 500,000 models for the fourth straight yr. Asia accounted for 74% of recent deployments in 2024, in contrast with 16% in Europe and 9% within the Americas.
“The brand new World Robotics statistics present 2024 the second-highest annual set up rely of commercial robots in historical past – solely 2% decrease than the all-time excessive two years in the past,” mentioned IFR president Takayuki Ito. “The transition of many industries into the digital and automatic age has been marked by an enormous surge in demand. The entire variety of industrial robots in operational use worldwide was 4,664,000 models in 2024 – a rise of 9% in comparison with the earlier yr.”
China is world’s strongest robotics market
China’s annual installations of commercial robots from 2014-2024. | Supply: IFR
China is by far the world’s largest robotics market in 2024, the IFR mentioned. It represents 54% of world deployments. The newest figures present that 295,000 industrial robots have been put in within the nation, the best annual whole on report, in line with the IFR’s numbers.
Notably, for the primary time, Chinese language producers have offered greater than international suppliers of their house nation. Their home market share climbed to 57% final yr, up from about 28% over the previous decade. China’s operational robotic inventory exceeded the two million mark in 2024, the biggest of any nation.
Moreover, as robotics in China is opening up new markets, there is no such thing as a indication that robotic demand in China will lower. There’s nonetheless lots of potential in Chinese language manufacturing for 10% progress on common annually till 2028, the IFR mentioned.
Exterior of China, Asian nations nonetheless lead in robotics
India has seen a big improve in robotic installations lately. | Supply: IFR
Japan maintained its place because the second-largest marketplace for industrial robots, with 44,500 models put in in 2024. This represents a slight 4% lower from 2023. The nation’s operational inventory rose by 3%, with 450,500 models now in use.
Demand for robots will develop barely by decrease single-digit charges in 2025. It can then speed up to a medium single-digit price on common within the subsequent few years, the IFR mentioned.
The market within the Republic of Korea put in 30,600 models in 2024, down 3%. Annual installations had been trending sideways of round 31,000 models since 2019. The nation is the fourth largest robotic market on this planet by way of annual installations in 2024, after america, Japan, and China.
India continues to develop with a report of 9,100 models put in in 2024 – up 7%. The automotive trade was the strongest driver with a market share of 45%. When it comes to annual installations, India ranks sixth worldwide, one place up behind Germany.
Industrial robotic installations fall barely in Europe
The IFR mentioned it doesn’t anticipate the EU’s automotive trade to drive progress for robotics in 2025. | Supply: IFR
Industrial robotic installations in Europe fell 8% to 85,000 models in 2024, nonetheless the second largest quantity recorded in historical past. 80%, 67,800 models, of all European robotic installations came about within the European Union. Robotic demand in Europe benefited from the nearshoring pattern. The annual common progress price from 2019 to 2024 was plus 3%.
Germany is the biggest robotic market in Europe and the fifth-largest on this planet. Installations fell 5% to 26,982 models in 2024, which is the second-best end result recorded after the report yr of 2023. This represents a 32% market share of the annual whole in Europe.
The variety of installations in Italy, the second largest European market, fell by 16% to eight,783 models. Spain is now in third place (5,100 models), with a robust demand from the automotive trade. France (4,900 models) moved right down to fourth place, with a 24% lower.
Within the UK, industrial robotic installations had been down 35% to 2,500 models in 2024. The report variety of 3,800 models in 2023 was a one-off peak, pushed by the “super-deduction” tax credit score program, which ended after the primary quarter of 2023. Set up counts moved sideways with some cyclicity over the previous decade. Robotic installations within the UK rank nineteenth worldwide in 2024.
U.S. stays largest market within the Americas
China has 5 instances extra operational inventory of commercial robots than the U.S. | Supply: IFR
Robotic installations within the Americas exceeded 50,000 models for the fourth yr in a row: 50,100 models had been put in in 2024, down 10% under the extent reached in 2023. The US, the biggest regional market, accounted for 68% of installations within the Americas in 2024.
Robotic installations had been down by 9% to 34,200 models. The Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3) tracks industrial robotic and collaborative robotic (cobot) gross sales in North America. A3 has seen a slight 4.3% improve in robotic orders for the primary half of 2025 in comparison with 2024.
The US imports most of its robots from Japan and Europe, with few home suppliers. Nonetheless, there are quite a few home robotic system integrators implementing robotic automation options, the IFR mentioned.
Complete installations in Mexico reached 5,600 models in 2024, a lower of 4%. The automotive trade remained the important thing buyer of commercial robots in Mexico, accounting for 63% of the installations in 2024. In Canada, robotic installations declined by 12% to three,800 models. Set up figures in Canada largely depend upon automotive funding cycles. The share of the automotive trade was 47% in 2024.
Robotic gross sales will stay constructive in long run, IFR mentioned
Whereas the IFR predicts slower progress within the coming years, its general outlook on the robotics trade is constructive. | Supply: IFR
The OECD and the IMF anticipate international progress in a variety of two.9% to three.0% in 2025 and a pair of.9% and three.1% in 2026. Nonetheless, geopolitical tensions, violent conflicts in Jap Europe and the Center East, and commerce disruptions are exerting their unfavourable affect on the worldwide financial system.
The robotics trade is just not resistant to international macroeconomic situations, the IFR famous, however there is no such thing as a indication that the general long-term progress pattern will come to an finish any time quickly. Whereas regional developments differ considerably, the combination international trajectory stays constructive.
Globally, robotic installations are anticipated to develop by 6% to 575,000 models in 2025. By 2028, the 700,000-unit mark will probably be surpassed.
Study China’s robotics growth at RoboBusiness
RoboBusiness 2025, which takes place Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif., will characteristic displays about China’s robotics growth and the way the U.S. can compete within the coming years. Day 2 will embrace a keynote panel, “Closing the Robotics Hole with China,” with insights from:
- Jeff Burnstein, the president of A3
- George Stieler, the pinnacle of robotics and automation at Stieler Know-how & Market Advisory
- Eric Truebenbach, the managing director at Teradyne Ventures
Through the session, the specialists will talk about how international gamers can foster innovation ecosystems, strengthen provide chains, and speed up commercialization to compete on the world stage. Moreover, Stieler will current in a session on the “International Implications of China’s Robotics Push.”
RoboBusiness, the premier occasion for builders and suppliers of business robots, will probably be on Oct. 15-16 in Santa Clara, Calif. The occasion will characteristic tracks on enabling applied sciences, humanoids (new), enterprise, design and improvement, and area robotics, in addition to the Bodily AI Discussion board.
This yr’s convention can even embrace greater than 60 audio system, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competitors, and quite a few networking alternatives. Over 100 exhibitors on the present ground will showcase their newest enabling applied sciences, merchandise, and providers to assist clear up your robotics improvement challenges. Registration is now open.
