Global robot population grows by 10% to exceed 4 million
25 September 2024 
The number of industrial robots at work in factories around the world rose by 10% last year to reach a total of 4,281,585, according to a the latest World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The number of new installations exceeded 500,000 for the third year in a row, with 70% of the new robots being deployed in Asia, 17% in Europe, and 10% in the Americas.
“The new World Robotics statistics show an all-time high in the number of industrial robots automating production around the world,” says IFR president, Marina Bill. “The annual installation figure of 541,302 units in 2023 is the second-highest in history. It is only 2% lower than the record of 552,946 units installed in 2022.”
China remains by far the world’s largest market for industrial robots, installing a further 276,288 in 2023 – representing 51% of all new installations around the globe. Domestic Chinese manufacturers accounted for 47% of all sales in 2023 – up from an average of around 28% over the past decade. The total number of industrial robots in use in China is now just under 1.8 million.
Demand for robots in China is expected to accelerate in the second half of 2024. The IFR says that there is still a lot of growth potential in Chinese manufacturing, with an annual growth of 5–10% possible in the period to 2027.
Japan remains the world’s second-largest market for industrial robots, although new installations fell by 9% in 2023 to 46,106. This followed two strong years, peaking at 50,435 in 2022. Japanese demand is expected to remain stagnant in 2024, but to recover in 2025 and subsequent years.
The number of industrial robot installations in Europe rose by 9% in 2023 to hit a new high of 92,393. This is partially explained by delayed projects being completed, and backlogs being cleared. Robot demand in the region also benefited from the nearshoring trend. Growth was strongly driven by automotive investments in Spain (a 31% increase to 5,053 robots), Slovakia (a 48% increase to 2,174) and Hungary (a 31% increase to 1,657).
Installations in Germany – the only European country in the global top five of robot users – increased by 7% to 28,355. In Italy, the second-largest European market, installations fell by 9% to 10,412. Europe’s third-largest market, France, declined by 13%, with 6,386 new robots being installed.
In the UK, industrial robot installations soared by 51% to 3,830 in 2023, driven largely by the automotive sector.
In the Americas, robot installations exceeded 50,000 for the third year in a row in 2023. The 55,389 robots installed was 1% below the record level achieved in 2022.
The US accounted for 68% of all installations in the Americas, but its total of 37,587 new installations was 5% lower than in 2022. Demand from the automotive sector fell by 15% to 12,421, while installations in the metal and machinery industry climbed by 8% to 4,171. Installations in the US electrical/electronics industry remained steady at around 3,900.
In India, new robot installations grew by 59% to 8,510 in 2023 – a new high. Demand from the automotive sector soared by 139% to 3,551.
IFR expects global robot installations to level off at around 541,000 this year, before accelerating again in 2025, and into 2026 and 2027.
