Assembly Lines
Global Robot Demand Doubles Over Last 10 Years
Manufacturers around the world are investing heavily in robotic automation.
FRANKFURT—More factories are installing robots to improve productivity, boost quality and address severe labor shortages. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), 542,000 machines were installed worldwide in 2024, more than double the number 10 years ago.
Annual installations topped 500,000 units for the fourth straight year. Asia accounted for 74 percent of new deployments in 2024, compared with 16 percent in Europe and 9 percent in the Americas.
“The new World Robotics statistics show 2024 the second highest annual installation count of industrial robots in history—only 2 percent lower than the all-time-high two years ago,” says Takayuki Ito, IFR president. “The transition of many industries into the digital and automated age has been marked by a huge surge in demand. The total number of industrial robots in operational use worldwide was 4,664,000 units in 2024, an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year.”
Robot installations in North America exceeded 50,000 units for the fourth year in a row, with 50,100 units installed in 2024. The United States, the largest regional market, accounted for 68 percent of installations in the Americas in 2024, with 34,200 units.
“The United States imports most of its robots from Japan and Europe, with few domestic suppliers,” explains Ito, who also serves as chief technical advisor at Fanuc Corp. “However, there are numerous domestic system integrators.”
China is by far the world’s largest market, representing 54 percent of global deployments. The latest figures show that 295,000 industrial robots have been installed, which is the highest annual total on record.
“For the first time, Chinese manufacturers have sold more than foreign suppliers in their home country,” says Ito. “Their domestic market share climbed to 57 percent last year, up from about 28 percent over the past decade. China’s operational robot stock exceeded the 2 million mark in 2024, the largest of any country.”
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Japan maintained its position as the second largest market for industrial robots, with 44,500 units installed in 2024. The Republic of Korea, the fourth largest robot market in the world, installed 30,600 machines in 2024.
“India continues to grow with a record of 9,100 units installed in 2024, up 7 percent,” Ito points out. “The automotive industry was the strongest driver, with a market share of 45 percent.”
Industrial robot installations in Europe fell 8 percent to 85,000 units in 2024, but it’s still the second largest number recorded in history. The majority (80 percent) of new machines were installed in the European Union, which benefited from the nearshoring trend.
Germany is the largest robot market in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Other European countries experiencing big demand for robots include Italy, Spain and France.
“The robotics industry is not immune to global macroeconomic conditions, but there is no indication that the overall long-term growth trend will come to an end any time soon,” predicts Ito. “While regional trends vary substantially, the aggregate global trajectory remains positive.
“Globally, robot installations are expected to grow by 6 percent to 575,000 units in 2025,” says Ito. “By 2028, the 700,000 unit mark will be surpassed.”Looking for a reprint of this article?
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