China Set to Install Over Half of the World's Industrial Robots in 2024

In 2024, the global installation of industrial robots is projected to reach 542,000 units, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) in its World Robotics Report 2025. This figure marks a doubling compared to a decade ago, with China leading the charge, accounting for approximately 54% of all new installations worldwide.

Asia is anticipated to dominate the landscape of robot installations, with a total share of 74%. Europe trails significantly with 16%, while the United States captures 9%. The forecast for 2024 represents the second-highest number of industrial robot installations recorded, following 2022, which saw 553,000 units installed. Since 2021, annual installations have consistently exceeded 500,000 units, a notable increase compared to earlier years.

The rise in robot installations is influencing the total number of operational industrial robots globally, which is expected to reach approximately 4.66 million units in 2024, reflecting a 9% increase from the previous year.

China's commitment to robotics is evident, with around 295,000 new robots being added in 2024 alone, solidifying its position as the world leader in robot installations. Notably, domestic robot manufacturers have outperformed international firms for the first time, capturing 57% of the market share in China, up from 28% in 2023. The IFR estimates that more than 2 million robots are currently operational in China, projecting an average annual growth rate of around 10% in the coming years.

Following China, Japan remains the second-largest market for industrial robots, although it has experienced a slight decline of 4% in new installations, totaling 44,500 units. However, the overall stock of robots in Japan has grown by 3% to approximately 450,500 units, with future growth anticipated to trend upward.

South Korea ranks as the fourth-largest market for industrial robots, where new installations have decreased by 3% to 30,600 units. Conversely, India is witnessing growth, with 9,200 new installations, representing a 7% increase from the previous year. A significant portion of this growth is attributed to the automotive sector, which holds a 45% market share of new installations.

In contrast, European markets are seeing less favorable growth figures. Germany, the fifth-largest robot market globally, reported a 5% decline in installations, totaling 26,982 units, although this remains the second-best performance after 2023. Germany continues to dominate the European robotics market with a 32% share.

Other European countries have also reported decreases in new robot installations. Italy, the second-largest market in Europe, saw a 16% drop to 8,783 units. While Spain experienced growth with 5,100 units installed, France faced a significant decline of 24%, totaling 4,900 units. The United Kingdom also struggled, with a 35% reduction in installations, bringing the total down to just 2,500 units in 2024.

In North and South America, the United States remains the largest market for robotics, accounting for 68% of new installations. However, it also experienced a 9% decline in 2024, with 34,200 units installed, primarily sourced from Japan and Europe due to a limited number of domestic robot manufacturers. Canada and Mexico also faced reductions in new installations, with Canada seeing a 12% decrease to 3,800 robots and Mexico a 4% decline, maintaining dominance in the automotive industry for new installations.

Despite economic challenges, the IFR does not foresee a slowdown in global growth within the robotics market. Instead, it anticipates continued growth in specific markets, projecting a 6% increase to 575,000 units worldwide by 2025, with expectations of surpassing 700,000 installations by 2028.