Image: ZHENYU LUO via Unsplash
More than 4 million industrial robots are operating in factories worldwide, marking an increase of 10%, according to a new report released by the International Federation of Robotics on Tuesday.
The World Robotics report recorded 4,281,585 units operating in factories across the world. The report also revealed that annual installations exceeded half a million units for the third consecutive year. By region, 70% of all newly deployed robots in 2023 were installed 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 Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics.
“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.”
Asia Dominates the Market
The report shows that China is by far the world´s largest market. The 276,288 industrial robots installed in 2023 represent 51% of the global installations. This result is the second-highest level ever recorded (2022: 290,144 units). The share of Chinese manufacturers in the domestic market has grown considerably since 2022, reaching 47% in 2023. It has fluctuated around 28% over the past decade. The operational stock was just shy of the 1.8-million-unit mark in 2023, making China the first and only country in the world with such a large robot stock.
Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots, behind China. Robot installations reached 46,106 units in 2023 – down 9%. This followed two strong years, peaking at 50,435 units in 2022 – the second-best result after 2018 (55,240 units).
Meanwhile, South Korea, the fourth largest robot market in the world in terms of annual installations, saw a modest decline of 1% in robot installations, with 31,444 units deployed.
India is one of the fastest-growing emerging Asian economies. Robot installations increased by 59% to 8,510 units in 2023, a new high. The report says that this growth was largely driven by the automotive industry, which saw a 139% increase in demand for automation.
Steady Growth in Europe
Europe saw a robust 9% increase in industrial robot installations in 2023, with a new high of 92,393 units. Most of these installations (80%) were concentrated in the European Union. While Germany (+7%) remains the largest robotics market in Europe and one of the top five globally, other European countries such as Spain (+31%), Slovakia (+48%), and Hungary (+31%) also contributed to the continent’s growth. However, major markets like Italy and France experienced declines, with Italy down 9% and France decreasing by 13%.
The UK, on the other hand, saw a remarkable 51% growth in industrial robot installations (3,830 units), driven largely by increased investment in the automotive industry.
Americas Hold Steady
In the Americas, robot installations exceeded 50,000 units for the third consecutive year, totalling 55,389 units in 2023, just 1% below the record level reached in 2022.
The United States, the largest regional market, accounted for 68% of installations, although installations fell by 5%. This decline was mainly due to a 15% drop in demand from the automotive sector. However, installations in industries like metal, machinery, and electronics remained steady or even grew slightly.
Canada saw a 37% surge in robot installations to 4,311 units, primarily driven by the automotive industry, which accounted for 58% of the market. In Mexico, where the automotive sector dominates, installations decreased by 3%, totalling 5,832 units.
Future Outlook
The report offers an optimistic outlook for the robotics industry. While global robot installations are expected to stabilize at around 541,000 units in 2024, growth is projected to accelerate in 2025 Growth is expected to accelerate in 2025 and continue in 2026 and 2027. The report says there are no signs that the overall long-term growth trend will end in the near future.
