Five Million Robots Now Operate in Factories Globally
World Robotics 2026 Report by International Federation of Robotics released
The global operational stock of industrial robots surged 9% to a record 5 million units in 2025. This was driven by an 11% jump in annual installations: Factories worldwide installed more than 600,000 new units over the year.
"Industrial automation is progressing at high speed," says Jane Heffner, President of the International Federation of Robotics. "The new mark of five million robots operational in factories worldwide is more than double the number seven years ago. The strongest growth is taking place in Asia, followed by Americas. Europe is moving ahead more slowly."
Asia - overview
China has further strengthened its position as the world leader in robot adoption. Annual installations grew by 20% year-on-year and now account for 59% of global deployments. The latest figures show that 354,000 industrial robots have been installed in 2025.
Japan is the second-largest market for industrial robots in Asia, with 36,219 units installed in 2025 - a 19% decrease. On a global scale, Japan's market size moved down from second to third position, behind the United States.
India installed almost 10,500 units in 2025 - up 15%, claiming sixth place worldwide, behind Germany. India's growth is remarkable: Between 2020-2025, annual installations grew by 27% on average per year (CAGR).
USA
The United States surpassed Japan in 2025 to become the second largest market for industrial robots, following China. Installations of industrial robots grew by 12% to almost 38,500 units, which is the third highest number recorded in the history of these statistics.
Germany is the fifth-largest robot market in the world, and by far the largest in Europe. In 2025, it had a 41% share of the total installations in the European Union. However, sales fell 8% to fewer than 25,000 units in 2025.
Outlook
Global robot demand is expected to continue its long-term growth trajectory. Installations are forecast to rise by 9% to 655,000 units in 2026 and reach 806,000 units in 2029.
About IFR
The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) is the voice of the global robotics industry. Founded in 1987, the non-profit body represents more than 3,000 organizations. www.ifr.org
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