World Robotics 2024 Report by International Federation of Robotics Released
Frankfurt, September 24th, 2024 – The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has released its highly anticipated World Robotics 2024 report, which reveals a record-breaking number of industrial robots operating in factories worldwide. According to the report, there were 4,281,585 units in operation, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year that annual installations have exceeded half a million units.
The report also highlights the regional distribution of these robots, with 70% of all newly deployed robots in 2023 being 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, just 2% lower than the record set in 2022.”
China remained the largest market for industrial robots, with 276,288 units installed in 2023, accounting for 51% of global installations. This marks the second-highest level ever recorded, only slightly lower than the record set in 2022. The report notes that Chinese manufacturers have significantly increased their share in the domestic market, reaching 47% in 2023 compared to an average of 28% over the past decade. With an operational stock of nearly 1.8 million units, China is now the first and only country in the world with such a large robot stock. The report predicts that demand for robots in China will continue to grow, with an estimated 5-10% annual growth until 2027.
Japan remained the second-largest global market for industrial robots, with 46,106 units installed in 2023. While this represented a 9% decrease from the previous year, it followed two strong years with record-breaking installations in 2022. The report expects robot demand in Japan to remain stagnant in 2024 but recover in the following years.
In the Republic of Korea, installations remained relatively stable, with 31,444 units installed in 2023, a 1% decrease from the previous year. The country was the fourth-largest robot market in the world, behind the United States, Japan, and China.
India saw a significant increase in robot installations in 2023, with a 59% increase to 8,510 units. This was mainly driven by the automotive industry, which saw a 139% increase in installations compared to the previous year.
In Europe, industrial robot installations reached a new high of 92,393 units, representing a 9% increase from the previous year. The report notes that delayed projects were completed, and the backlog was cleared in 2023. The region also saw a boost in robot demand from the nearshoring trend. The automotive industry was a major contributor to this growth, with strong investments in countries such as Spain (31% increase), Slovakia (48% increase), and Hungary (31% increase).
Germany remained the largest European market for industrial robots, with 28,355 units installed in 2023, a 7% increase from the previous year. However, Italy saw a 9% decrease in installations, and France saw a 13% decrease.
In the United Kingdom, industrial robot installations increased by 51% to 3,830 units in 2023, driven by investments in the automotive industry.
The Americas saw over 50,000 units of industrial robots installed for the third consecutive year, with 55,389 units installed in 2023, just 1% lower than the record set in 2022. The United States remained the largest market in the region, with 68% of installations. However, there was a 5% decrease in robot installations, mainly due to a 15% decrease in the automotive industry. In Canada, installations rose by 37%, while in Mexico, there was a 5% decrease in installations.
Looking towards the future, the report predicts that global growth will stabilize, but geopolitical tensions remain a major risk and uncertainty factor. The recent crises have also highlighted the importance of domestic production capacity in strategic industries. Automation allows manufacturers to locate production in developed economies without sacrificing cost efficiency. The report predicts that global robot installations will level off at 541,000 units in 2024 before accelerating in the following years.
Orders for the World Robotics 2024 Industrial Robots and Service Robots reports can be placed online. More information and downloads can be found on IFR’s website.
About IFR
The International Federation of Robotics is the voice of the global robotics industry, representing national robot associations, academia, and manufacturers of industrial and service robots from over twenty countries. The IFR Statistical Department provides data for
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.