Iván Hernández Dalas: IFR reports robot density increase across Europe, Asia, and the Americas

Chart of the leading nations by robot adoption in 2024 from the International Federation of Robotics.

Industrial robot deployments have continued to climb across much of the world. Click here to enlarge. Source: International Federation of Robotics.

Factories worldwide are implementing more automation, according to the “World Robotics 2025” report from the International Federation of Robotics, or IFR. The organization said the robot density, or number of units per 10,000 employees, has risen across three continents.

The IFR noted that Western Europe in particular increased its robot density to 267 robots per 10,000 employees in 2024 — ahead of North America with 204 units and Asia with 131 units.

“The robot density metric provides a uniform basis for comparison by relating the total number of robots used in a country to its economic size, as measured by its workforce,” stated Takayuki Ito, president of the IFR.

The Frankfurt, Germany-based organization previously reported that average global robot density had doubled from 2014 to 2024. The IFR explained that its measurement can cover manufacturing as a whole or just specific industrial branches. “The number of employees serves as a measure of economic size, so the quotient of operational stock over employees puts the operational stock on a uniform base,” it said.

Europe takes the lead in robot density

Western European countries recorded a robot density increase of 3% year over year. Nine nations in the region placed in the global top 20, including Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Spain.

The 27 members of the European Union reached a robot density of 231 units, which is above the global average of 132 units per 10,000 employees. The IFR last year said that Europe’s automotive sector continued to drive industrial robot sales.

A bar graph showing the annual installations of industrial robots in the European automotive industry.

Source: International Federation of Robotics

North American robotics usage also grows

North America´s robot density rose by 4% in 2024, said the IFR. The U.S. ranked eighth worldwide with 307 units per 10,000 employees, also largely due to its automakers. The report comes as U.S. policymakers have increasingly turned their attention to robotics, AI, and industrial strategy for competitiveness and national security.

“It was clear in A3’s recent robot orders report that North America is seeing a surge in robot orders,” Robert Little, chief of robotics strategy at Novanta Inc., told The Robot Report. “That aligns with the more than $7 trillion in manufacturing investments announced or under way since 2025, combined with a persistent shortage of skilled manufacturing labor. Manufacturers still need to build, so they must automate. Expect this trend to continue for many years.”

Canada followed with 241 units, and Mexico with 62 units.

Asian adoption increases, but China revises statistics

Asia had an average robot density of 131 units per 10,000 manufacturing workers — an increase of 11%. The IFR also said the economies of the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Chinese Taipei were among the top 10 most automated worldwide.

Based on updated labor market data issued by China’s National Bureau of Statistics, China ranked sixth in Asia and 22nd worldwide. It had 166 robots for every 10,000 people employed, which was a year-on-year increase of 17%.

“As a large country with a huge manufacturing workforce, China requires a significant operational stock, with a presence not only in its manufacturing hubs, but also in its rural regions, in order to achieve high robot density,” explained the IFR. “China’s outstanding position in the field of industrial robotics is clearly demonstrated by its impressive operational stock, which is the largest in the world.”

The country counted around 2 million units — approximately 4.5 times more than Japan, which was in second place. In addition, 295,000 units, or 54% of all robots installed worldwide in 2024, were deployed in China, the IFR said.

“There has been a change, a correction, a re-assessment,” Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous systems programs at ASTM International, posted on LinkedIn. “New data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics has significantly changed China’s robot density numbers, and we are going to have to rethink how we see China as a robot power when it comes to certain data points.”

“I like that we have new data, and it appears to be better data, so very happy to see the correction,” he added. “However, it is also going to impact how we discuss the growing side of geopolitics within robotics.”

Editor’s note: Prather will deliver a keynote on “The State of Humanoids” at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo next month. Registration is now open.

SITE AD for the 2026 Robotics Summit save the date.

The IFR ranks leading countries and territories

The Republic of Korea reported the world´s highest robot density, with 1,220 robots per 10,000 employees, growing by 7% on average annually since 2019. “With its globally recognized electronics industry and a distinct automotive industry, the Korean economy benefits from these two largest customers for industrial robots,” said the IFR.

Singapore was second with 818 units. As a small country with a low number of manufacturing employees, it can attain a high robot density with a relatively small operational stock. The IFR added that the country’s robot density has been growing by 13% per year since 2019. Companies in Singapore are also working to train students in emerging physical AI.

Germany ranked third, with 449 units per 10,000 employees. The “World Robotics 2025” report said robot density in Europe’s largest economy had grown by 5% per year since 2019. However, the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association warned in February that Germany is losing market share.

Fourth was Japan, with 446 units. Robot density of the world’s leading robot manufacturer had been growing by 5% annually since 2019.

Sweden (377), Denmark (329), Slovenia (315), the U.S. (307), and Chinese Taipei (or Taiwan, 302), and Switzerland (294) rounded out the IFR’s top 10.

While the number of units has increased, revenue from robot sales dropped from 2023 to 2024, according to a report last year from Interact Analysis. It cited a post-COVID dip in demand, high interest rates, and an automotive slowdown as that industry pivoted away from electrification, but it also predicted a rebound.

The post IFR reports robot density increase across Europe, Asia, and the Americas appeared first on The Robot Report.



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