Record 4 million robots in factories worldwide: report

According to the latest World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), there were 4,281,585 units operating in factories worldwide in 2023 — an increase of 10% over the previous year. 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,” said 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.”

China is by far the world’s largest market, with 276,288 industrial robots installed in 2023 representing 51% of 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 1.8 million units in 2023, making China the first and only country in the world with such a large robot stock. Demand for robots is expected to accelerate in the second half of 2024, contributing to a more stable market by the end of the year.

Japan remained the second largest global market for industrial robots with robot installations reaching 46,106 units in 2023 — down 9%. Third was the Republic of Korea with 31,444 units installed in 2023. The country was the fourth largest robot market in the world in terms of annual installations, after the United States, Japan and China.

Industrial robot installations in Europe rose 9% to a new high of 92,393 units. Installations in Germany, the largest European market and the only European one in the global top five, were up 7% to 28,355 units.

Robot installations in the Americas exceeded 50,000 units for the third year in a row: 55,389 units were installed in 2023, just 1% below the record level reached in 2022.

The United States, the largest regional market, accounted for 68% of installations in the Americas in 2023. Robot installations were down by 5% to 37,587; this is the third highest record figure after 2022 and 2018. Demand from the automotive industry fell by 15% to 12,421 units.

World operational stock of industrial robots 2023 (1000 units). Source: ifr.org. For a larger image click here.

India is one of the fastest growing emerging Asian economies. Robot installations increased by 59% to 8510 units in 2023, a new high. Demand from the automotive industry soared to 3551 units — an increase of 139%. Both car manufacturers and suppliers contributed to this development.

The OECD expects global growth to stabilise. However, geopolitical headwinds are still perceived as a major risk and uncertainty factor. Recent crises have raised political awareness of domestic production capacity in strategic industries. Automation allows manufacturers to locate production in developed economies without sacrificing cost efficiency. By 2024, the global economic downturn will have bottomed out. Global robot installations are expected to level off at 541,000 units. Growth is expected to accelerate in 2025 and continue in 2026 and 2027. There are no signs that the overall long-term growth trend will end in the near future.

Top image credit: iStock.com/SweetBunFactory