Worldwide installations of industrial robots reached 542,000 units in 2024, more than doubling the figure from a decade ago, and coming in as the second highest number of units installed in a single year in history. 

"The transition of many industries into the digital and automated age has been marked by a huge surge in demand," said International Federation of Robotics (IFR) president Takayuki Ito.

According to data released by the IFR September 25, total installations in 2024 were just 2% lower than the all-time record set in the previous year. Asia remained the powerhouse of global demand, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the world's industrial robot installations. China — by far the largest market for robots — represented 54% of global deployments, with 295,000 new robots installed, its highest annual volume to date. For the first time, Chinese suppliers also sold more robots than foreign rivals in its home market, boosting its domestic market share from an average of 28% over the past decade to 57% in 2024. 

Japan was the world’s second-largest market after deploying 44,500 units in 2024, despite a slight 4% year-over-year dip. Demand for robots in Japan is expected to grow by low-single-digit rates by the end of 2025, before accelerating to medium-single-digits on average over the next few years.

The United States saw the third most installations in 2024 of any country at 34,200, down 9% from the previous year. The U.S. — which imported most of its robots from Japan and Europe — was also the largest regional market for robots, accounting for 68% of installations in the Americas.

In Europe, industrial robot installations fell by 8% in 2024, although demand was still helped by a recent push to nearshore more manufacturing within the bloc. Germany was the largest robot market in Europe and fifth largest globally, after installing nearly 27,000 units in 2024. 

Despite geopolitical and economic headwinds driven by conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the IFR forecasts global installations will grow 6% in 2025 to 575,000 units, surpassing 700,000 by 2028.

"The robotics industry is not immune to global macroeconomic conditions, but there is no indication that the overall long-term growth trend will come to an end any time soon," the IFR predicted. "While regional trends vary substantially, the aggregate global trajectory remains positive."