4 Million Robots in Factories Worldwide
International Federation of Robotics Releases World Robotics 2024 Report.
The report recorded 4,281,585 units operating in factories worldwide – an increase of 10%. 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,” says Marina Bill, IFR President. “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.”
Asians’ dominance
According to IFR, China is by far the world´s largest market, with 276,288 industrial robots installed in 2023, representing 51% of the global installations. The Chinese manufacturers in the domestic market grew their share from 47% in the previous year.
Following China, Japan retained its position as the second-largest global market for industrial robots. In 2023, robot installations reached 46,106 units, a 9% decline from the previous year.
In 2023, the United States accounted for more than half of robot installations in the Americas but fell short of the previous year’s figures. Installations declined by 5%, totaling 37,587 units, primarily due to a 15% drop in demand from the automotive industry, which saw just 12,421 units installed.
Despite falling short of expectations, the Republic of Korea maintained a strong position in the global robot market. In 2023, robot installations totalled 31,444 units, a slight 1% decline year-on-year. Korea ranked as the fourth-largest robot market worldwide for annual installations, ahead of India, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
India’s robot installations grew by 59% in 2023, reaching 8,510 units. This growth was fueled by a significant increase in the automotive industry, where demand jumped to 3,551 units, marking a 139% rise. Both car manufacturers and suppliers were key contributors to this expansion.
Europe
Germany dominated the European market and was the only European country in the global top five, with installations increasing by 7% to 28,355 units. Italy followed, but its installations declined by 9% to 10,412 units. France also saw a decrease, with installations falling by 13% to 6,386 units.
In the UK, industrial robot installations surged by 51% to 3,830 units in 2023. Investments in the automotive industry primarily drove this growth.
The total installation of industrial robots in Europe rose 9% to a new high of 92,393 units. In total, 80% of installations in 2023 could be attributed to destinations in the European Union.
The Americas
Robot installations in the Americas exceeded 50,000 units for the third year: 55,389 units were installed in 2023.
In Canada, robot installations rose 37% to 4,311 units. Installation figures in Canada largely depend on automotive investment cycles.
Outlook
The OECD anticipates that global growth will stabilize, but geopolitical challenges pose significant risks and uncertainties. Africa lags behind other continents due to underdeveloped infrastructure and limited political commitment from its leadership. South Africa stands out as the continent’s primary robotics enthusiast and holds potential as a future African robotics hub.
By 2024, the global economic downturn is expected to reach its lowest point, with global robot installations stabilizing at 541,000 units. Growth is expected to accelerate in 2025 and continue through 2026 and 2027.
