New global robotics data by the International Federation of Robotics shows continued growth

Manufacturing robots per 10,000 employees, listed in order by country. (Source: International Federation of Robotics)

Robot adoption in factories around the world continues soar, according to a new report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

The World Robotics 2024 report shows the new global average robot density reached a record 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023, more than double the 74 units measured in 2017.

Robot density is a way to track the degree of automation adoption in the global manufacturing industry. Takayuki Ito, president of the International Federation of Robotics, says Korea and Singapore were the leaders in robot adoption, with China, Germany and Japan rounding out the top five.

The report says the European Union has a robot density of 219 units per 10,000 employees, an increase of 5.2%, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia in the global top ten.

North America's robot density is 197 units per 10,000 employees – up 4.2%.  With a robot density of 295 units, the U.S. ranks eleventh among the most automated countries in the manufacturing sector.

Asia has a robot density of 182 units per 10,000 persons employed in manufacturing – an increase of 7.6%. Korea, Singapore, mainland China and Japan are among the top ten most automated countries.

Top countries for robot density

The Republic of Korea is the world's number one adopter of industrial robots with 1,012 robots per 10,000 employees. Robot density has increased by 5% on average each year since 2018. With a world-renowned electronics industry and a strong automotive industry, the Korean economy relies on the two largest customers for industrial robots.

Singapore follows with 770 robots per 10,000 employees. Singapore is a small country with a very low number of employees in the manufacturing industry, so it can reach a high Robot density with a relatively small operational stock.

China took third place in 2023, surpassing Germany and Japan. The country's push for automation technology results in a density of 470 robots per 10,000 employees. China entered the top 10 in 2019 and has doubled its robot density within four years.

Germany ranks fourth with 429 robots per 10,000 employees. The robot density of Europe's largest economy has grown by 5% CAGR since 2018.