The number of robots in China's industry has exceeded 2 million
In 2025, a record number of 603,000 industrial robots were installed worldwide. Of these, 354.2 thousand, or nearly 59 percent, were accounted for by China. The country also maintains its leadership in terms of the number of industrial robots in use.
The number of robots in China's industry has exceeded 2 million
In the material presented by Statista, relying on the World Robotics 2026 report of the International Federation of Robotics — IFR, it is noted that the number of industrial robots operating in China has exceeded two million.
China, considered the world's largest manufacturing hub, has significantly outpaced the US and Japan in terms of the volume of introducing new robots.
The country's share in the installation of new industrial robots in the world has increased over the years. This figure was 32 percent in 2016, 52 percent in 2022, and reached 59 percent in 2025.
China's achievements in industrial modernization are linked to the national strategy for the development of robotics initiated a decade ago.
The updated strategy within the framework of the 15th five-year plan for 2026–2030 envisages strengthening the focus on research related to the application of artificial intelligence in the physical world. Robots are expected to become one of the main drivers of economic growth.
However, the total number of installed robots and "robotization density" are different indicators. The IFR calculates robotization density through the number of industrial robots per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry.
According to the data in the material, China ranks 22nd in this indicator. Since the number of people employed in the country's industry exceeds 120 million, there were 166 industrial robots per 10,000 employees in 2024.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, Germany, and Japan, where the automotive and electronics industries are developed, the robotization density was recorded higher due to the relatively smaller number of industrial employees.
In this direction, South Korea has become the world leader by a wide margin: in 2024, there were 1,220 robots per 10,000 industrial employees in the country.