The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) recently presented the “World Robotics 2024” report. According to the data collected, robot adoption in factories around the world continues at high speed. The global average density reached 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023. This is more than double the number measured only seven years ago (74 units).
Automation is increasingly important in industry for production to be fast and efficient. In addition, the use of robots helps achieve high quality standards. It is also a key factor in the production of home appliances and in the electronics industry in general.
“Robot density serves as a barometer to track the degree of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world – said Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics”. In the “World Robotics 2024” report, China ranks third worldwide behind Korea and Singapore, but before Germany and Japan.
Robot density by region
Observing in detail the data by region, in 2023 the European Union presents an average robot density of 219 units per 10,000 employees. This represents an increase of 5.2% compared to the previous year. Besides, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia are in the global top ten of the most automated countries in the manufacturing industry. As regards to the North America region, the robot density is 197 units per 10,000 employees (up 4.2%). Finally, Asia reached 182 units per 10,000 persons employed in manufacturing. This means an increase of 7.6% compared to the previous year. Within this region, Korea, Singapore, mainland China and Japan are the most automated countries.
The top three countries in the ranking
According to the “World Robotics 2024”, the Republic of Korea is the world´s number one adopter of industrial robots with 1,012 units 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. It is a small country with a very low number of employees in the manufacturing industry, so it can reach a high robot density also with a relatively small operational stock.
China took third place in 2023, surpassing Germany and Japan. The country’s push to the use of automation technology results in a high robot density of 470 robots per 10,000 employees (2022: 402 units). China only entered the top 10 in 2019. But it has managed to double its robot density within four years.
The other main positions
After China, Germany ranks fourth with 429 robots per 10,000 employees. The density of Europe´s largest economy has grown by 5% CAGR since 2018. Japan is in fifth place with 419 units. Robot adoption in the country grew by 7% on average each year (2018-2023). As regards to the United States, they reached 295 units in 2023. The nation is tenth in the world. Chinese Taipei (294 robots), Netherlands (264) and Austria (245) follow. Italy ranks in the fourteenth position with 228 robots installed per 10,000 employees.
