Factories Now Operate 5 Million Robots, and China Installed 59% of Last Year's New Units

The number of industrial robots operating in factories worldwide reached 5 million in 2025, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The operational stock grew 9% from the previous year and is now more than twice the level recorded seven years earlier. Factories installed more than 600,000 new robots during 2025, an 11% annual increase and another sign that automation spending remains resilient.

China accounted for 59% of all new installations. Its factories installed 354,000 industrial robots, up 20% year on year. The scale matters because every installation adds not only a machine, but also demand for systems integration, software, maintenance, sensors, safety equipment and trained operators. Those surrounding capabilities can make the next deployment easier and cheaper.

China is also changing who supplies the robots

Chinese robot manufacturers sold more units than foreign suppliers in their home market. Domestic manufacturers installed 195,000 units in 2025, according to IFR, equal to a 55% local market share. The share was 57% in 2024, so it slipped slightly even as the absolute number of Chinese-supplied installations increased by 15%.

This is important for the global automation market. China is not only the largest buyer of industrial robots. It is building suppliers that can use the home market to increase production, improve products and compete abroad. The same scale that helped Chinese companies in batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles could create cost and capability advantages in robotics components and complete systems.

Japan installed 36,219 industrial robots in 2025, a 19% decrease, and moved behind the United States to become the third-largest market by annual installations. South Korea installed about 30,000 units, down 1%, continuing a pattern close to 31,000 units a year since 2019. India installed almost 10,500 units, up 15%, and reached sixth place globally.

What counts as an industrial robot

The IFR figures cover industrial robots used in manufacturing, not every automated machine, warehouse cart or software bot. A typical unit is a programmable, multipurpose manipulator used for tasks such as welding, painting, assembly, handling, packaging or machine tending. The operational stock is the estimated number still in active use, while annual installations measure units newly deployed during the year.

That definition helps explain why the 5 million figure is both large and limited. The number shows deep adoption in factories, but it does not mean 5 million humanoid robots are walking around production floors. Most industrial robots are specialised machines designed to repeat a controlled task safely and accurately. Collaborative robots can operate closer to people, but they are also commonly built for a defined job.

AI helps, but deployment economics decide

Improved computer vision, easier programming and better simulation can reduce the engineering effort needed to automate variable tasks. AI can help a robot locate objects, inspect products or adapt a motion plan. Yet the business case still depends on production volume, cycle time, quality, worker safety, maintenance and the cost of integrating the robot with existing equipment.

Small and medium manufacturers face the hardest version of that calculation. They may run shorter production batches and have less engineering capacity than global manufacturers. Lower-cost robots and no-code programming can help, but a supplier must still prove that a system can be supported locally and repurposed when a product line changes.

The 2026 report therefore describes more than a milestone. It shows automation becoming a core part of manufacturing strategy, while Asia, and China in particular, increases its lead. The next question is not whether factory robots will grow beyond 5 million. It is which countries can build the skills, suppliers and electricity infrastructure needed to turn more robots into higher productivity.