China Surpasses U.S. in Robot Density; Global Average More Than Doubles in Six Years

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) announced on December 5, 2022, that robot density in manufacturing reached a global average of 141 units per 10,000 employees, more than doubling from 69 six years earlier. China’s rapid growth pushed it past the United States. South Korea ranked first globally with 1,000 units, followed by Singapore with 670 and Japan with 399.

For companies and policymakers considering manufacturing automation, robot density is a metric that enables comparisons of adoption levels across countries while accounting for workforce size. IFR’s figures show that in 2021, Asia averaged 156 units per 10,000 employees, ahead of Europe at 129 and the Americas at 117. China had surpassed the United States, while South Korea’s 1,000 units and Japan’s 399 show how adoption levels vary widely by country and region.