Industrial robot density reaches record level, China overtakes Germany

The use of robots in factories reached a new record high in 2023. This is according to the “World Robotics 2024” report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which calculates the average robot density for industrialized countries every year. According to the report, China is one of the biggest climbers, overtaking Germany and Japan.

Anzeige

Overall, the global average robot density reaches a value of 162 units per 10,000 employees. This is more than double the figure for 2017. Back then, there were 74 units. According to the IFR report, South Korea, Singapore and China have increased their efforts in particular. They occupy the top three places in the global ranking: South Korea (1012 units), Singapore (770 units) and China (470 units).

China has thus also succeeded in pushing Germany out of the top three and into fourth place with 429 units. Japan follows close behind in fifth place with 419 units.

Highest robot density in the EU

However, the EU still has the highest robot density. It averages 219 units per 10,000 employees. This corresponds to an increase of 5.2 percent. Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia are the main drivers.

In North America, the average robot density is 197 units. At 4.2 percent, growth is lower than in the EU. The USA alone has a robot density of 295 units, putting it in eleventh place.

At 7.6 percent, Asia has the highest growth in robot density in a global comparison, but at 181 units it does not come close to that of North America and the EU.

The leaders in Asia are South Korea, Singapore, China and Japan. They are all among the ten most automated countries in the world. The main driver of development here is South Korea, which has the highest robot density in the world with 1012 robots per 10,000 employees. It has been growing there by an average of 5 percent annually since 2018.

China has moved up to third place in the global ranking. The country has greatly increased its automation efforts in recent years. Robot density there has doubled in the past four years.

(olb)