IFR World Robotics Report 2025 - With worldwide 4,66 million industrial robot units installed (2024) and a growth of 9% in comparison to the year before, automation is continuing to strengthen its position in industrial production. The IFR World Robotics Report annually provides the global reference frame for that: It analyzes the development of over 40 countries, compares industry fields and delivers a science-based prognosis for coming years. This report is mandatory for all industry participants who want to understand where industrial automation is headed. With 2026 just starting we summarized its most important points and put them into context.
The global market for industrial robotics is rapidly growing – even though the trend has lately been stagnating in Europe, especially in Germany, which forms 40% of the European market. 542.000 robots were installed globally in 2024 – carrying the market to above 500.000 units for the fourth consecutive year. That goes to show: Automation is no longer a volatile-experimental market but has become basic industrial infrastructure – comparable with IT or electricity.
With around 74% of new installations in 2024, Asia is clearly dominating the global robotics market. China alone has been responsible for 54% of the worldwide growth and is by now in ownership of 2 million installed robot units. In robot density, Europe is following up before the Americas – a fact largely explained by industry structure: Globally, the primary driver is the electrical and electronics industry, a sector traditionally dominated by Asia. The automotive industry ranks second and remains Europe’s key growth engine, contrary to the Americas.
Against this backdrop, Europe’s current stagnation in robotics appearsless surprising: it primarily reflects the negative development of theautomotive industry in recent years.
The robot density globally averages at 177 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees. In an international comparison, Germany continues to rank among the world’s top five locations.
South Korea clearly leads the ranking with around 1,000 robots, followed by Singapore with approximately 770. China ranks third at around 470, with a strong upward trend continuing. Germany reaches a robot density of roughly 430, positioning itself well ahead of the United States, which, with around 300 robots per 10,000 employees, brings up the rear of the top five.
China is on track to significantly widen the gap withGermany, particularly in terms of the sheer number of installed robots. Germany, by contrast, has been an established automation location for decades and therefore continues to lead in quality, depth of integration, and industrial application.
While China is investing heavily in new capacity, Germany’s focus is increasingly on advancing existing automation, complemented by robust software and AI solutions. The key question will be whether these strengths can continue to be developed — as a mature rather than a growth market — and whether Germany can move beyond its strong dependence on the automotive industry when it comes to automation.
Global new installations were already estimated at around 575,000 unitsin 2025 and are expected to exceed 700,000 units annually by 2028. The decisive question is not whether Europe is falling behind, but whether itcan establish a position in which growth and market relevance are no longer defined solely by unit volumes.
How will Europe benefit from 700,000 new installations in 2028? Where can new use cases beyond the automotive industry emerge in Germany? These are the questions that must be addressed in 2026. They will determine the role Europeand Germany will play in the global robotics market in the years ahead.
