Factories are rapidly adopting robots, with the global average robot density reaching a record 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023, more than double the 74 units recorded seven years ago, according to the World Robotics 2024 report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

By region, the European Union has a robot density of 219 units per 10,000 employees, an increase of 5.2%, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Slovenia in the global top ten.

Meanwhile, North America´s robot density is 197 units per 10,000 employees – up 4.2%. The US ranks tenth in the world among the most automated countries in the manufacturing industry.

Asia has a robot density of 182 units per 10,000 persons employed in manufacturing, an increase of 7.6%. The economies of Korea, Singapore, mainland China and Japan are among the top ten most automated countries.

By country, the report found that South Korea is the world´s number one adopter of industrial robots, with 1,012 robots 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 South Korean economy relies on the two largest customers for industrial robots.

Singapore follows with 770 robots per 10,000 employees. Singapore is a small country with a low number of employees in the manufacturing industry, so it can reach a high robot density also with a relatively small operational stock, the report noted.

China took third place in 2023, surpassing Germany and Japan. The country’s push to use 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. It has managed to double its robot density within four years.

Germany ranked fourth with 429 robots per 10,000 employees. The robot density of Europe´s largest economy has grown by 5% CAGR since 2018. Japan is in fifth place with 419 units. Robot density of the world´s predominant robot manufacturing country grew by 7% on average each year (2018-2023).

“Robot density serves as a barometer to track the degree of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world,” Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics, said in a press release. “This year’s runner-up is China, which ranks third worldwide behind Korea and Singapore, but right up with Germany and Japan.”

“China’s massive investment in automation technology has achieved this high robot density despite a huge manufacturing workforce of around 37 million people,” Ito added.