Industrial robot demand is accelerating as manufacturers seek higher productivity and resilience. The IFR robotics report 2024 shows that 542,000 robots were installed in 2024, more than double the figure from a decade ago. Asia remains the dominant region, accounting for about 74% of new deployments, with China alone responsible for around 295,000 units. Industry leaders say the surge is driven by automation and digitization in manufacturing, supported by China’s rapid upgrade of its production base. This momentum underscores the global robotics demand and highlights the relevance of data like industrial robot installations 2024, the China robotics market, and other IFR indicators for strategic planning.
From an alternative framing, this trend reflects a broad shift toward factory automation and intelligent manufacturing. Analysts describe rising robotic deployments as automation acceleration, manufacturing intelligence, and the growth of smart factories rather than mere headcount reductions. As supply chains digitize, providers emphasize collaborative robots, modular automation, and data-driven operations as the core drivers of efficiency.
Industrial robot demand accelerates as Asia leads the charge
The latest IFR findings show that industrial robot installations doubled over the past decade, underscoring a sustained push toward automation across global manufacturing. In 2024, 542,000 robots were installed, marking a near-record count and highlighting how the market has shifted toward digitization and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
This momentum is anchored by Asia, which accounts for about 74% of new deployments, with China alone responsible for 54% of global installations (roughly 295,000 units). The scale in Asia contrasts with Europe and the Americas, signaling a fundamental realignment in where automation investments are most pronounced and how global robotics demand is evolving.
IFR robotics report 2024: regional dynamics and future projections
The IFR robotics report 2024 presents a detailed regional split: Asia dominates, Europe faces a downturn, and the Americas show varied trends. The data emphasize that the second-highest annual installation count in history is within reach, though 2024 slightly trails the all-time peak two years earlier by about 2%.
Looking ahead, IFR forecasts a continued rise in installations—anticipating around 575,000 units in 2025 and surpassing 700,000 by 2028. These projections reflect ongoing demand drivers such as labor shortages, evolving production strategies, and the broader push toward automation and digitization in manufacturing.
China robotics market drives the global trend with a projected 10% annual growth
China’s rapid upgrading of its manufacturing base is a defining factor in the global robotics market. The IFR notes that the country’s national robotics strategy has strengthened competitiveness and elevated its role as a benchmark for others to follow.
Industry insiders anticipate China’s installations to grow about 10% annually through 2028, reinforcing the country’s leadership in robotics and indicating how national policy and investment cycles can shape the global landscape of industrial robot deployments.
Automation and digitization in manufacturing propel robot installations in 2024
Automation and digitization in manufacturing are repeatedly cited as the core drivers behind the surge in robot installations. As factories digitize, robots become central to production, quality control, and flexible manufacturing, enabling faster changeovers and improved efficiency.
The 2024 data reinforce that modernization strategies—integrating AI-enabled robots, collaborative systems, and mobile manipulators—are helping manufacturers close labor gaps and maintain resilience in supply chains amid ongoing global pressures.
Europe’s lagging installations: implications for competitiveness and resilience
Europe experienced an 8% decline in installations, highlighting a widening gap with Asia. Germany remains the continent’s leading market, but Italy, France, and especially the U.K. showed notable contractions, signaling potential risks to competitive manufacturing in the region.
The slowdown raises questions about how European manufacturers will sustain productivity and respond to global demand. It also underscores the importance of policy support, skilled labor development, and investment in automation as a strategic lever for regional resilience.
Americas and Europe: mixed signals in a tightening robotics market
While Asia boomed, the Americas posted a downturn, with a 10% drop in 2024. This decline mirrors broader geopolitical tensions and supply chain uncertainties that affect investment in robotics across the region.
Still, the Americas remain a meaningful growth node for certain industries and applications. Firms with strong automation roadmaps and digital transformation strategies are prioritizing industrial robots to maintain competitiveness, even as overall regional counts lag behind Asia.
Labor shortages accelerate adoption of AI-enabled robotics and automation
A persistent global labor shortage is a key accelerant for robotics adoption. Where skilled labor is scarce, robots and automated systems offer a reliable path to sustain output and meet demand.
Industry leaders point to innovations in AI, user-friendly interfaces, and safer collaborative robots as essential enablers, helping teams deploy automation quickly and bridge productivity gaps across manufacturing floors.
China’s strategic push and the global ripple effects on the robotics ecosystem
China’s national strategy offers a blueprint for strengthening industrial competitiveness through robotics. By prioritizing upgrades to the manufacturing base, the country demonstrates how targeted policy and investment can reshape the global robotics ecosystem.
As China expands its production capabilities, suppliers, integrators, and competitors worldwide adjust their own strategies to participate in or respond to this rapid scaling, influencing the broader landscape of global robotics demand.
Automotive and consumer sectors as major engines of demand
The automotive sector continues to be a major driver of robot installations, with demand buoyed by the push toward electric vehicles, smart manufacturing, and quality-driven automation. Auto manufacturing has historically been a leading indicator for robot adoption in many regions.
Beyond automotive, other high-volume industries are increasingly investing in automation and digitization, recognizing that flexible, AI-assisted robotics can reduce cycle times and improve consistency in production lines across diverse product families.
Global robotics demand: short- and mid-term outlook through 2028
Taken together, the IFR projections suggest robust growth for the global robotics market through 2028, driven by ongoing technological innovations and continued investment in automation. The pipeline of orders and modernization programs signals a favorable long-term trajectory.
Executives should monitor key indicators such as installation counts, regional growth rates, and policy developments to gauge shifts in the market. The convergence of automation, AI, and digitization is likely to keep global robotics demand elevated as manufacturers prioritize resilience and productivity.
IFR robotics report 2024: implications for manufacturers and investors
For manufacturers, the IFR robotics report 2024 offers a data-rich view of where robot installations are expanding and where opportunities may be shrinking. Strategic decisions around automation investments, skill development, and technology partnerships become even more critical in this context.
Investors can use the IFR findings to identify growth pockets—particularly in Asia and in industries embracing AI-enabled robots and mobile manipulation—as well as to assess risk factors tied to geopolitics, supply chain dynamics, and currency fluctuations that influence capital allocations in robotics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current industrial robot demand trend worldwide?
Global industrial robot demand has doubled over the past decade. The IFR robotics report 2024 records 542,000 installations in 2024, driven by automation and digitization in manufacturing. Asia leads the market, while Europe and the Americas show slower growth.
Which region drives industrial robot demand in 2024, and what does that imply for global robotics demand?
Asia accounts for the vast majority of new deployments—about 74% in 2024—fueling global robotics demand. China alone represented 54% of installations, highlighting the China robotics market’s central role in manufacturing modernization and regional supply chains.
What is the role of the China robotics market in global industrial robot demand?
China’s robotics market dominates global demand, with roughly half of 2024 installations and projected double‑digit growth through 2028 as the country upgrades its manufacturing base under a national robotics strategy.
How do automation and digitization in manufacturing influence industrial robot demand?
Automation and digitization are the primary drivers of rising industrial robot demand, delivering efficiency gains and addressing labor shortages. AI-enabled robotics, collaborative robots, and user-friendly systems are expanding adoption across industries.
What does the IFR robotics report 2024 say about the future of industrial robot demand?
The IFR robotics report 2024 forecasts continued growth, with installations rising about 6% in 2025 to around 575,000 and surpassing 700,000 by 2028, driven by technological advances and broader application across manufacturing sectors.
What factors sustain global industrial robot demand despite geopolitical tensions?
Labor shortages remain a global driver of demand, complemented by technological innovations in robotics, such as AI, ease of integration, collaborative robots, and mobile manipulators. The China robotics market and other regions are expected to contribute to ongoing global demand.
How should manufacturers plan for industrial robot installations given the 2024 trends in industrial robot demand?
Manufacturers should align automation strategies with IFR forecasts, monitor the China robotics market, and invest in digitization and AI-enabled robotics to stay competitive as global demand grows, particularly in Asia.
How did Europe perform in 2024 in terms of industrial robot installations, and what does that imply for global industrial robot demand?
Europe saw an overall downward trend in 2024, with declines in major markets like Germany, Italy, and France, while the U.K. also contracted. This regional lag underscores the need for renewed automation in Europe, but global industrial robot demand remains supported by Asia‑led growth.
| Aspect | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Global installations (2024) (IFR)”}, | |
| Global installations (2024) | 542,000 robots installed; more than double the number 10 years ago. |
| Regional shares of deployments | Asia 74%; Europe 16%; Americas 9%. |
| China’s share and forecast | 54% of global installations (295,000 units) in 2024; projected ~10% annual growth to 2028. |
| Leading markets (Japan & Korea) | Japan 44,500; South Korea 30,600. |
| India | 9,100 new units; driven by automotive demand. |
| Europe trend | Installations down 8%; Germany 26,982; Italy -16%; France -24%; UK -35% to 2,500. |
| Americas trend | Down 10% to 50,100. |
| Forecasts | IFR projects 575,000 installations in 2025; surpassing 700,000 by 2028. |
| Drivers | Digitization and automation; AI innovations; labor shortages; ease of use; collaborative robots; mobile manipulators. |
| Quotes/Notes | IFR: statements on installations; national robotics strategies cited as competitiveness drivers. |
Summary
Industrial robot demand continues to rise as manufacturers accelerate digitization and automation to boost productivity and resilience. IFR reports 542,000 robot installations in 2024—Asia accounts for 74% of deployments and China alone for 54% (295,000). Despite regional declines in Europe and the Americas, global installations are forecast to reach about 575,000 in 2025 and exceed 700,000 by 2028, driven by AI-enabled robotics, easier-to-use cobots, and ongoing labor shortages.
