The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) investigated where in the world robot density is highest in industry. It published its findings in early January 2024 in the World Robotics 2023 report. Among other things, the IFR states that as many as 3.9 million robots were in operation in 2022.
“Data on robot density reveals the state of play in global automation and enables us to compare regions and countries,” says Marina Bill, president of the International Federation of Robotics. “The speed at which robots are being deployed in factories around the world is impressive: the new global average robot density has reached a record high of 151 robots per 10,000 workers – more than double the figure recorded in 2016.”
Results by region
Asia has a robot density of 168 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers. On a global scale, the economies of Korea, Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei are all in the top-ten most automated countries. The European Union has a robot density of 208 units per 10,000 workers with Germany, Sweden and Switzerland in the world's top-ten. The robot density in North America is 188 units per 10,000 workers. This places the United States among the top-ten most automated countries in the manufacturing industry.
Korea as the leader
The Republic of Korea uses industrial robots the most. Robot density has increased by an average of 6% every year since 2017. The Korean economy benefits from two major customers - a strong electronics industry and a pronounced automotive industry.
Singapore and Germany
After Korea, Singapore follows with 730 robots per 10,000 employees. Singapore is a small country with a very low number of manufacturing workers. Germany (415 robots per 10,000 workers) is in third place. The robot density of Europe's largest economy has grown by 5% since 2017.
Japan ranks fourth (397 units). The robot density of the world's largest robot-producing country grew at an average annual rate of 7% (2017-2022).
China and the Americas
China rose to fifth place in 2021 and maintained this position in 2022. The country's huge investment in automation technology results in a high robot density of 392 robots per 10,000 workers - despite a huge manufacturing workforce of about 38 million people. Robot density in the United States rose from 274 units in 2021 to 285 in 2022. The country ranks 10th in the world.
Netherlands
The Netherlands falls outside the top ten with 248 robots per 10,000 employees. However, it does put it above the global average of 151 and above the European average of 136.
About robot density
Robot density is the number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of employees. It can cover the entire manufacturing industry or just specific industrial branches. The number of employees serves as a measure of economic size, so the quotient of the operational stock to the number of employees places the operational stock on a uniform basis.
Opening photo: Christopher White via Pixabay
Also read: IFR: Substantial increase in demand for service robots for professional use
