Global manufacturing robot density has reached a record high, with South Korea, Singapore and Germany leading the rankings, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
The IFR’s World Robotics 2026 report found that South Korea had the highest robot density, with 1,066 operational industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees. Singapore ranked second with 873 units, followed by Germany with 469 units. The global average increased to a record 152 robots per 10,000 employees.
“Tracking robot density creates a level playing field for global analysis by adjusting the number of operational industrial robots against every 10,000 employees in the manufacturing sector,” said Jane Heffner, President of IFR.
The report also found that robot density across the European Union increased by approximately 35 per cent between 2020 and 2025, reaching 240 units per 10,000 employees. Five EU economies featured among the world’s 10 most automated manufacturing countries: Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia and the Netherlands.
North America’s robot density grew by around 24 per cent over the same period, reaching 214 units. The United States ranked eighth globally, with 323 units, while Canada recorded 242 and Mexico 64.
Asia recorded the strongest regional growth, with robot density increasing by approximately 47 per cent between 2020 and 2025 to reach 144 units. Japan ranked fourth globally, with 452 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees.
China, the world’s largest industrial robot market, recorded 193 units per 10,000 employees, placing it 19th globally. Its robot density increased by 147 per cent between 2020 and 2025, based on employment data from China’s National Economic Census.
IFR defines robot density as the number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of employees in the manufacturing sector, using the measure to compare automation levels across economies.
The findings are included in IFR’s annual World Robotics 2026 report, which provides international statistics on industrial and service robotics.
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