Robot density rises globally – International Federation of Robotics
Frankfurt, 7th February 2018 – The automation of production is accelerating around theworld: 74 robot units per 10,000 employees is the new average of global robot density inthe manufacturing industries (2015: 66 units). By regions, the average robot density inEurope is 99 units, in the Americas 84 and in Asia 63 units. The top 10 most automatedcountries in the world are: South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Denmark,USA, Italy, Belgium and Taiwan. This is according to the 2017 World Robot Statistics,issued by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
“Robot density is an excellent standard for comparison in order to take into account thedifferences in the automation degree of the manufacturing industry in various countries,” says
Junji Tsuda, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “As a result of the highvolume of robot installations in Asia in recent years, the region has the highest growth rate.
Between 2010 and 2016, the average annual growth rate of robot density in Asia was 9 percent,in the Americas 7 percent and in Europe 5 percent.”
Asia
The development of robot density in China was the most dynamic in the world. Due to thesignificant growth of robot installations, particularly between 2013 and 2016, the density raterose from 25 units in 2013 to 68 units in 2016. Today, China’s robot density ranks 23rd
worldwide. And the government intends to forge ahead and make it into the world's top 10 mostintensively automated nations by 2020. By then, its robot density is targeted to rise to 150 units.
Furthermore, the aim is to sell a total of 100,000 domestically produced industrial robots by2020 (2017: 27,000 units from Chinese robot suppliers, 60,000 from foreign robot suppliers).
Worldwide, the Republic of Korea has by far the highest robot density in the manufacturingindustry – a position the country has held since 2010. The country’s robot density exceeds theglobal average by a good eight-fold (631 units). This high growth rate is the result of continued
installations of a high volume of robots particularly in the electrical/electronics industry and in
the automotive industry.
Singapore follows in second place with a rate of 488 robots per 10,000 employees in 2016.
About 90 percent of robots are installed in the electronics industry in Singapore.
Japan ranked fourth in the world: In 2016, 303 robots were installed per 10,000 employees in
the manufacturing industry – following Germany ranking 3rd (309 units). Japan is the world´spredominant industrial robot manufacturer: The production capacity of Japanese suppliers
reached 153,000 units in 2016 – the highest level ever recorded. Today, Japan´s manufacturersdeliver 52 percent of the global supply.

North America
Robot density in the United States increased significantly to 189 robots in 2016 – the country
ranks seventh in the world. Since 2010, the necessary modernization of domestic production
facilities has boosted robot sales in the United States. The main driver of this growth was theongoing trend to automate production in order to strengthen American industries on the global
market and to keep manufacturing at home, and in some cases, to bring back manufacturingthat had previously been sent overseas. The automotive industry still leads as the main
customer of industrial robots with about 52 percent of total sales in 2016. Robot sales in theUnited States will continue to increase between 2017 and 2020 by at least 15 percent on
average per year.
Robot density in Canada has been on the rise and reached 145 units in 2016 (ranking 13thworldwide). Growth was mainly driven by installations in the automotive industry.
Mexico is predominantly a production hub for car manufacturers and automotive parts suppliers
that export to the United States and increasingly to South America. The automotive industry in
Mexico is by far the main robot customer with a share of 81 percent in 2016. Robot density is at33 units, which is still far below the world average of 74 units, ranking 31st on the global scale.
EuropeEurope´s most automated country is Germany - ranking 3rd worldwide with 309 units. The
annual supply and the operational stock of industrial robots in 2016 had a share of 36 percent
and 41 percent respectively of total robot sales in Europe. Between 2018 and 2020, the annual
supply in Germany will continue to grow by at least 5 percent on average per year due to theincreasing demand for robots in the general industry and in the automotive industry.
France has a robot density of 132 units (ranking 18th in the world), which is well above theglobal average of 74 robots – but relatively weak compared to other EU countries. EU members
like Sweden (223 units), Denmark (211 units), Italy (185 units) and Spain (160 units) enjoy amuch higher degree of automation using industrial robots in the manufacturing segment. But
under the new government, France is in the process of regaining competitiveness in its
manufacturing sectors. This may, to a certain extent, promote installations of new robots in thenext few years. In 2017, the number of robot installations in France is expected to increase by
about 10 percent. Between 2018 and 2020, an average annual growth rate between 5 and 10percent is likely.
As the only G7 country – the UK has a robot density below the world average of74 units with 71 units, ranking 22nd. The general industry is highly in need of necessary
investment in order to modernize and increase productivity. The low robot density rateis indicative of this fact. Despite the decision to leave the EU, there are currently manysuggested investment plans for capacity expansion and modernization of foreign and local
automotive companies. It is not evident though whether companies will hold back investments
due to uncertainties concerning customs duties.
The eastern European countries Slovenia (137 units, ranking 16th in the world) and Slovakia(135 units, ranking 17th worldwide), both have a robot density that is above Switzerland’s (128units, ranking 19th in the world). The Czech Republic is ranking 20th on the global scale with
101 units. Robot supplies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia mainly depend on the automotive
industry’s demand. Slovenia is the most successful among the Balkan countries with 60 percentof the total robot supply used mainly for the automotive industry (387 units, 33 percent morethan in 2015).

-2-

Graphic
Please find graphic for download herehttps://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/robot-density-rises-

globallyAbout IFR
The International Federation of Robotics: www.ifr.org

The IFR Statistical Department publishes two robotics studies each year:
World Robotics - Industrial Robots: This unique report provides global statistics on industrial robots instandardised tables and enables national comparisons to be made. It contains statistical data fromaround 40 countries broken down into areas of application, industrial sectors, types of robots and othertechnical and economic aspects. Production, export and import data is listed for selected countries. It also
describes the trends in relation to robotic density, e.g. the number of robots per 10,000 employees in
relevant sectors.
World Robotics - Service Robots: This unique report provides global statistics on service robots, marketanalyses, case studies and international research strategies on service robots. The study is jointly
prepared with our partner Fraunhofer IPA, Stuttgart.
Press contact
econNEWSnetwork
Carsten Heerphone +49 (0) 40 822 44 284
E-Mail: press@ifr.org-3-