603,307 units
Whirrwork Research
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Robot adoption and installations
5,079,078 units
The global operational stock of industrial robots reached 5,079,078 units in 2025, up 9%, according to the IFR.
US$18.6 billion USD (installation value)
The market value of industrial robot installations rose 11% to US$18.6 billion in 2025, according to the IFR.
457,315 units
Asia installed 457,315 industrial robots in 2025, up 14% and 76% of all new installations worldwide, according to the IFR.
354,226 units
China installed 354,226 industrial robots in 2025, up 20%, making it by far the largest market, according to the IFR.
55% percent
Chinese robot makers supplied 55% of the industrial robots installed in China in 2025 (about 195,000 units), down from 57% in 2024, according to the IFR.
38,428 units
The United States installed 38,428 industrial robots in 2025, up 12% and 67% of installations in the Americas, according to the IFR.
36,219 units
Japan installed 36,219 industrial robots in 2025, a 19% decrease that dropped it to third place worldwide behind China and the US, according to the IFR.
73,054 units
Industrial robot installations in Europe fell 14% to 73,054 units in 2025, according to the IFR.
fewer than 25,000 units (upper bound)
Germany installed fewer than 25,000 industrial robots in 2025, down 8%, according to the IFR.
almost 10,500 units (approx.)
India installed almost 10,500 industrial robots in 2025, up 15%, taking sixth place worldwide, according to the IFR.
30,000 units (rounded)
The Republic of Korea installed 30,000 industrial robots in 2025, down 1%, according to the IFR.
142,235 units
The electrical/electronics industry was the largest buyer of industrial robots in 2025, installing 142,235 units (up 10%), according to the IFR.
138,429 units
The automotive industry installed 138,429 industrial robots in 2025, a new peak and up 10%, according to the IFR.
655,000 units (forecast)
The IFR forecasts 655,000 industrial robot installations worldwide in 2026, which would be 9% more than in 2025.
542,076 units
Factories worldwide installed 542,076 industrial robots in 2024, the second-highest count in history at the time, according to the IFR.
1,220 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees
South Korea has the world’s highest robot density, with 1,220 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees in 2024, according to the IFR.
818 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees
Singapore ranks second for robot density, with 818 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees in 2024, according to the IFR.
449 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees
Germany ranks third for robot density, with 449 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees in 2024, according to the IFR.
446 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees
Japan ranks fourth for robot density, with 446 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees in 2024, according to the IFR.
307 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees
The United States ranks 8th for robot density, with 307 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees in 2024, according to the IFR.
166 robots per 10,000 persons employed (manufacturing)
China has 166 industrial robots per 10,000 people employed in manufacturing (2024), 22nd worldwide, after the IFR switched to revised Chinese labour data.
2,027,200 vs 393,700 units
China had about five times more industrial robots in use than the US in 2024: 2,027,200 versus 393,700, according to the IFR.
40% percent
The automotive industry accounted for 40% of US industrial robot installations in 2024 (13,600 units), according to the IFR.
773,074 sets
China produced 773,074 industrial robots (sets) in 2025, up 28.0% on 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
218,987 units (¥1,045,605 million) units
Japanese robot makers took orders for 218,987 robots worth ¥1,045,605 million in 2025, up 20.0% by units and 25.7% by value, according to JARA.
36,766 (US$2.25bn) robots
North American companies ordered 36,766 robots worth $2.25 billion in 2025, 6.6% more units than in 2024, according to A3.
8,940 (US$622m) robots
North American companies ordered 8,940 robots worth $622 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to A3.
around 57,000 units (approx.)
Global shipments of collaborative robots rose 14.5% to around 57,000 in 2025, according to Interact Analysis as reported by Drives & Controls.
239,273 units
Hesai shipped 239,273 lidar units for robotics in 2025, up 425.8%, out of 1,620,406 lidars in total.
303,000 units
RoboSense sold 303,000 lidar units for robotics in 2025, up 1,141.8% year on year.
Service robots
18,581,081 sets
China produced 18,581,081 service robots (sets) in 2025, up 16.1%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
almost 250,000 units (approx.)
Sales of professional service robots rose 24% to almost 250,000 units in 2025, according to the IFR.
almost 34.2 million units
Sales of consumer service robots rose 37% to almost 34.2 million units in 2025, according to the IFR.
8,400 units
Surgical robot sales grew 57% to 8,400 units in 2025, according to the IFR.
more than 1,000 companies (lower bound)
The IFR knows of more than 1,000 service robot producers worldwide, excluding integrators.
more than 24,500 units (lower bound)
The robots-as-a-service (RaaS) fleet reported to the IFR grew 31% to more than 24,500 units in 2024.
3,128 units
Suppliers reported 3,128 search-and-rescue and security robots sold in 2024, up 19%, according to the IFR.
500,000 paid rides per week
Waymo was providing 500,000 paid robotaxi rides a week across 10 US cities in March 2026, as reported by TechCrunch.
Humanoid robots
almost 6,900 units (approx.)
Almost 6,900 humanoid robots were reported sold worldwide in 2025, mostly by companies headquartered in Asia, according to the IFR.
171 companies
The IFR is aware of 171 humanoid robot manufacturers.
about 13,000 units (approx., analyst estimate)
Analyst firm Omdia expected global humanoid robot shipments of about 13,000 units in 2025, as reported by TechNode.
5,168 units
AgiBot shipped 5,168 humanoid robots in 2025, 39% of the global market and the most of any maker, according to Omdia as reported by TechNode.
more than 5,500 units (lower bound)
Unitree said its humanoid robot shipments topped 5,500 units in 2025, as reported by Jiemian.
1,079 units
UBTech sold 1,079 full-size humanoid robots in 2025, for revenue of RMB820.6 million, according to its annual results filing.
921 units
UBTech sold 921 full-size humanoid robots in the first half of 2026, for revenue of RMB590.3 million, according to its interim report.
Drones and drone services
837,513 drones
The FAA reports 837,513 drones registered in the United States.
481,760 pilots
The FAA reports 481,760 certificated remote (drone) pilots in the United States.
more than one million deliveries (cumulative, lower bound)
Walmart said in May 2026 it had completed more than one million drone deliveries.
29,501 drones
India had 29,501 registered drones as of late January 2025, according to DGCA data reported by The Hindu.
9+ million deliveries (cumulative, lower bound)
Starship Technologies said in October 2025 it had completed more than 9 million autonomous robot deliveries with a fleet of 2,700+ robots.
Agriculture
approximately 400,000 drones (approx.)
DJI says approximately 400,000 of its agricultural drones are in use, flown by 400,000 trained operators across 100 countries.
10,357 drones
Brazil had 10,357 agricultural drones registered with the civil aviation agency ANAC, according to a preliminary survey by Sindag.
1,094 drones
Lead fertilizer companies distributed 1,094 drones to women’s self-help groups under India’s Drone Didi programme in 2023-24, against a target of 15,000.
over 16.4 million acres
US spray drones treated over 16.4 million acres in 2025, up 58.7%, according to the American Spray Drone Coalition’s survey.
~3,711 units (approx., estimate)
New US spray drone sales fell an estimated 59% in 2025, from about 8,950 units to about 3,711, according to the ASDC.
3,421 registrations
Agricultural spray drone registrations with the FAA rose from 811 in 2023 to 2,349 in 2024 and 3,421 in 2025, according to ASDC analysis.
Cleaning robots
more than 25,000 units (lower bound)
Sales of professional cleaning robots grew 34% to more than 25,000 units in 2024, mainly floor cleaners, according to the IFR.
24.12 million units
Global shipments of smart robot vacuums reached 24.12 million units in 2025, up 17.1%, according to IDC.
32.72 million units
The global cleaning robot market shipped 32.72 million units in 2025, up 20.1%, according to IDC.
RMB 18.695 billion CNY (revenue)
Robot vacuum maker Roborock reported 2025 revenue of RMB 18.695 billion, up 56.51%.
Warehouse and logistics
117,500 units
Transport and logistics robots were the top professional service robot application in 2025, with 117,500 units sold (up 21%, a 47% share), according to the IFR.
one millionth robot robots
Amazon deployed its one millionth robot in its operations in 2025.
$2,247 million USD (revenue)
Warehouse automation firm Symbotic reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $2,247 million, up 26%.
RMB 3.17 billion CNY (revenue)
Warehouse robot maker Geek+ reported 2025 revenue of RMB 3.17 billion (RMB 3,171,013 thousand), up 31.6%.
US$538.6 million USD (revenue)
AutoStore’s 2025 revenue declined 10.4% to USD 538.6 million.
6 billion picks (cumulative)
Locus Robotics said in October 2025 its warehouse robots had passed 6 billion picks.
Construction and inspection
88% percent of firms
88% of US construction firms that employ craft workers reported openings for craft workers in 2025, according to the AGC workforce survey.
$1.25 billion USD (valuation)
Inspection-robot company Gecko Robotics raised a $125 million Series D at a $1.25 billion valuation in June 2025, as reported by CNBC.
Labour shortages and wages
$18.58 USD per hour
US field workers earned an average of $18.58 an hour in April 2025, up 2%, according to the USDA.
427 bankruptcies
Japan recorded 427 bankruptcies caused by labour shortages in 2025, a record for the third year running, according to Teikoku Databank.
467,000 (2.4%) workers
Korean businesses were short of 467,000 workers on 1 April 2026, a shortage rate of 2.4%, according to the government indicator.
369,516 vacancies
Germany had 369,516 skilled-job vacancies that could not be filled arithmetically in 2025, down 24.1%, according to IW/KOFA.
$37,460 USD per year (annual mean)
US janitors and cleaners earned an annual mean wage of $37,460 in May 2024, according to the BLS.
$38,220 USD per year (median)
The median annual wage for US hand laborers and material movers was $38,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS.
CNY 107,987 CNY per year
Average annual pay in China’s urban-unit manufacturing sector was CNY 107,987 in 2024, up 3.9%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
CNY 2,740 CNY per month
Shanghai raised its monthly minimum wage from CNY 2,690 to CNY 2,740 from 1 July 2025.
Prices and price declines
from $13,500 USD (list price)
Unitree lists its G1 humanoid robot from US$13,500.
$29,900 USD (list price)
Unitree’s online shop lists the full-size H2 humanoid at US$29,900.
from $4,900 USD (list price)
Unitree’s online shop lists its R1 humanoid from US$4,900.
$20,000 or $499/month USD
1X offers its NEO home humanoid for $20,000 to own or $499 a month on subscription.
from US$449/day USD per day
Humanoid robots can be hired from US$449 a day (self-service) from rental firm Tempo Robots.
40% fall in manufacturing cost per humanoid in a year
Goldman Sachs estimated humanoid robot manufacturing costs fell 40% in a year, from $50,000–$250,000 to $30,000–$150,000 per unit.
about $35,000 USD per unit (BOM)
Bank of America Institute projected the bill of materials of a typical humanoid robot at around $35,000 per unit by the end of 2025 if most components are made in China.
$13 USD per acre
The average price per acre for drone crop spraying in the US fell 38%, from $21 to $13, in 2025, according to the ASDC survey.
around 10,000 yuan CNY per unit (approx.)
SCARA robot prices in China dropped to around 10,000 yuan per unit in 2025, roughly half the previous year’s level, as reported by Jiemian.
just above 20,000 yuan CNY per unit (approx.)
Six-axis 6 kg industrial robots sold for just above 20,000 yuan (about US$1,400) in China in 2025, as reported by Jiemian.
$108 USD per kWh
Lithium-ion battery pack prices fell 8% to a record low of $108 per kilowatt-hour in 2025, according to BloombergNEF.
$3,499 USD
NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Thor robot computer developer kit launched at $3,499 in August 2025.
Funding, deals and failures
$39 billion USD (post-money valuation)
Humanoid maker Figure AI raised more than $1 billion in its Series C at a $39 billion post-money valuation in September 2025.
$4.4 billion USD (valuation)
Drone maker Skydio raised $110 million in a Series F at a $4.4 billion valuation in April 2026.
14 Dec 2025 date
iRobot, maker of the Roomba, entered a pre-packaged chapter 11 process in December 2025, with its lender and supplier Picea taking 100% of the equity.
$15 billion USD (venture funding)
Robotics startups raised $15 billion globally in 2025, according to Crunchbase data.
$18.8 billion USD (venture funding)
Robotics startups had raised $18.8 billion by late June 2026, already more than in all of 2025, according to Crunchbase data.
$5.375 billion USD (enterprise value)
ABB agreed to sell its robotics division to SoftBank Group for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion (announced October 2025).
51% percent
LG Electronics moved to take a controlling 51% stake in serving-robot maker Bear Robotics in January 2025.
up to 102 employees (up to)
Autonomous tractor maker Monarch Tractor warned it might lay off up to 102 employees and could shut down, as reported by TechCrunch in November 2025.
more than US$1.5 billion USD (valuation)
Service-robot maker Pudu Robotics raised nearly $150 million at a valuation above $1.5 billion in April 2026.
$125 million USD (funding round)
Public-safety drone maker BRINC raised $125 million in a round led by Motorola Solutions in July 2026.
Regulation
7 Aug 2025 date (Federal Register publication)
The FAA published its proposed rule to normalise beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations on 7 August 2025 (90 FR 38212).
22 Dec 2025 date
The FCC added certain foreign-made drones (UAS) and UAS critical components to its Covered List on 22 December 2025.
2 Sep 2025 date
The US Commerce Department opened a Section 232 national-security investigation into imports of robotics and industrial machinery on 2 September 2025.
Whirrwork dataset
308 jobs (use cases)
Whirrwork tracks 308 distinct jobs that robots can do for hire or purchase, across 20 categories.
681 providers
Whirrwork lists 681 robot service providers and vendors, headquartered in 62 countries.
65 countries
Whirrwork's providers are headquartered in, or publicly list service in, 65 countries.
302 price points
Whirrwork's price index holds 302 sourced price points for robot work, from 134 different websites in 16 currencies, each linked to the page that states it.
71% percent of jobs
71% of the robot jobs Whirrwork tracks (220 of 308) have no publicly sourced price: buyers have to ask for a quote.
14% percent of providers
Only 14% of the robot providers Whirrwork lists (93 of 681) publish any price we could source.
99.7% percent of jobs
99.7% of the robot jobs Whirrwork tracks (307 of 308) have at least one listed provider.
34% percent of jobs
34% of the robot jobs Whirrwork tracks (106 of 308) have five or more listed providers.
3.6× ratio (highest ÷ lowest)
For robot jobs with two or more comparable sourced prices, the highest published price is a median 3.6 times the lowest (24 jobs).
37% percent of providers
37% of the robot providers Whirrwork lists are headquartered in the United States (249 of 681).
$25,550–$114,560 USD per show
Published prices for the robot job “Drone light show” range from $25,550 to $114,560 per show across 9 recent sourced price points, according to Whirrwork's price index.
$8–$20 USD per acre
Published prices for the robot job “Crop spraying by drone” range from $8 to $20 per acre across 4 recent sourced price points, according to Whirrwork's price index.
$0.12–$3.50 USD per sq ft
Published prices for the robot job “High-rise window & facade cleaning” range from $0.12 to $3.50 per sq ft across 4 recent sourced price points, according to Whirrwork's price index.
Licence and attribution
Text, statistics pages, charts and dataset releases are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Quoted passages remain the property of their publishers, and third-party figures should also be credited to their original source.
Attribution wording: Source: Whirrwork (https://whirrwork.com), CC BY 4.0 · CC BY 4.0