South Korea has become the global leader in industrial robot adoption. The country has reportedly replaced over 10 per cent of its workforce with robotics. The country now boasts 1,012 robots per 10,000 employees, the highest density worldwide.
This milestone reflects a five per cent annual growth in robot deployment since 2018, according to the World Robotics 2024 report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). South Korea’s robot density is more than double that of most other nations on the list.
Singapore ranks second with 770 robots per 10,000 employees. Despite its small workforce in manufacturing, Singapore has achieved one of the highest robot densities globally. The country’s focus on automation technology has enabled it to reach this impressive level with relatively fewer operational resources.
China has made significant strides in robotics, surpassing both Germany and Japan to claim third place in 2023. The country has aggressively pushed for automation, doubling its robot density within four years. Today, China has 470 robots per 10,000 employees, a remarkable increase that underscores its growing reliance on technology in manufacturing.
Germany and Japan hold the fourth and fifth positions, with 429 and 419 robots per 10,000 employees, respectively. Both countries remain key players in industrial automation, though growth has been slower compared to China.
