Humanoid robot sales hit 7,000 globally last year

Worldwide sales of humanoid robots reached 7,000 last year, according to data collected by the International Federation of Robotics. This relatively small number stands in stark contrast to projections for a surge in the coming years, especially in China, the world's largest market for industrial robots. The upcoming showcase of humanoid running and boxing at the country's robot games suggests this potential boom.

To be classified as a humanoid robot under the IFR's criteria, the machine must resemble a human and function autonomously in an environment meant for humans, although legs are not mandatory. The IFR's figures, reviewed by Reuters before publication, provide one of the first industry-wide measures of this emerging technology, which has attracted substantial investment and impressive demonstrations.

Despite the growing interest, the number of humanoids remains a small fraction of the overall robot population globally. Susanne Bieller, secretary general of the IFR, stated to Reuters that the 2025 data for industrial and service robots will be released on September 24. Bieller noted that many of the humanoids sold in 2025 were primarily for research purposes or to gather data for enhancing AI models, rather than being used for productive work.

Major automakers, seen as early adopters, are currently piloting single-digit or sometimes double-digit numbers of humanoid robots in their factories. Bieller emphasized that the IFR has been compiling robotics statistics for three decades and has now introduced humanoid data into its collection for the first time. The figures are based on supplier and national industry association data, excluding consumer and military humanoid robots, while medical robots are classified separately.