Humanoid robot sales hit 7,000 worldwide last year
Roughly 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide last year for industrial and professional service applications, according to new data compiled by the Frankfurt-based International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The modest figure stands in sharp contrast to projections predicting a massive commercial boom in the coming years. The gap is particularly notable in China—the world’s largest … The post…
In 2025, around 7,000 humanoid robots were sold globally for industrial and professional service applications, according to data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), based in Frankfurt. This relatively low number contrasts sharply with predictions of a significant boom in the coming years, particularly in China, the world's largest market for industrial robotics.
The IFR classifies a machine as "humanoid" if it has a human-like appearance and operates autonomously in environments designed for humans; legs are not a strict requirement. The organization's dataset offers a benchmark for a sector that has attracted billions in venture capital and garnered attention through high-profile demonstrations.
Susanne Bieller, IFR's Secretary General, stated that humanoids represent "a tiny fraction" of the global robotics market. In comparison, approximately 542,000 conventional industrial robots and 199,000 professional service units were installed worldwide in 2024.
Many of the humanoid units sold in 2025 were used by research institutions and technology firms to collect physical data for training artificial intelligence models, rather than for manufacturing work. Major automotive companies, among the earliest commercial adopters, are currently testing humanoids in limited trials, typically deploying only single- or low-double-digit numbers per facility. Bieller noted that major automotive manufacturers have been early adopters of the technology.
The IFR, which has published global automation statistics for three decades, began tracking humanoid robots in its data for the first time alongside its larger datasets for standard industrial and professional service units. While current sales remain modest, growth projections are aggressive. Bank of America Global Research estimates that humanoid robot shipments will reach 90,000 units this year and increase to 1.2 million by 2030.
The IFR relies on reported figures from global suppliers and national trade associations, excluding consumer and military humanoids. Medical robots are categorized separately.
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