Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year

In 2024, the worldwide tally of humanoid robots reached 7,000 units sold for industrial and professional service applications, according to data collected by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This figure is minuscule compared to projections for substantial growth in the sector, especially in China, the world's premier market for industrial robots, which recently displayed humanoid capabilities in running and boxing during a robot games event.

To be classified as humanoid under the IFR's guidelines, a robot must resemble a human in appearance and function autonomously within a human-centric setting. The requirement of legs is not mandatory. The recently reviewed IFR data provides one of the inaugural industry-wide assessments of a technology that has garnered billions of dollars in investments and showcases remarkable demonstrations.

However, the count of humanoids represents only a minuscule fraction of the total global robot population, as revealed by Susanne Bieller, the secretary general of the IFR. In 2024, approximately 542,000 regular industrial robots were installed, while another estimated 199,000 service robots were sold for applications in transportation, hospitality, and cleaning. The definitive 2025 data for industrial and service robots is scheduled for release on September 24.

Bieller noted that many of the humanoids sold in 2024 were not deployed for productive tasks but were acquired by research institutions or companies aiming to gather data for enhancing AI models. Major automakers, considered early adopters, are piloting single-digit or, in some cases, double-digit numbers of humanoid robots in their manufacturing facilities.

Established three decades ago, the IFR now incorporates humanoid data alongside its extensive records of industrial and service robots for the very first time. Bank of America Global Research predicts that 90,000 humanoid robots will be dispatched this year, with the figure expected to surge to 1.2 million by 2030. The IFR's statistics are derived from supplier and national industry association data, excluding consumer and military humanoid robots, while medical robots are categorized separately.