Five million robots now work in factories as humanoid hype faces reality check
Over five million industrial robots now work in factories worldwide, the highest total ever recorded, even as Boston Dynamics shelves a stock listing and Chinese regulators slow a rush of humanoid IPOs, showing a widening gap between practical machines and the humanoids capturing headlines.
Last year, the number of industrial robots worldwide increased by 9%, reaching approximately 5.08 million units, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). For the first time, annual installations of industrial robots surpassed 600,000, reaching 603,000 units. Jane Heffner, the IFR's president, stated that the new mark of five million robots operational in factories globally is more than double the number from seven years ago.
Growth is strongest in Asia, followed by the Americas, while Europe is moving ahead more slowly. The EU's operational stock of robots passed 700,000 for the first time in 2025, accounting for 84% of all robots in operation across Europe. However, growth has stalled for now, with new installations across the EU falling by 11% in 2025 to 60,500 units.
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