{
  "id": 9025860,
  "title": "Humanoid Robot Sales Reached 7,000 Worldwide in 2025",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/humanoid-robot-sales-reached-7-000-worldwide-in-2025",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-21T22:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/09/21/humanoid-robot-sales-7000-worldwide-2025/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2025, approximately 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide for industrial and professional service applications, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This figure represents the first industry-wide measurement of a market that is still in its early stages but is growing rapidly. The robots sold were autonomous machines with a human-like appearance designed to function in human environments. It's important to note that the IFR does not categorize all robots with a human-like appearance as humanoid robots and excludes consumer and military robots from this count. Additionally, medical robots are classified separately.\n\nWhile the 7,000-unit total may seem small compared to other established robotics markets, the market for industrial robots installed worldwide in 2024 was 542,000, and estimated sales of professional service robots reached 199,000 for tasks such as transportation, hospitality, and cleaning. This comparison highlights the early stage of humanoid robot development in the commercial sector. Many of the 7,000 robots sold in 2025 were destined for research institutions or companies utilizing them to gather data and enhance artificial intelligence systems, as reported by Susanne Bieller, secretary general of the IFR.\n\nThe primary applications of these robots, at least initially, remain research and testing rather than widespread commercial use. Many humanoid robots are still being used for research purposes, providing physical-world data that helps researchers improve AI models and teach robots how to interact with people and their surroundings. Automakers and other companies are among the early adopters, testing humanoids on factory floors, though current deployments generally involve single-digit or, in some cases, double-digit numbers of robots.\n\nChina is projected to become a significant player in the humanoid robot market. As the world's largest market for industrial robots, China has integrated humanoid development into its broader push into advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Chinese companies have rapidly developed and demonstrated humanoid robots, and the country's extensive manufacturing sector provides potential environments for testing robots on repetitive physical tasks. However, the rapid pace of development and the extent of commercial demand remain subjects of debate. While sales figures alone do not indicate how extensively the robots are being used or if their deployment provides enough economic value to support continued purchases, IFR data suggest that the market remains concentrated in industrial and professional applications, research, and early-stage testing.\n\nForecasts indicate substantial growth potential, with Bank of America Global Research estimating that 90,000 humanoid robots will be shipped in 2026, and annual shipments reaching 1.2 million by 2030. This growth trajectory would require significant increases in production over the next several years. However, practical challenges persist, including the need for humanoids to operate safely around people, adapt to varying environments, and perform reliably enough to justify their cost.\n\nThe industry faces technical hurdles as well. Advances in artificial intelligence could enhance robots' ability to understand instructions and adapt to physical environments, but greater autonomy also introduces additional safety requirements. A key question for the industry is the specific areas where humanoid robots can deliver enough value to sustain commercial demand. The IFR is scheduled to release its broader 2025 robotics statistics on September 24, providing additional context on the scale of humanoid adoption compared with established robotics technologies already operating at a much larger commercial scale.",
  "summary": "About 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025 for industrial and professional service applications, according to data compiled by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The figure provides the first industry-wide measure of a market that remains small but is expanding rapidly. The total covers autonomous robots with a human-like appearance designed to operate […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}