China Has More Robots Working Than the Rest of the World Combined

China has surpassed all other countries in the production and installation of factory robots. The country added approximately 300,000 new robots to its factories last year, increasing the total number to over 2 million. This figure is more than the combined total of the rest of the world. In contrast, only 34,000 robots were deployed in US factories.

State Support Plays a Major Role

The Beijing administration announced the “Made in China 2025” program in 2015, aiming to reduce import dependency and achieve leadership in robotics. Political incentives and public capital provided by the state enabled Chinese companies to grow in both robotics and other strategic fields like semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

State banks provided companies with almost unlimited, low-interest loans, supported the acquisition of foreign companies, and offered direct financial aid. In 2021, a detailed plan was implemented to popularize the use of robots.

China’s efforts toward factory automation play a significant role in its position as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. Chinese factories have been installing over 150,000 robots every year since 2017. Today, Chinese factories alone account for one-third of all global manufacturing. This rate is more than the combined total of the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Britain.

Compared to 2023, robot installations declined in Japan, the US, South Korea, and Germany, while the increase continued in China. Up until 2024, China mostly preferred imported robots. However, nearly two-thirds of the robots installed last year were now produced domestically. As a result, the number of operational robots in China has reached five times that of the US.

According to the Federation, China’s share of world robot production rose to one-third of the global supply last year, up from one-quarter in 2023. Japan, which was previously the leader, saw its share of the world market drop from 38% to 29%.

Aiming for Leadership in Humanoid Robots

The Federation’s data does not cover humanoid robots. However, thanks to state support, a major leap is also occurring in this field. China has started to build an ecosystem for the production of specialized robot parts like motorized joints.

Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics is attracting attention with its affordable humanoid robots. The company’s basic models sell for $6,000, which is significantly lower than Boston Dynamics’ robots. Unitree is planning an IPO at the end of 2025.

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