China has made remarkable progress in manufacturing automation, surpassing Germany to secure the third place in the global industrial robot density rankings in 2023, according to a recent report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).                    

Leading the list is South Korea, followed by Singapore in second place. Germany and Japan, which ranked ahead of China in 2022, now hold the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, highlighting China’s rapid ascent in the field.

Robot density serves as a key indicator of automation adoption in the manufacturing sector. China's robot density reached an impressive 470 robots per 10,000 employees in 2023, up from 402 in 2022. Notably, China entered the top 10 for the first time in 2019 and has since doubled its robot density in just four years. In contrast, the United States has seen a decline in its ranking, now sitting at 11th globally.

The IFR report also notes that the global average robot density hit a record high of 162 units per 10,000 employees in 2023, more than doubling the figure of 74 units recorded just seven years ago.

Founded in 1987, the IFR aims to connect the global robotics community, representing over 90 members from more than 20 countries, including industry leaders, national associations, and research institutions.