Japan ranks 4th in industrial robot density... No. 1 South Korea has “1 robot for every 8 employees”

According to IFR’s 2025 report based on 2024 data, Japan ranked 4th globally in industrial robot density with 446 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers.

South Korea topped the ranking with 1,220 robots per 10,000 workers, underscoring its lead in factory automation.

China ranked only 22nd in robot density, but remained a major force in both operating robot stock and new installations.

The rankings highlight how quickly major manufacturing economies are automating and how they are responding to labor shortages and competitiveness pressures.