In this article, we take a look at the 13 most advanced countries in robotics.
Outlook of the Robotics Industry
According to the IFR, in 2022, there were 553,052 industrial robots installed in factories around the world. Compared to 517,385 industrial robots installed in 2021, there was a year-on-year growth rate of 5%. IFR has forecasted 600,000 units of industrial robots to be installed worldwide in 2024, with a growth rate of 7%.
Asia has the largest market for robotics, as 73% of all new industrial robots deployed in 2022 were installed in Asia alone. Meanwhile, Europe and the Americas had 15% and 10% of the total industrial robots installed in 2022. We will be discussing the largest markets and consumers within our list of most advanced countries in robotics below.
Our Methodology
For our list of the most advanced countries in robotics, we’ve ranked them based on the robot density in the respective countries’ workforce. We’ve used robot density data by country from the World Robotics Report 2023 published by the International Federation of Robotics.
Here are the 13 most advanced nations in robotics.
- The Netherlands
Robot Density in Workforce: 248 robot units per 10,000 employees
Located in Northwestern Europe, the Netherlands is known for its automation industry and the many robotics companies in the country. In 2021, the robot density in the manufacturing workforce was 224 robots for every 10,000 human workers, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Naturally, this changed in 2022, and now the country has 248 robot units per 10,000 employees. The Netherlands is also home to the leading institutes in the field like Radboud University and Wageningen UR, which is the top institute working for innovation in robotics for agriculture.
- Denmark
Robot Density in Workforce: 274 robot units per 10,000 employees.
Denmark, a European country in the Scandinavian region, is one of the most developed countries in terms of science and technology today. In 2022, Denmark had 274 robots in its workforce for every 10,000 humans. Danish Technological Institute and Universal Robots are two of the key players in the Danish robotics industry. The former conducts research and development in a wide range of areas related to robotics and automation, including collaborative robots, service robots, and manufacturing automation. The institute also has several commercial projects in development.
On the other hand, Universal Robots is a leading manufacturer of collaborative robots (also known as cobots) based in Odense, Denmark. They’ve developed a range of cobots that are used in a variety of applications, including assembly, welding, packaging, and material handling.
- Slovenia
Robot Density in Workforce: 284 robot units per 10,000 employees
Slovenia is a mountainous country in Central Europe. As of 2022, the robot density in Slovenia’s workforce was 284 robot units per 10,000 employees, according to the IFR. Apart from its own companies in the industry, the country also benefits from the activity of global key players like Fanuc Corp (TYO: 6954), Yaskawa, ABB, and Kuka in its robotics market.
- United States
Robot Density in Workforce: 285 robot units per 10,000 employees
Number 10 on the list, the United States is one of the most advanced Western countries in robotics with a robots-to-human workers ratio of 285 robots per 10,000 humans. Some of the top tech corporations in the US like Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), and Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) are highly focused on robotics, which makes up for whatever little lacking the country has in the field.
- Taiwan
Robot Density in Workforce: 292 robot units per 10,000 employees
Taiwan, formally known as the Chinese Tapei, is an island nation located in East Asia, and it’s one of the most advanced countries in the world today. It is also leading the way in the robotics sector, primarily due to its advanced chip-industry infrastructure, with companies like the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and ASE Technology operating within the country.
As of 2022, Taiwan has 292 robots per 10,000 employees in its workforce, per the World Robotics 2023 report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Plus, Taiwan also has a number of startups in the robotics industry; the most notable of these include Techman Robot, iDrink, MIRLE, and HIWIN Corporation.
- Switzerland
Robot Density in Workforce: 296 robot units per 10,000 employees
According to the IFR report, Switzerland is eighth on the list of most advanced countries in robotics. There are 296 robots for every 10,000 human workers in the country’s workforce as of 2022. It is also home to some of the most noteworthy robotics and automation companies in the world, like ANYbotics, ABB, and Swisslog. Moreover, there are many research institutions and universities in Switzerland like the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich that are actively involved in robotics research and development.
- Hong Kong, SAR
Robot Density in Workforce: 333 robot units per 10,000 employees
Hong Kong, a country known for its advanced manufacturing and research infrastructure, has made significant strides in the robotics industry in recent times. As of 2022, there are 333 robots in Hong Kong for every 10,000 human workers, which translates to about 249,750 robots in total. Some of the top robotics companies in the country include Cornerstone Robotics, CRONUMAX, ABBYY, and Korah Limited.
- Sweden
Robot Density in Workforce: 343 robot units per 10,000 employees
Sweden is another one of the most advanced countries in robotics. As of 2022, there are 343 robots per 10,000 workers in the country’s overall workforce. Sweden is also home to several research institutions and universities like the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg that are involved in the automation and robotics sector. In 2021, Sweden made headlines for Eve, a lab robot that helps automate research processes for scientists.
- China
Robot Density in Workforce: 392 robot units per 10,000 employees
China is one of the most advanced countries in robotics and the biggest consumer of the Asian robotics market. According to data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China had a robot density of 392 per 10,000 employees in its workforce. Automation in the country is also covering for the labor shortage due to an aging population. Although many jobs are being replaced by robots, China is also undergoing an economic shift, which promises newer and better job opportunities to its population. For example, the job market for robot engineering technicians and building energy conservation consultants is on the rise in China.
- Japan
Robot Density in Workforce: 397 robot units per 10,000 employees
In 2021, Japan was the undisputed robotics superpower of the world and stood at number one on the list of the most advanced countries in robotics. However, according to the report published by IFR, Japan was pushed back to number four in the year 2022, with 397 robot units per 10,000 employees. The top manufacturers of robots in Japan include Toyota Motor Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, and Fanuc Corp (TYO: 6954).
- Germany
Robot Density in Workforce: 415 robot units per 10,000 employees
Between 2021 and 2022, Germany made significant strides in its robotics industry, and most of the credit for that goes to its well-renowned education system, level of automation, and technological sector. According to the 2023 report, Germany had 415 robots for every 10,000 employees in the German workforce, which was 18 more units than in 2021.
The country is also home to many leading robotics companies and research institutions. Some of the top players in the robotics industry in Germany include KUKA, which is a global leader in industrial robotics, and Siemens, which is a leading provider of automation and robotics solutions.
- Singapore
Robot Density in Workforce: 730 robot units per 10,000 employees
Singapore, an island country located in Southeast Asia, is one of the most advanced countries in robotics and automation. Ranking number two on the list, Singapore has 730 robots in its workforce for every 10,000 human workers, which is an increase of 125 units per 10,000 workers since 2021. Singapore has also widely adopted robots for other purposes as well, with widespread cultural acceptance. These include driverless taxi systems and patrolling police robots.
- South Korea
Robot Density in Workforce: 1,012 robot units per 10,000 employees
Topping the list, we have South Korea— a prominent East Asian player in the robotics industry and a global leader. With an impressive robot workforce density of 1,012 robots for every 10,000 working humans, South Korea is also a leader in the automation field. Some of the top robotics companies include Samsung and LG.
