Humanoid robot sales in 2024 reached 7,000 units - New Electronics

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Global humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units in 2024, industry data shows

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Neil Tyler

21 September 2026 1 min read

Robotics & UAVs

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Humanoid robot sales Credit: adobe.stock.com

Worldwide sales of humanoid robots for industrial and professional service applications totalled around 7,000 units in 2024, according to figures compiled by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), providing one of the first industry-wide snapshots of a sector attracting growing investment and attention. The total remains modest when compared with the broader robotics market, despite expectations of rapid growth in the coming years. Interest in humanoid robots has accelerated, particularly in China, the world's largest industrial robotics market, where recent events have highlighted advances in human-like robotic technology.

Under the IFR's definition, a humanoid robot must have a human-like appearance and be capable of operating autonomously in environments designed for people. The organisation notes that robots do not need to have legs to meet this classification.

Speaking to Reuters, Susanne Bieller, secretary general of the Frankfurt-based IFR, said humanoid robots still represent only "a fraction" of the global robot population. The automotive sector is among the earliest adopters of the technology. According to Bieller, vehicle manufacturers are currently conducting pilot programmes involving relatively small fleets of humanoid robots, typically ranging from single-digit to low double-digit numbers within production facilities.

The IFR, which has tracked global robotics statistics for more than 30 years, has begun collecting humanoid robot data separately for the first time alongside its established industrial and service robotics datasets.

Although current sales volumes remain limited, market forecasts point to substantial expansion. Bank of America Global Research estimates that global shipments of humanoid robots could reach 90,000 units in 2026 and increase to approximately 1.2 million units by 2030.