27 Robotics Industry Statistics To Show You How Big It Is In 2020
What started as a simple design to help humans lift and carry heavy equipment has now developed into an advanced machine capable of thinking, learning, and performing countless activities without the help or guide of any human. The latest robotics industry statistics indicate that robots are slowly becoming a crucial part of our daily life.
But that’s not all.
2020 is obviously the year of changes. What does that mean for robotics?
We at TechJury have handpicked some of the most fantastic robotics industry statistics for 2020 to show you a whole new world.
Kindly stick with us as we take you through this awesome ride!
Fascinating Robotics Industry Statistics
The following are some of the most stunning robotics industry stats to keep you glued to your screen until the end of this post.
- There are 12 million robotic units worldwide in 2020.
- Global spending on military robotics is set to reach $16.5 billion in 2025.
- Robotics has already gotten about 150,000 people employed worldwide in engineering and assembly jobs.
- The number of robotic units sold in 2020 will rise to 465,000.
- Between 2020 and 2022, there would be a 12% increase in shipments of robots worldwide.
- Collaborative robots (cobots) will constitute 34% of all robot sales by 2025.
- 88% of businesses worldwide plan to adopt robotic automation into their infrastructure.
- North American companies installed 29,988 robotic units in 2019.
Amazing, right?
We have even more for you!
General Robots Industry Statistics
Now that you have an idea of the extent to which robots are being applied across industries worldwide, let us take you through some more in-depth robotics industry stats for 2020.
1. There are 12 million robotic units worldwide in 2020.
(Source: IMARC Group)
The need to automate and meet up with increasing demands from all sectors is one of the major factors driving the production of robotic units worldwide. Look around – self-driving cars, self-cooking, home maintenance, security, and surveillance robots…they’re all around us!
According to global robotics industry statistics, the number of industrial robots alone installed across industries worldwide between 2017 and 2020 could exceed a total of 3.05 million, adding up to 1.7 million new robots in the process.
2. The number of robotic units sold in 2020 will rise to 465,000.
(Source: Wired)
Robotics industry growth analysis in 2018 showed a 6% increase from 2017 (381,335 units). It predicted to remain flat throughout 2019. However, experts expect the number of robotic units sold in 2020 will rise to 465,000, surpassing the all-time high of 2018.
Some significant factors leading to the increased sales of robotics units are increased productivity in the workplace and possible long-term solutions to issues in work environments. Others include increased collaboration between humans and robots and enhanced safety in the workplace. With more and more people working from home it could be a good idea to leave the heavy lifting to the robots.
3. Between 2020-2022, there would be a 12% increase in shipments of robots worldwide.
(Source: IFR)
Statistics on robot sales indicate that this could drive the yearly robotics unit sales from 465,000 in 2020 to 584,000 units in 2022. However, the IFR points to the increasing need for automation in manufacturing processes, plus advancements in technology to be the primary driving force within the forecasted period of increased robotics unit sales.
4. 88% of businesses worldwide plan to adopt robotic automation into their infrastructure.
(Source: McKinsey)
Automation brings about higher productivity, increased rate of efficiency, improved safety of personnel, better product quality, overall increased revenue, etc. Robots are designed to perform repetitive tasks more efficiently than humans. More recently, with AI and ML, they are being created to think, learn, and draw accurate conclusions without the help of humans.
Sectors like the automobile industry have been running on automation for many years. It also remains one of the chief pioneers of the recent surge in robotics sales worldwide.
5. In 2018, 79% of all industrial robotics installation took place in five countries.
(Source: IFR)
According to worldwide robotics stats, here are the top countries in terms of industrial robotics adoption:
- China – 39,351 units,
- Japan – 17,346 units,
- Germany – 15,673 units,
- The US – 15,246 units, and
- The Republic of Korea – 11,034 units.
Asia-Pacific is the number one market for robotics sales over the years. However, there has been a recent surge in robotics installations across North America in past years due to the increasing demand for industrial productions across the region.
6. North American companies ordered 29,988 robotic units in 2019.
(Source: Robotics)
Robotics industry stats for 2020 show that North America represents one of the largest growing markets for robotics systems in recent years. In 2018, 10,730 units of robots were shipped to North America. By 2019, it had risen to over 29,000. PR News Wire predicts that its growth will continue further in 2026 by hitting an annual figure of 126.36 thousand units. This will ultimately drive its market revenue to $13.01 billion.
The increased affordability of robotic systems has ensured that both small and medium-sized industries in North America can get their hands on robotic systems to aid manufacturing processes such as soldering, welding, milling, and grinding, etc.
Robotics Industry Growth
Robotics is being effectively utilized for increased productivity and improved efficiency. In this section, we will be discussing some robotics industry statistics for 2020 to show where robotics has found significant usage over the years.
7. Globally, the automotive industry is the largest adopter of robots.
(Source: IFR)
The automotive industry had a 30% share of the global robotics market in 2018, up by 2% from the previous year (2017). According to IFR, significant investments in modernization and new car production capacities are the primary driving force behind the increased use of robots in the automotive industry.
8. The electrical/electronics industry had 105,000 units of robots installed in 2018 worldwide.
(Source: IFR)
With 43% of the market share, China represented the highest market shareholder of all robotics units installed in the electrical/electronics sector in 2018. The Republic of Korea, with 19% and Japan, with 17%, were the other two largest markets.
9. The metal and machinery industry represented the third-largest market of robotic installations in 2018, with a total of 43,500 units.
(Source: IFR)
According to industrial robot stats, in 2017, the total installation of robotic units in the metal/machinery Industry worldwide was 44,190 units. The 2018 figure indicated a 1% decrease from 2017.
Robot vs. Human Statistics
More recently, there has been a growing need for cobots (robots that collaborate effectively with humans) across various industries. This will ultimately aid human effort in production processes while achieving improved results and reduced personnel risk in the workplace. And if you are wondering if your job is going to be replaced by a robot, we’ve curated a list of eye-opening “jobs lost to automation statistics,” that will address all your concerns.
Let us take a look at some of the most intriguing stats about cobots in 2020.
10. Amazon cobots save the company as much as $22 million every time they are added to a newly opened warehouse.
(Source: Business Insider)
For companies like Amazon with warehouses up to 400,000 and 1,000,000 square feet, a few workers just can’t manage. According to statistics, warehouses as big as that of Amazon not utilizing cobots will find that 80% of workers’ time will be spent navigating through the whole warehouse. This means only 20% of workers’ time will be spent on productive tasks like fulfilling orders.
With cobots like “Kiva,” Amazon has successfully reversed the trend, such that employees are spending 80% of their time fulfilling orders and only 20% of their time navigating through warehouses. When you combine that with an effective inventory management system you have the recipe for Amazon’s success.
11. Collaborative robots (cobots) will constitute 34% of all robot sales by 2025.
(Source: Robotics)
Cobots’ features are also being utilized across various manufacturing processes. In automotive, for example, cobots add an extra layer of security in the workplace through sensors that can detect the presence of humans in unsafe zones, thereby prompting the shutdown of the whole system. These are some of the features the traditional robotic systems lack.
According to industrial robot statistics, in 2016, only 3% of all industrial robots sold were cobots. However, collaborative and smart robot installation increased by 23% between 2017 and 2018. This trend is expected to continue given the growing importance of human/robot interaction across various industries.
12. The collaborative robotics (cobots) market is predicted to exceed $24 billion by 2030.
(Source: ABI Research)
In 2015, the collaborative robotics market was valued at just $95 million. By the end of 2019, it was worth a little over $1 billion. Reports predict an increase with a CAGR of 28.6% till 2030.
13. 2020 will see over 40,000 cobots sold.
(Source: Drive & Controls)
With the growing need for cobots across major industries, the ABI research conducted in 2019 predicted increased sales of cobots in 2020. However, that prediction is not looking like a reality at the moment, given the COVID-19 situation that has crippled the world economy and placed businesses on hold. On the other hand, home maintenance robots have seen increased sales due to increased home fumigation in this pandemic.
Robot Investment Statistics
Here some robotics industry statistics for 2020 to get you familiar with the movements of cash within the robotics market.
14. Currently, there are over 200 companies worldwide involved in robotics production for the healthcare sector.
(Source: Omdia | Tractica)
Robots provide a means of reduced cost-of-care in the healthcare sector and reduced menial tasks for humans. It also provides enhanced forms of therapy and rehabilitation, while also improving the accuracy of repetitive healthcare tasks. Surgical, nursing, disinfectant, hospital logistics, rehabilitation, exoskeleton are good examples of robots in healthcare.
There are plenty of ways that robot manufacturing companies can contribute to the healthcare sector. It is no surprise that so many of them are willing to invest billions of dollars into several robotics projects.
15. By 2022, the total sales of robotic units for the year could rise to 584,000.
(Source: IFR)
As the need for automation continues to rise, and robots get cheaper, more industries will continue to adopt robot units into their system for improved efficiency, thereby driving sales even further. According to statistics on robot sales worldwide, in 2018, a record high of 422,000 robotics units was sold worldwide, only for that figure to decrease slightly in 2019. However, according to IFR, by the end of 2020 and beyond, annual sales could shoot up as we anticipate increased sales of robotics units, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
16. The global market size of robots in the healthcare sector will be worth $3.28 billion by the end of 2025.
(Source: Globe News Wire)
The industry was predicted to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% between 2019 and 2025. Healthcare is one of the sectors where robotic usage has found success in recent times, especially cobots. Surgery-assisted-robots enable doctors to perform complex operations with more precision, speed, flexibility, and control.
Robotics in Healthcare
In what ways exactly have robots contributed to healthcare?
If this question happens to bother you, worry no more. The following stats expound on the topic.
17. Between 2016 and 2021, there would have been 38,400 robotics units shipped to the healthcare sector worldwide.
(Source: Omdia | Tractica)
Reports have it that annual robotics shipment would hit 10,500 units per year in 2021. This implies a stark difference from 2016 when the healthcare sector worldwide was shipping in only 3,400 units of robots annually.
18. The bear-shaped robots used in some hospitals as an interactive body assistant tool can move patients in and out of their sickbed up to 40 times daily.
(Source: Medical Futurist)
According to statistics on robotics innovation in healthcare, this is one clear example of how robots can be useful in healthcare centers worldwide. They take away menial jobs such as the movement of patients from one destination to another, a task often performed by nurses.
19. It takes about a minute for the “Veebot robot” to draw blood from the vein of a patient.
(Source: Medical Futurist)
The Veebot robot was designed specifically for the blood drawing process – it can correctly identify the best vein to target with an accuracy of 83%, better than any human. Isn’t that a relief?
20. The Xenex robot can reduce Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) by 70%.
(Source: Medical Futurist)
In America, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that 1 in every 25 hospital patients will go down with an HAI, and 1 in every 9 of them will die. What’s more, reports indicate that these HAIs cost the United States healthcare sector a total of $30 billion yearly.
However, according to statistics on robotics in the healthcare industry, with the Xenex robot, healthcare centers can significantly reduce the devastating effect of these HAIs. The Xenex robot is designed to cause cellular damage to microorganisms and not humans. It achieves this through the use of high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) light in disinfecting any available space.
Robots in Agriculture
Agriculture, which was once deemed a labor-intensive job, is slowly becoming an automated process. It owes the attainment of this feat to robots. In this section, we will be discussing how robots have influenced the agriculture industry worldwide.
21. The global agricultural robotics market size could rise to $20.6 billion in 2025.
(Source: Statista)
According to facts about robots in agriculture, in 2020, this figure is set at $7.4 billion and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.8% up until 2025. The major driving factor is the rising demand for automation of repeated processes and the growing shortage of human labor on farms.
With the help of robots, repetitive processes such as weed control, harvesting, picking, sorting, packing, seeding, spraying, thinning, and pruning can be carried out effectively without human assistance.
22. The agricultural drones market is set to reach $6.2 billion in 2024.
(Source: PR News Wire)
Drone robots or UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have one of the most significant market shares in the agricultural robotics industry worldwide. This is partly due to their increased usage in recent times, and their inexpensive methods of carrying out field analysis of livestock farms, with small and medium industrial farms.
In 2018, the agricultural drones industry had a market value of $1.5 billion, which was predicted to grow at a CAGR of 25.0% between 2019 and 2024.
Robots in the Manufacturing industry
Since the creation of the first industrial robot in 1937, the robotics industry has become a crucial part of the manufacturing process worldwide.
The following stats will expound on how robots have influenced the manufacturing industry.
23. The global industrial robotics market will rise to $59.9 billion by 2026.
(Source: Fortune Business Insight)
According to robotics industry statistics, in 2018, the industry was worth $18.8 billion and was predicted to grow at a CAGR of 15.7%. The Asia Pacific represents the largest market for industrial robots in 2018, with $6.5 billion generated out of the total $18.8 billion. North America was the second-largest market in 2018, with a market value of $5.0 billion.
Both The Asia Pacific and North America are expected to maintain their status as the highest shareholders of the industrial robotics industry in 2020.
24. There were 99 industrial robots per 10,000 employees in 2018 worldwide.
(Source: IFR)
According to robot job statistics, the world’s average industrial robot installed per employee has continued to rise over the past few years. This indicates the strong adoption of robots into the industrial sector and the world economy at large. Although the rate of adoption continues to differ by country and by region, one fact remains – each year, the number of industries utilizing robotic units as a core part of their infrastructure continues to rise.
In 2015, the average rate of adoption for industrial robots was 66 industrial robots per 10,000 employees. In 2016, this figure increased to 74, and the year after (2017), it had increased even further to 85.
Robots in Military
According to statistics on robots used in the military, robots have been a core part of military strategies worldwide, even in times when the sales of robotic units experienced a decline in civilian society.
The following statistics will throw light on how robots have empowered the military industry.
25. Global spending on military robotics is set to reach $16.5 billion in 2025.
(Source: Statista)
In 2017, worldwide spending on military robotics was just $7.5 billion. According to statistics on future military robots, the US alone is predicted to spend up to $1 billion in the coming years on military robotics. This follows as several contracts are already being awarded to tech giants and robot building companies.
26. The military robot market size is predicted to hit $30.8 billion by 2022.
(Source: Markets and Markets)
Back in 2017, the market was worth $16.7 billion. It rose to $17.34 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 12.92% between 2020 and 2022.
27. Robotics has already gotten about 150,000 people employed worldwide in engineering and assembly jobs.
(Source: NY Times)
To some, having robots in the workplace stands as a threat to their jobs. However, research has shown that this is not the case. As it turns out, military robots of the future are being designed to augment and collaborate effectively with human workers, not to replace them. The presence of cobots in a production line increases productivity and accuracy, all at a reduced cost of operation.
Wrap Up
The mass adoption of robots is looming.
If it is not already in your industry, chances that it would be sooner rather than later are very high. According to robotics industry statistics, the presence of robots in every industry brings about improved results and increased revenue. Countries like China, Japan, the US, and a few others are already going big on robotics as a core part of their economy, and many more will follow suit shortly.
