According to the International Federation of Robotics’ World Robotics 2026 report, the global operational stock of industrial robots reached 5 million units by the end of 2025. This represents a 9% year-over-year increase, with over 600,000 new units installed during the year, marking an 11% rise compared to 2024.
China led global deployments with 354,000 new installations, accounting for 59% of the total and a 20% increase from the previous year. Domestic suppliers now hold a 55% share of the Chinese market. The US became the second-largest market with 38,500 installations, while Japan saw a 19% decline to 36,219 units.
The humanoid robotics sector faces commercial challenges. Hyundai subsidiary Boston Dynamics reported a loss of ₩528.4 billion (approximately $400 million) in 2025 and indicated that a 2027 IPO is unlikely due to limited deployments of the Atlas robot and ongoing unprofitability.
In China, the humanoid market is experiencing regulatory pressure. Unitree Robotics saw its stock drop 55% after an initial surge following its Shanghai debut. Regulators have issued informal guidance to slow down IPOs, affecting at least six companies, including Deep Robotics and AGIBOT.
