Humanoid Robot Sales Reach 7,000 Units Globally
Global sales hit 7,000 units, a tiny fraction of the broader robotics market despite aggressive future growth predictions.
Key points
- Approximately 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide last year for industrial and professional applications.
- Most units were purchased by research institutions to gather data for AI training rather than for manufacturing.
- Analysts project shipments will rise to 90,000 units this year and reach 1.2 million by 2030.
The global market for humanoid robots remains small, with only about 7,000 units sold last year for industrial and professional service use. This figure comes from new data released by the Frankfurt-based International Federation of Robotics, which offers a reality check against the hype surrounding the technology.
As reported by Egypt Independent, the current sales volume is modest when compared to other sectors of automation. This gap highlights that while the technology is generating significant attention, it has not yet achieved widespread commercial adoption in manufacturing or daily services.
Humanoids are a tiny market slice
To put the 7,000 figure in perspective, the industry installed roughly 542,000 conventional industrial robots globally in 2024. Additionally, an estimated 199,000 professional service robots were deployed in areas such as transportation, hospitality, and cleaning. Susanne Bieller, the Secretary General of the IFR, described humanoids as a "tiny fraction" of the total global robotics market.
Research drives early adoption
Most of these units were not used for actual manufacturing tasks. Instead, research institutions and technology companies purchased them to collect physical data for training advanced artificial intelligence models. Major automotive manufacturers are currently conducting limited operational trials, typically deploying only single or low-double-digit numbers of units per facility.
Growth projections remain aggressive
Despite the current modest sales, analysts expect rapid expansion in the coming decade. Bank of America Global Research estimates that shipments will reach 90,000 units this year and could climb to 1.2 million by 2030. The IFR is scheduled to publish its full 2025 industrial and service robotics figures on September 24, providing further context on this emerging sector.
