"Robot density is an important comparative standard to take into account the differences in the degree of automation in the manufacturing industry in different countries," says Junji Tsuda, President of the International Federation of Robotics.

© IFR

In 2015, the average robot density worldwide was still 66 units per 10,000 employees. Broken down by region, the average robot density in Europe is 99 units, in the Americas 84 and in Asia 63 units. "Between 2010 and 2016, the average annual growth rate in robot density was 9% in Asia, 7% in the Americas and 5% in Europe," says Junji Tsuda, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which has now published the results of its World Robotics Report 2017.

The results broken down by continent in detail:

Robot density in Europe

The ranking of the most automated countries in the world: Germany is in third place worldwide.

© IFR, World Robotics 2017

The most automated country in Europe is Germany - in third place worldwide with 309 units. Annual sales and the operational stock of industrial robots in 2016 accounted for 36% and 41% of total robot sales in Europe respectively. Between 2018 and 2020, annual sales in Germany will continue to grow by an average of at least 5% per year due to the increasing demand for robots in general industry and the automotive industry, according to the IFR forecast.

France has a robot density of 132 units (18th place in the world ranking). Although this is well above the global average of 74 robots, it is relatively low compared to other EU countries. EU members such as Sweden (223 units), Denmark (211 units), Italy (185 units) and Spain (160 units) are much more automated with industrial robots in the manufacturing sector. However, the new government in France is in the process of strengthening the country's competitiveness in the manufacturing sector, according to the IFR. This could lead to new robots being installed over the next few years. In 2017, the number of robot installations in France is likely to have risen by around 10%. Between 2018 and 2020, an average annual growth rate of between 5% and 10% is expected.

The UK is the only G7 country with a robot density of 71 units, below the global average of 74 units (ranked 22nd). General industry urgently needs investment to modernize and increase productivity. The low robot density is indicative of this fact, says the IFR. Despite the decision to leave the EU.

Robot density in Asia

Countries whose robot density is below the global average

© IFR, World Robotics 2017

According to the IFR, the development of robot density in China was the most dynamic in the world. Between 2013 and 2016 in particular, the Middle Kingdom recorded strong growth in installations: Robot density rose from 25 units in 2013 to 68 units in 2016. Today, China ranks 23rd in the world. The Chinese government wants to push this development further and become one of the top 10 most automated nations in the world by 2020. By then, the robot density is to increase to 150 units. In addition, a total of 100,000 domestically produced industrial robots are to be sold by 2020 (2017: 27,000 units from Chinese robot suppliers, 60,000 units from foreign robot suppliers).

Globally, the Republic of Korea has by far the highest robot density in the manufacturing industry - a position the country has held since 2010. The robot density exceeds the global average by a good eight times (631 units). This rate is the result of the continued high number of robot installations - particularly in the electrical/electronics and automotive industries.

Singapore follows in second place with a rate of 488 robots per 10,000 employees in 2016. Around 90% of robots are installed in the electronics industry in Singapore.

Japan ranks fourth in the world: in 2016, 303 robots per 10,000 employees were installed in the manufacturing industry - almost as many as in third-placed Germany (309 units). Japan is the world's leading manufacturer of industrial robots: the production capacity of Japanese suppliers reached 153,000 units in 2016, the highest figure ever recorded. Today, Japanese manufacturers cover 52% of global demand.

Robot density in North America

Robot density in the United States rose very dynamically in 2016 to 189 units - putting the USA in seventh place worldwide. Since 2010, the modernization of domestic production facilities has boosted robot sales in the US. The main reason for this growth was the continuing trend towards automation of production in order to strengthen American industries in international competition. The aim was also to keep production at home or, in some cases, to bring production back from abroad. Automation of the automotive industry with industrial robots accounts for around 52% of total sales in 2016. Robot sales in the USA will continue to increase by an average of at least 15% per year between 2017 and 2020.

Robot density in Canada rose continuously to 145 units in 2016 (13th place worldwide) - also mainly driven by installations in the automotive industry.

Mexico is primarily a production hub for automotive manufacturers and automotive suppliers that export to the USA and increasingly also to South America. With a share of 81% in 2016, the automotive industry is by far the largest customer. Robot density is still far below the global average of 74 units - currently at 33 units and thus in 31st place in the world rankings.