About 7,000 Humanoid Robots Were Sold Worldwide Last Year
Amsterdam, Netherlands — September 22, 2026

Around 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025 for industrial and professional service applications, according to figures compiled by the International Federation of Robotics and reviewed by Reuters.

The figure provides one of the first industry-wide measurements of a technology that has attracted billions of dollars in investment but remains at an early stage of commercial adoption.

Humanoid Robots Still a Small Part of Robotics Market
The International Federation of Robotics defines a humanoid robot as a machine with a human-like appearance that can operate autonomously in environments designed for people.

The 7,000-unit figure remains small compared with the broader robotics industry. Around 542,000 conventional industrial robots were installed worldwide in 2024, while an estimated 199,000 service robots were sold that year for applications including transportation, hospitality and cleaning.

Many Robots Are Still Used for Research
Not all humanoid robots sold in 2025 were deployed for regular production work.

According to Susanne Bieller, secretary general of the International Federation of Robotics, research institutions and companies purchased many of the machines to conduct testing and collect physical data for artificial intelligence development.

Automakers are among the early adopters, with some companies running pilot programs involving small numbers of humanoid robots inside factories.

China Expected to Play a Major Role
China is emerging as an important market for humanoid robotics because of its large manufacturing sector and established robotics industry.

The country recently hosted the World Humanoid Robot Games, where robots competed in activities including running and boxing, highlighting the rapid development of the technology.

Industry Forecasts Much Larger Sales
While current sales remain limited, analysts expect the market to expand significantly.

Bank of America Global Research estimates that around 90,000 humanoid robots could be shipped in 2026, with annual shipments potentially reaching 1.2 million by 2030.

The IFR’s current figures exclude consumer and military humanoid robots, as well as medical robots, which are classified separately.

For now, humanoid robots remain a developing technology, with manufacturers and researchers still testing how effectively they can perform useful tasks in real-world environments.

Sources: Reuters; International Federation of Robotics; Bank of America Global Research.