With over half of the world’s new industrial robots installed domestically, China is redefining manufacturing in the face of a shrinking workforce.

China has strengthened its position as the world’s leader in automated manufacturing, deploying nearly 295,000 new industrial robots in 2024. This surge, revealed in the 2025 World Robotics Report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), brings the country’s total active robot count to 2.027 million, the highest globally.

The report highlights that more than half of all 542,000 industrial robots installed worldwide last year were deployed in China. These machines are transforming industries ranging from automobile assembly and electronics to logistics, performing tasks that offset the challenges posed by a declining workforce. China’s population has been falling since 2022, with a 1.39 million drop in 2024, yet automation has helped maintain its manufacturing edge.

Experts, including Tsinghua University’s Gao Xudong, emphasize that simple, repetitive tasks will increasingly be handled by robots, allowing the country to remain competitive while workers focus on higher-skilled roles.

The next frontier in China’s automation journey is humanoid robots, capable of performing more complex, human-like functions. Guangdong-based Tiantai Robot recently secured a record order of 10,000 humanoid robots for elderly care, signaling a shift from research to commercial deployment.