Global Humanoid Robot Sales Reached 7,000 in 2025
The International Federation of Robotics began tracking the sector, which remains small compared to industrial automation.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Robotics
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The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) recorded 7,000 global humanoid robot sales in 2025, marking the first year the organization has tracked this specific category. Many of these units were purchased by research institutions to support AI model development, though automotive companies are also testing them in plants.
Why it matters
While the segment is nascent, analysts expect a rapid acceleration in shipments as deployment moves from controlled research environments to broader industrial use. This growth trajectory is being monitored to see if these robots can eventually replicate the scale of existing service and industrial automation hardware.
The IFR defines humanoids as robots with a human-like appearance capable of autonomous operation in human environments, explicitly excluding medical, military, and consumer models. Sales remain fractional compared to the 542,000 industrial robots installed in 2024.
The players
International Federation of Robotics
The Frankfurt-based organization that standardizes global robotics statistics and tracks international automation trends.
Bank of America Global Research
A financial analysis firm that provides projections on emerging technology market adoption rates.
The details
The IFR aggregates sales data directly from suppliers and national industry associations to build its figures. Humanoid robots, which incorporate complex actuators to mimic human skeletal movement, are currently being piloted by automotive manufacturers in small quantities. Most units sold in 2025 were destined for research institutions, where they serve as platforms for training large-scale artificial intelligence models that govern spatial reasoning and motor control.
Timeline
2024: 542,000 industrial and 199,000 service robots were installed.
2025: 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide.
August 2026: China showcased humanoid running and boxing at robot games.
September 24, 2026: 2025 industrial and service robot data will be published.
The Tech Race
The humanoid sector is currently in a pre-commercial phase, with 2025 sales representing a niche for R&D labs compared to established industrial automation. Investors are tracking these figures to see if they follow the historical growth curve of industrial robot adoption.
Most current humanoid robots are restricted to research labs or specialized automotive pilot programs. Users should not expect these units in public or domestic environments until shipping volumes reach the millions projected by researchers by 2030.
The takeaway
The move to track humanoids indicates that the technology has exited pure theoretical research and entered the commercial data gathering phase. Watch for the 2026 shipment figures from Bank of America Global Research to see if the sector maintains its projected growth toward 90,000 units.
Further reading
For broader trends in automated systems, explore our latest coverage in Robotics.
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