TOP-10 most automated countries in the world

According to the data of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), more than three million industrial robots are operating at factories around the world. In 2020, 13.2 billion new robots were installed.

Robot density, an indicator used by the IFR, measures the number of robots per 10,000 workers in the industry. From 2015 to 2020, global robot density almost doubled, from 66 to 126 units.

By region, Asia had the highest robot density in 2020, exceeding the global average at 134 units. Europe is slightly below the global average (123 units), followed by the Americas with 111 units.

In 2020, South Korea regained first place in the IFR's list of the most automated countries, pushing Singapore down to second place. After Singapore, the most automated countries are Japan, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, the US, Taiwan, China and Denmark, which share ninth place, and Italy.

Hong Kong dropped one position in the list, moving from sixth to seventh place, while the US rose two positions, from ninth to seventh. China recorded the biggest jump in the ranking, moving from fifteenth to ninth place, while Denmark fell from sixth to ninth place.

Tenth place — Italy

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 224. 

Italy grew from 212 units in 2019 to 224 units in 2020. The country's position in the list is slightly higher than in 2020, when it ranked eleventh, but Italy made the top ten only because of the tied scores of China and Denmark. Italy ranks fourth in the EU ranking after Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Ninth place — China and Denmark

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 246. 

China and Denmark both recorded 246 units this year. China made the biggest jump in the list and has grown significantly over the past five years. In 2015, the country had only 49 robot units and ranked 25th. In 2020, there were already 187.

Denmark dropped three positions this year, adding only three units per 10,000 employees since 2019, when it had 243 robots. Denmark's robotics cluster in Odense remains a global leader in innovation.

Eighth place — Taiwan

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 248. 

Taiwan holds eighth place, although it increased its density from 234 units since 2019. In 2017, Taiwan launched an intelligent equipment initiative worth $117 million as part of its national 5+2 industrial innovation plan.

Seventh place — US

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 255. 

The US rose two positions compared with last year, adding 27 units since 2019. Automation growth in the US did not slow in 2021, as the North American robotics industry recorded a record number of orders in the first nine months of the year alone.

Sixth place — Hong Kong

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 275. 

In 2020, Hong Kong added 33 units per 10,000 employees, moving up one position in the list.

Fifth place — Sweden

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 289. 

Sweden remained in fifth place, adding 15 units per 10,000 employees in 2020. Although Sweden is in the upper half of the list, it is far below Germany's robot density.

Fourth place — Germany

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 371. 

Germany is the most automated country in Europe, retaining fourth place in the list. In 2020, the country added 25 units per 10,000 employees. That same year, it accounted for 33% of all robot sales in Europe. According to the IFR, most of Germany's robotics industry is oriented toward foreign business rather than business in Europe or Germany.

Third place — Japan

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 390. 

Japan remains at the same level as in 2019. According to the IFR, Japan is the world's leading manufacturer of industrial robots. In 2020, Japanese suppliers reached 174,000 units. Japanese manufacturers account for 45% of global robot supplies.

Second place — Singapore

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 605. 

Singapore is the only country in the list where industrial robots per 10,000 employees decreased, from 918 units in 2019 to 605 in 2020. This drop is likely partly due to a change in the IFR's counting method for the latest report. Previously, the IFR relied on employment data from the International Labour Organization (ILO). For the 2020 report, the IFR used data from Singapore's Department of Statistics (DoS).

The ILO reported a much lower employment level than the DoS. This discrepancy helps explain Singapore's significant drop from first place, which the country held in the 2019 report. Nevertheless, Singapore is a leader in automation. Robot density in the country has grown by an average of 27% per year since 2015.

First place — South Korea

Industrial robots per 10,000 employees — 932. 

It is no surprise that South Korea leads the world in robot density, where the indicator is seven times higher than the global average. Since 2015, the country has been increasing robot density by 10% annually.

South Korea holds strong positions in two key areas of industrial robotics: electronics and automotive manufacturing. Although South Korea was second in the 2019 list, it had held first place since 2010.