The main driving force for the growth of global industrial robots comes from Asia. The major industrial robot application countries in Asia include South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and China (including Taiwan, China), of which the demand for industrial robots in South Korea and Chinese Mainland is strong.
The development of robot density in China is the most dynamic in the world. Due to the significant growth in robot sales, especially between 2013 and 2016, the density of robots in China's manufacturing industry increased from 25 units per 10000 people in 2013 to 68 units per 10000 people in 2016, ranking 23rd globally. The Chinese government intends to make China one of the top 10 countries with the highest level of automation in the world by 2020. Therefore, by 2020, the density of robots in China's manufacturing industry will increase to 150 units/10000 people. In addition, China's goal is to sell 100000 domestic industrial robots by 2020 (in 2017, Chinese robot suppliers sold 27000 units, and foreign robot suppliers sold 60000 units).
On a global scale, South Korea is by far the country with the highest density of manufacturing robots - it has been in a leading position since 2010. The density of robots in South Korea exceeds the global average by eight times (reaching 631 units per 10000 people). This high growth rate is the result of the extensive installation of robots, especially in the electrical/electronic industry and automotive industry where robots are widely used.
Singapore ranks second globally, with a manufacturing robot density of 488 units per 10000 people in 2016. In Singapore, about 90% of robots are used in the electronics industry.
Japan ranks fourth, with a manufacturing robot density of 303 units per 10000 people in 2016, second only to Germany. Japan is a world-renowned robot manufacturing country, producing 153000 robots in 2016, setting a new historical record, accounting for approximately 52% of the global robot supply in 2016
