Humanoid robot sales total 7,000 as forecasts point to rapid growth

About 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025 for industrial and professional service applications, according to the International Federation of Robotics' first industry-wide tally, reviewed by Reuters ahead of publication. About 542,000 conventional industrial robots were installed worldwide in 2024 and an estimated 199,000 service robots were sold that year for transport, hospitality and cleaning. IFR Secretary General Susanne Bieller said humanoids remain "a fraction" of the global robot population. Many were purchased by research institutions or companies to collect data for training artificial-intelligence systems rather than to perform productive work, while automakers run pilots with "single-digit or sometimes double-digit numbers of robots in their plants," Bieller said. IFR criteria require a human-like appearance and autonomous operation in environments designed for people; legs are not required. Consumer and military humanoids are excluded; medical robots are classified separately. Bank of America Global Research projects 90,000 humanoid shipments in 2026 and 1.2 million by 2030. China staged robot games last month featuring humanoids running and boxing, and its National Development and Reform Commission announced a state-backed venture fund for robotics and AI expected to attract nearly 1 trillion yuan over 20 years. The IFR will publish full 2025 industrial and service robot figures on September 24. No factual disputes appear in the record.