Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Humanoid Robot Sales Reach 7,000 as Industry Boom Looms
Companies sold about 7,000 human-shaped robots around the world in 2025.
These robots are designed to work in places made for people.
They do not have to walk on two legs to count as humanoids.
The number sold is much smaller than the number of ordinary factory robots.
Many humanoids were bought for research and for gathering data to improve AI.
Carmakers are testing small groups of them in factories.
Experts expect sales to grow quickly in the coming years.
One forecast predicts 1.2 million humanoid robots could be shipped by 2030.
About 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025 for industrial and professional service uses.
The total remains small compared with 542,000 regular industrial robots installed in 2024 and 199,000 service robots sold that year.
The International Federation of Robotics defines humanoids as autonomous, human-like robots designed to work in human environments; legs are not required.
Many humanoids were purchased by research institutions or companies collecting data to improve artificial-intelligence models rather than performing productive work.
Bank of America Global Research forecasts 90,000 humanoid robot shipments this year and 1.2 million by 2030.
- Who
- Robot suppliers, research institutions, companies, carmakers, and the International Federation of Robotics are involved.
- What
- Approximately 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide for industrial and professional service purposes in 2025.
- When
- The reported sales occurred in 2025; forecasts cited in the article cover this year and 2030.
- Where
- Worldwide, with China identified as the largest market for industrial robots.
- Why
- The industry is attracting major investment and expectations of rapid growth, including for factory work and AI-related research.
- Humanoid sales
- About 7,000 worldwide in 2025
- Industrial robots
- About 542,000 installed in 2024
- Service robots
- An estimated 199,000 sold in 2024
- Forecast for this year
- 90,000 humanoid robots shipped, according to Bank of America Global Research
- Forecast for 2030
- 1.2 million humanoid robots shipped, according to Bank of America Global Research
- IFR definition
- A humanoid has a human-like appearance and operates autonomously in a human-designed environment
- Data exclusions
- The IFR tally excludes consumer and military humanoid robots; medical robots are classified separately