Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025
The figure represents a fraction of the industrial robot market, with significant growth projected by 2030.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025
Photograph: Egypt Independent (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Around 7,000 humanoid robots were sold globally in 2025 for industrial and professional service applications.
- The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) defines a humanoid robot by its human-like appearance and autonomous operation in human-engineered environments.
- Bank of America Global Research forecasts humanoid robot shipments to reach 90,000 units in 2026 and 1.2 million by 2030.
- Many humanoid robots sold in 2025 were purchased by research institutions for training AI models, rather than for manufacturing.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 11 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 13 of the 24 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
61/100
Hype
41/100
24 sources · methodology
Global sales of humanoid robots reached approximately 7,000 units in 2025, according to data compiled by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). These robots were sold for industrial and professional service applications. The IFR defines a humanoid robot as one with a human-like appearance that operates autonomously in environments designed for humans. In comparison, 542,000 conventional industrial robots were installed globally in 2024, alongside 199,000 professional service units.
Many of the humanoid units sold in 2025 were acquired by research institutions and technology firms to gather physical data for training artificial intelligence models. Major automotive manufacturers, early adopters of the technology, are conducting limited operational trials, typically deploying only a small number of units per facility. The IFR, which has tracked automation statistics for three decades, began specifically monitoring humanoid robots for the first time alongside its larger datasets for standard industrial and professional service units.
Growth Projections
Despite current modest sales, future growth projections are aggressive. Bank of America Global Research estimates that humanoid robot shipments will reach 90,000 units in 2026 and climb to 1.2 million by 2030. The IFR bases its metrics on reported figures from global suppliers and national trade associations, excluding consumer and military humanoids, and categorising medical robots separately.
Omissions
None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention the IFR's scheduled publication date for its full 2025 industrial and service robotics figures on 24 September.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 3 times, most recently on 21 Sept 2026, 14:30, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
1 rated outlet
- The left-rated report from fakti.bg noted that the relatively small number of humanoid robot sales contrasts with forecasts for rapid market expansion in the coming years, particularly in China. It highlighted China as the world's largest market for industrial robots, referencing recent demonstrations of robots running and boxing during specialized games. The report also stated that many humanoid robots sold in 2025 were purchased by research institutions or companies for AI model improvement, not for manufacturing. It quoted Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the IFR, noting that humanoids remain a small fraction of the global robotics market.
Centre
5 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports from Egypt Independent, ZN.UA Зеркало недели, and Reuters focused on the 7,000 humanoid robot sales figure for 2025. Egypt Independent highlighted that this figure stands in contrast to projections predicting a massive commercial boom, noting the gap is particularly notable in China. ZN.UA Зеркало недели stated that the 7,000 units represent 1% of the annual capacity of industrial machinery. Reuters and Egypt Independent both mentioned that many of the humanoid units sold were purchased by research institutions for training AI models, not for manufacturing. Reuters also noted the contrast between current sales and forecasts for a boom in the coming years, particularly in China.
Right
5 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports from Globo, Business Times, and The Straits Times led with the 7,000 humanoid robot sales figure for 2025. Globo mentioned that the sector predicts 1.2 million units by 2030 and highlighted China as the world's largest market for industrial robots, noting its recent presentation of running and boxing humanoid robots. Business Times and The Straits Times both stated that the relatively small number contrasts with forecasts for a boom in the coming years. The Straits Times also noted that the sales were mainly for research and industry.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025?
- Of the 11 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 9% are rated left, 45% are rated centre, 46% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 24. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025 left or right?
- Too few of the outlets on this story carry a published leaning rating to say. 11 of them do, and this site does not characterise a field under 12: at that size one newsroom filing moves the share by ten points. The percentages above are the count as it stands.
- Is the coverage of Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025 biased?
- Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025 is one event reported by 24 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Humanoid robot sales reached 7,000 units globally in 2025?
- 24 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- How many humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025?
- Approximately 7,000 humanoid robots were sold worldwide in 2025 for industrial and professional service applications. This figure is considered modest when compared to conventional industrial robots.
- What is the definition of a humanoid robot according to the IFR?
- The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) defines a humanoid robot as a machine that has a human-like appearance and operates autonomously in environments engineered for humans. Legs are not a strict requirement for this classification.
- What are the future sales projections for humanoid robots?
- Bank of America Global Research estimates that humanoid robot shipments will reach 90,000 units in 2026 and are projected to climb to 1.2 million by 2030, indicating significant anticipated growth.
- What were the primary uses for humanoid robots sold in 2025?
- Many of the humanoid robots sold in 2025 were purchased by research institutions and technology firms. Their primary use was to gather physical data for training advanced artificial intelligence models, rather than for direct manufacturing work.
Read it at the source
24 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
1Centre
5- Humanoid robot sales hit 7,000 worldwide last year (opens Egypt Independent in a new tab)
Egypt Independent — is Egypt Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- In a Year, only 7,000 Human-Like Robots Were Sold Around the World. (opens ZN.UA Зеркало недели in a new tab)
ZN.UA Зеркало недели — is ZN.UA Зеркало недели biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens WTVB in a new tab)
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens Market Screener in a new tab)
Market Screener — is Market Screener biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
5- Sale of Humanoid Robots Reaches 7,000 in 2025; Sector Predicts 1.2 Million by 2030 (opens Globo in a new tab)
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens Business Times in a new tab)
Business Times — is Business Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Around 7,000 humanoid robots sold in 2025 (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens Free Malaysia Today News in a new tab)
Free Malaysia Today News — is Free Malaysia Today News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens Times of India in a new tab)
Times of India — is Times of India biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
13- Sales of Humanoid Robots Reached 7,000 Units in 2025 (opens DiarioBitcoin in a new tab)
DiarioBitcoin — is DiarioBitcoin biased? Our profile of this outlet
- 7,000 Humanoid Robots Sold Worldwide in 2025; No Industrial Breakthrough Yet. (opens Business AM in a new tab)
Business AM — is Business AM biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Some 7,000 Human-Like Robots Sold Worldwide in 2025 (opens belta.by in a new tab)
- Population of Humanoid Robots Increases, but Many Still without Productive Work (opens IOL Portugal in a new tab)
IOL Portugal — is IOL Portugal biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Nearly 7,000 Humanoid Robots Sold in 2025 - Measures in China to Stop "Humanoid Robot Madness" (opens CursDeGuvernare.ro in a new tab)
CursDeGuvernare.ro — is CursDeGuvernare.ro biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Global humanoid robot sales reached about 7,000 in 2025: IFR (opens TechNode Global in a new tab)
TechNode Global — is TechNode Global biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Humanoid Robots Are Increasingly in Demand, About Seven Thousand Were Sold Last Year (opens nsuzivo.rs in a new tab)
nsuzivo.rs — is nsuzivo.rs biased? Our profile of this outlet
- More than Seven Thousand Humanoid Robots Sold Worldwide Last Year (opens Publico in a new tab)
Show 5 more
- The era of humanoid robots has begun: 7,000 robots were sold globally last year, and that will increase nearly 13 times this year (opens Aroged in a new tab)
- Humanoid robot sales tally hit 7,000 globally last year (opens ATN in a new tab)
- Humanoid Robots Do Not Sell as Warm Bread (opens IMPACT in a new tab)
- World Sales of Humanoid Robots Reached 7,000 Units Last Year (opens economica.net in a new tab)
economica.net — is economica.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- World Sales of Humanoid Robots Reached 7,000 Units Last Year (opens Financial Intelligence in a new tab)
Financial Intelligence — is Financial Intelligence biased? Our profile of this outlet
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