AMSTERDAM, Sept. 21, 2026: In 2025, the International Federation of Robotics estimated that over 7,000 humanoid robots had been sold around the world for industrial and professional use, based on Reuters reporting. That may sound like a small figure when compared with hundreds of thousands of traditional robots sold or installed each year.

It also shows the gap between the current size of the humanoid market and the much larger shipment numbers being forecast for the next few years.

Many of the humanoids sold last year were bought by research institutions or companies working on artificial intelligence models, rather than for routine production work, according to IFR Secretary General Susanne Bieller. 

Automakers are now conducting trials using humanoids in their factories too, although these are limited in number. China is anticipated to be one of the key markets for humanoid robots as manufacturers attempt to move toward large-scale manufacturing. The country accounted for 54% of total industrial robot installations worldwide in 2024, with around 295,000 units installed, according to IFR data.

The scale of the existing humanoid market is particularly striking against some industry forecasts.

According to Bank of America Global Research, more than 90,000 humanoid robots are expected to be delivered in 2026. By 2030, the forecast rises to 1.2 million units. These figures are predictions, not confirmed sales numbers, and are reported by Reuters.

Moreover, the International Federation of Robotics has only recently started gathering statistics on humanoid robots.

Its 7,000-unit estimate is based on information from suppliers and national industry associations, rather than an audited global sales database. That makes the figure useful as a snapshot of the market, but it also leaves room for the industry's numbers to change as reporting improves.