IFR: India's new installations of industrial robots reached 4,945 in 2021

India has reached a new record of 4,945 new industrial robot installations in 2021. This is a 54% increase over the previous year. India is currently ranked tenth in the world in terms of annual installations.

Marina Bill, president of the International Federation of Robotics, said: “India is one of the fastest growing industrial economies in the world. In five years, the operational stock of industrial robots has more than doubled to 33,220 units in 2021. This is equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 16% since 2016.”

Industrial robot stocks in India hit record high

India is the world's fifth largest economy measured by manufacturing output. According to the World Bank, India's manufacturing value added was US$443.9 billion in 2021, up 21.6% from 2020.

The automotive industry remains the largest customer of Indian robotics, with a share of 31% in 2021. Installations more than doubled, with 1,547 new installations (+108%). India's general industry was led by the metal industry, with 308 new robots installed (-9%), the rubber and plastics industry with 246 new installations (+27%), and the electrical/electronics industry with 215 new installations (+98%).

India has huge potential

Comparing India with China, the long-term potential of robotics becomes clearer: India’s automotive industry’s robot density, or the number of industrial robots per 10,000 employees, stood at 148 in 2021. China’s robot density stood at 131 in 2010 and soared to 772 in 2021.

The Indian government supports growth in the industrial sector, one of the key figures that influences gross domestic product. According to the International Monetary Fund, India's GDP of about $3 trillion ranks fifth, tied with the United Kingdom and France, and behind Germany, Japan, China and the United States.

Robots help create new jobs

India’s new manufacturing capabilities are an important step toward providing adequate education and employment opportunities for its people: India now has a population of 1.4 billion, surpassing China for the first time, according to UN projections. This means India has a large and young workforce that can drive economic growth and innovation. By 2027, India is expected to have the largest working-age population in the world.