The number of industrial robot installations in the United States rose by 11% year-on-year, to reach 38,000 units in 2025. This significant recovery is driven by robust growth in the food industry and other non-manufacturing sectors. However, the automotive industry remains the largest adopter and reached 13,500 units, just 1% below last year’s result.
“The United States are back on the growth track,” says Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “While automotive achieved its third-best result in seven years, the data highlights a growing demand for flexible automation in the food industry: Adoption in this sector surged by 30%, now ranking alongside metal and machinery and electrical-electronics, all with approximately 3,000 installations in 2025.”
U.S. industrial robot installations rebound 11% as food sector drives growth
Industrial robot installations in the United States climbed 11% in 2025, reaching 38,000 units as manufacturers and non-traditional industries accelerated automation investments, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
While the automotive sector remained the largest adopter of industrial robots, installing 13,500 units, growth was increasingly driven by industries outside of traditional manufacturing. The food industry posted a 30% increase in robot adoption, joining the metal and machinery and electrical-electronics sectors at roughly 3,000 installations each.
“The United States are back on the growth track,” said Ito. “The data highlights a growing demand for flexible automation in the food industry.”
The rise in installations helped boost the United States’ global standing in robot density, a measure of automation that tracks the number of industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers. The U.S. now ranks eighth worldwide with 307 robots per 10,000 employees, moving up two positions from the previous year. South Korea remains the global leader with 1,220 robots per 10,000 workers, followed by Germany and Japan.
