China Leads World With 80% of Humanoid Robot Installs

Humanoid robots are stepping off the drawing board and onto factory floors at a pace that surprised even industry experts, and China is leading the charge.

A total of 16,000 humanoid robots were installed worldwide in 2025, with Chinese companies accounting for more than 13,000 of them, according to research from Counterpoint Research released this week. Two homegrown startups, AgiBot and Unitree Robotics, captured the top spots with their innovative designs and competitive pricing.

AgiBot, based in Shanghai, claimed 30.4% of all global installations by offering a diverse product lineup and making their technology open-source so other developers could build on their work. Hangzhou-based Unitree followed close behind with 26.4% market share, earning attention for robots that can balance and move with remarkable fluidity.

These aren't just showroom pieces. The robots are already working in logistics centers, manufacturing plants, and automotive factories, handling tasks from sorting packages to collecting data on production lines. Their human-like form lets them navigate spaces designed for people without requiring costly facility redesigns.

The market is moving fast. Counterpoint projects installations will exceed 100,000 units by 2027, a sixfold jump in just two years. Manufacturing, logistics, and automotive applications are expected to make up 72% of all uses by then.

The Ripple Effect

This robot boom signals more than just technological progress. It shows how quickly cutting-edge innovation can move from concept to real-world application when companies focus on practical uses instead of flashy demos.

The rapid commercialization also means manufacturing jobs are evolving rather than disappearing. Workers are increasingly partnering with humanoid robots that handle repetitive or physically demanding tasks, freeing humans to focus on problem-solving and oversight roles that require creativity and judgment.

Mass production is bringing costs down, making the technology accessible to smaller manufacturers who couldn't afford automation before. That democratization could help businesses of all sizes boost productivity while creating new roles for robot technicians, programmers, and maintenance specialists.

The competition is also driving innovation globally, with companies worldwide racing to develop better balance, more dexterous hands, and smarter AI systems. Each breakthrough brings these helpful machines closer to becoming reliable workplace partners.

As humanoid robots become as common in warehouses as forklifts, we're watching a new chapter in human-machine collaboration being written in real time.