As China’s population falls, 300,000-strong robot army keeps factories humming
The country leads the world in newly installed industrial robots, far ahead of Japan and the US
China’s factories welcomed 295,000 newly installed industrial robots last year, easing fears the nation’s manufacturing juggernaut could falter after the population declined for a third consecutive year.
More than half of the world’s 542,000 new robots were installed in Chinese factories in 2024, according to the September report. The machines weld car frames, assemble electronic devices and move heavy loads with precision, filling labour gaps caused by the demographic shift.
“It’s an inevitable trend that more simple, repetitive tasks will be done by robots in the future, though some creative and complex tasks still require human ingenuity,” said Professor Gao Xudong from Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management.
“Despite the shrinking overall population, with improvements in workforce education and the widespread use of robots, China’s manufacturing industry has no problem in maintaining and enhancing its competitive edge,” he added.