The Social Robots Market is projected to soar from USD 5.747 billion in 2025 to USD 20.657 billion by 2030, with a robust CAGR of 29.16%.
Social Robots are companion robots. These robots help in lifting, companionship, and the simulation of emotions in human beings. In addition, these robots assist in everyday life by performing various activities. Sony was the first company that introduce social robots in 1999. AIBO is a social robot pet dog that responds to its owner's voice and actions. This robot has significant market standing even 20 years later of its first launch. The software of AIBO was last updated in April 2021 to accommodate new features such as app connection.
In 2006, France-based Aldebaran Robotics launched the Nao robot for the therapy of autistic children. The first nursing social robot in Japan was launched in 2015. Developed by the Riken Institute, Robear assists patients and caregivers in nursing homes across Japan. The robot assists in lifting patients from their beds by providing physical strength. The growing complexities of the world and the increased adoption of automation will drive the demand for social robots. In malls and shopping complexes, social robots guide the customers, increasing their shopping experience. In parking lots, robots assist in smooth functioning. The Healthcare sector also employs social robots for better treatment of patients. Furthermore, robots ease household chores and provide companionship to the owner. However, growing automation results in a decrease in employment opportunities and has raised several concerns, hindering market growth.
Based on end-users, the social robot market is segmented into healthcare, education, retail, entertainment, IT and communication, household, and others. In the retail and entertainment sector, social robots are used to assist and guide customers toward their desired choices. Many giant retail shops in the US have installed social robots that help customers find what they need by providing the required information. Mobile stores across Japan have installed more than 140 SoftBank’s Pepper Robots since its launch. In enhancing the consumer experience, SoftBank received an investment of US$50 billion from Apple in 2020, for research and development on Pepper. Target, US, installed Tally, a social robot built by Simbe Robotics, for inventory management. In 2016, a leading fast-food chain, Domino, Australia, announced the introduction of driverless vehicles, Domino’s Robotic Unit (DRU) for better delivery of pizza. Growth in the IT and communication industry will also increase the adoption of social robots to cater to customer queries and needs, which will provide significant growth prospects. However, during the forecasted period, the healthcare and household sectors are projected to hold a dominating share of the market. In the healthcare sector, social robots are used for nursing purposes. These robots also help in catering to the emotional needs of the patients. Japan is the leading user of social robots in its healthcare sector. The education sector will also grow at a significant rate.
The key factor driving the growth in the market is surging automation across varied industrial verticals. The International Federation of Robotics has predicted that the adoption of robots across many industry verticals will grow at a quadruple rate in the coming decade. In 2017, robot installation increased by 21% in Asia, 16% in the Americas, and 8% in the European region. China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and Germany are the top 5 robotics markets, accounting for 74% of the total robotics supply (2016). A significant proportion is shared by the social robot. Hence, growth in the robotic industry will support the market growth of social robots.
Based on geography, the social robot market is divided into North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The North American and Asia Pacific regions are the leading social robot markets and will dominate the global market by the end of 2026. Particularly, the Asia region has a vast adoption of robots in the healthcare and education sectors, with Japan and South Korea being the prime markets for healthcare social robots.
In Japan, the ageing population has been on the rise and is increasing at a quadruple rate. While the number of people aged 65 and above accounted for 19.098% of the population, the proportion had increased to 28.002%. while the population is falling at 1.4% annually. A large aged population has increased the requirement for nursing and other facilities, while the workforce is limited. Hence, Japan has increasingly adopted social robots for better care and nursing of aged people. An investment of US$100 million was made by the government in 2018 for nursing social robot development and installation. Further, Japan is a leader in the development of healthcare and nursing robots. Paro, Telenoid, and Ugo are leading social nursing robots in Japan. South Korea is another emerging market for healthcare robots. Moreover, the preference of the ageing population for automation over immigration provides a stable market. Japan also intended to increase the involvement of social robots in its education sector.
Estimates by the World Bank show that South Korea will surpass Japan in the proportion of the aged population (above 65) to reach a proportion of around 37% by 2045. Japan, on the other hand, will have 36.7% of its population in the category in 2045. The aging population and rising automation have increased concerns for the government, resulting in the announcement of an investment of US$250 million in automation. In March 2020, with a prime focus on healthcare, disaster response, and rehabilitation.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Market Size in 2026 | USD 5.747 billion |
| Total Market Size in 2031 | USD 20.657 billion |
| Growth Rate | 29.16% |
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 – 2031 |
| Segmentation | Component, Product Type, Technology, Geography |
| Geographical Segmentation | North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific |
| Companies |
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