An update of the demography of physiotherapists practicing in France

To conduct a comprehensive report on the demographics of practicing professionals across the french territory.

The method used in this work was to extract detailed demographic data from the Order's board, which includes for each professional their location and mode of practice, gender and age, country of diploma attainment, and nationality.

As of January 1st 2024, 105 658 physiotherapists were registered with the Order, of whom 15% exclusively practice as employees. The density of physiotherapists in France therefore stands at 154.5 professionals per 100 000 inhabitants. However, there is a significant disparity in density across different geographic areas of the country. The majority of professionals are women (52.2%) and have an average age of 41 years (median age 38.2 years). The table includes 32 574 physiotherapists holding diplomas obtained outside of France as of January 1, 2024, accounting for 30.8% of the total workforce. Among these non-French diploma holders, 21 542 are French nationals, representing 66.1%.

Physiotherapists constitute the largest rehabilitation profession and the fourth largest healthcare profession by number. Given their numbers, the diversity of practice forms, and their distribution across the entire territory, physiotherapists represent a significant force in meeting healthcare needs. The proportion of French nationals holding diplomas from outside France is steadily increasing, raising questions about maintaining entry quotas for studies in France.

Public authorities should focus on precisely defining the needs for physiotherapists in France. Firstly, this in-depth analysis allows for strategic planning of healthcare human resources, anticipating and adequately meeting the increasing demand for rehabilitation and re-adaptation services. By identifying regions and sectors with the most pressing needs, it becomes possible to equitably distribute physiotherapy professionals, ensuring fair access to healthcare for all citizens, regardless of their geographic location. Furthermore, precise knowledge of physiotherapy needs facilitates the optimization of training programs and recruitment strategies and thanks to the annual increase in resources, plan for extensions of skills to compensate for the lack of medical doctors throughout the national territory. Adjusting these initiatives to meet specific labor market requirements can address potential shortages of qualified personnel and enhance the quality of care provided. This proactive approach not only reduces waiting times for treatments but also strengthens personalized patient care, thereby ensuring more effective and satisfactory therapeutic outcomes.