Women in leadership in the global physiotherapy profession

Women make up more than 50% of the global physiotherapy profession but less than 50% of executive board positions in national physiotherapy associations are held by women.

Responses to World Physiotherapy’s annual membership census in 2021 show that, globally, 62% of physiotherapists are female and 48% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female. This is based on responses from 117 of our 125 member organisations who completed the census. 

The executive boards in 39% of World Physiotherapy member organisations reflect the ratio of female/male practising physiotherapists in the relevant country/territory. Ten (8%) World Physiotherapy member organisations have an all female executive board and four (3%) have an all male executive board. 

Women make up 63% of the executive board positions on the World Physiotherapy board.

World Physiotherapy regions

The percentage of female and male physiotherapists varies across World Physiotherapy’s five regions:

• Africa
  • 60% of physiotherapists in the region are female and 37% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female
• Asia Western Pacific
  • 52% of physiotherapists in the region are female and 27% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female
• Europe
  • 66% of physiotherapists in the region are female and 56% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female
• North America Caribbean
  • 66% of physiotherapists in the region are female and 68% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female
• South America
  • 62% of physiotherapists in the region are female and 61% of executive board members of World Physiotherapy member organisations are female  

World Physiotherapy is working towards a more inclusive and equal global profession. We will continue to monitor and report on this gender equity gap.