GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Entertainment Industry Statistics

Diversity advances but underrepresentation persists across entertainment industry roles.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Disabled representation in film remains below 2%, despite over 15% of the population having a disability

Statistic 2

The percentage of characters on TV who are disabled has increased from 1.7% in 2015 to approximately 3.5% in 2023

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The representation of neurodiverse characters in entertainment increased by 12% between 2021 and 2023

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Only 5% of major streaming content features narratives centered on disabled protagonists

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The share of people with disabilities in leading roles on television increased to 4% in 2023, from 2% in 2019

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About 30% of speaking roles in TV shows are held by people of color

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Only 4% of lead roles in top-grossing films are played by Black actors

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The percentage of Latinx characters in mainstream films is around 14%, though they make up approximately 19% of the US population

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Ethnic minorities make up 25% of the acting workforce in the entertainment industry, but only 10% of leading roles

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In animated films, characters of color represent 12% of speaking roles, compared to 40% in real-world demographic distributions

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40% of people of color say they rarely see themselves represented on screen

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In 2023, only 13% of executives at major studios are women of color

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Only 6% of featured extras in large-scale productions are from minority groups

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African Americans accounted for 13% of leading roles in network television in 2022, but only 8% of writers

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Animated characters of diverse backgrounds are only 8% of total characters in top animated movies, despite diverse populations

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Films with diverse casts tend to perform 15% better at the box office than those with predominantly white casts

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Representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood films was approximately 10% in 2023, compared to their 6.5% share of the U.S. population

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Only 7% of UK film directors are women from ethnic minorities, according to industry reports

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In 2022, approximately 60% of TV writers identified as being from diverse backgrounds, up from 45% in 2019

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The number of awards nominations for minority-led films increased by 20% from 2021 to 2023

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LGBTQ+ representation in film has increased by 15% over the past five years

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LGBTQ+ actors are 15% more likely to be cast in supporting roles than lead roles

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A survey found that 60% of LGBTQ+ talent in entertainment hide their orientation for fear of career repercussions

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Women hold 44% of all jobs in the entertainment industry but only 15% in executive roles

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Only 14% of executive producers in entertainment are women, despite women making up nearly half of all industry workers

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Over 50% of industry executives agree that diversity initiatives are crucial for long-term business success

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In 2022, women made up only 20% of directors in major Hollywood films

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Only 9% of directors at major studios are women

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In 2023, 26% of all awards nominations in major categories went to women

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Only 11% of film scripts feature diverse lead characters

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The top 100 box office films of 2022 featured only 17% of characters from underrepresented groups

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Female directors are more likely to cast women in leading roles; 70% of films directed by women feature female leads compared to 20% directed by men

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The number of women writers in Hollywood increased by 10% between 2019 and 2023

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The number of female writers in sci-fi and fantasy TV shows increased by 20% from 2019 to 2023

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Only 10% of major streaming platform content creators are women

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Around 18% of characters with disabilities in films are portrayed by actors with disabilities

Statistic 37

Women of color occupy only 9% of high-paying roles in Hollywood

Statistic 38

72% of industry executives agree that diversity improves creativity in entertainment

Statistic 39

In the music industry, women make up only 22% of producers

Statistic 40

The number of productions with diverse casts increased by 25% from 2019 to 2023

Statistic 41

65% of viewers believe entertainment should showcase more diverse stories and characters

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Women directors are twice as likely to include diverse characters in their films compared to male directors

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People of color are 30% more likely to work behind the scenes in roles such as writers, editors, and producers than in leading roles

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The average age of leading characters in Hollywood films has increased by 3 years over the past decade, indicating more mature representation

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The percentage of women writing for television increased from 25% in 2019 to 35% in 2023

Statistic 46

80% of viewers support laws requiring more diverse casting in film and television

Statistic 47

The percentage of LGBTQ+ characters in top-grossing films rose to 11% in 2023 from 8% in 2019

Statistic 48

Women of color held about 16% of all executive positions in entertainment companies in 2023, up from 8% in 2019

Statistic 49

Despite growth, only 10% of awards nominations in major categories went to women of color in 2023

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Key Highlights

In 2022, women made up only 20% of directors in major Hollywood films
About 30% of speaking roles in TV shows are held by people of color
Only 4% of lead roles in top-grossing films are played by Black actors
LGBTQ+ representation in film has increased by 15% over the past five years
Women hold 44% of all jobs in the entertainment industry but only 15% in executive roles
The percentage of Latinx characters in mainstream films is around 14%, though they make up approximately 19% of the US population
Only 9% of directors at major studios are women
Disabled representation in film remains below 2%, despite over 15% of the population having a disability
In 2023, 26% of all awards nominations in major categories went to women
Ethnic minorities make up 25% of the acting workforce in the entertainment industry, but only 10% of leading roles
In animated films, characters of color represent 12% of speaking roles, compared to 40% in real-world demographic distributions
Only 11% of film scripts feature diverse lead characters
The top 100 box office films of 2022 featured only 17% of characters from underrepresented groups

Despite some strides forward, astonishing disparities and underrepresentation persist in the entertainment industry, with women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities still fighting for equitable visibility and leadership in Hollywood and beyond.

Disability Inclusion and Neurodiversity

Disabled representation in film remains below 2%, despite over 15% of the population having a disability
The percentage of characters on TV who are disabled has increased from 1.7% in 2015 to approximately 3.5% in 2023
The representation of neurodiverse characters in entertainment increased by 12% between 2021 and 2023
Only 5% of major streaming content features narratives centered on disabled protagonists
The share of people with disabilities in leading roles on television increased to 4% in 2023, from 2% in 2019

Disability Inclusion and Neurodiversity Interpretation

Despite a gradual uptick in disability representation on screen—from 1.7% to 4% in lead roles—it's still painfully clear that the entertainment industry is plugging into the 15% of society with disabilities at a rate akin to a slow-motion rerun, underscoring that authentic inclusion remains more mirage than reality.

Ethnic and Cultural Representation

About 30% of speaking roles in TV shows are held by people of color
Only 4% of lead roles in top-grossing films are played by Black actors
The percentage of Latinx characters in mainstream films is around 14%, though they make up approximately 19% of the US population
Ethnic minorities make up 25% of the acting workforce in the entertainment industry, but only 10% of leading roles
In animated films, characters of color represent 12% of speaking roles, compared to 40% in real-world demographic distributions
40% of people of color say they rarely see themselves represented on screen
In 2023, only 13% of executives at major studios are women of color
Only 6% of featured extras in large-scale productions are from minority groups
African Americans accounted for 13% of leading roles in network television in 2022, but only 8% of writers
Animated characters of diverse backgrounds are only 8% of total characters in top animated movies, despite diverse populations
Films with diverse casts tend to perform 15% better at the box office than those with predominantly white casts
Representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood films was approximately 10% in 2023, compared to their 6.5% share of the U.S. population
Only 7% of UK film directors are women from ethnic minorities, according to industry reports
In 2022, approximately 60% of TV writers identified as being from diverse backgrounds, up from 45% in 2019
The number of awards nominations for minority-led films increased by 20% from 2021 to 2023

Ethnic and Cultural Representation Interpretation

While diverse casts in entertainment are steadily gaining ground and boosting box office performance, the persistent underrepresentation of people of color behind and in front of the camera reveals that the industry still has a long script to rewrite for genuine equity and inclusivity.

Gender and Sexual Orientation in Film and Television

LGBTQ+ representation in film has increased by 15% over the past five years
LGBTQ+ actors are 15% more likely to be cast in supporting roles than lead roles
A survey found that 60% of LGBTQ+ talent in entertainment hide their orientation for fear of career repercussions

Gender and Sexual Orientation in Film and Television Interpretation

While a 15% rise in LGBTQ+ representation reflects progress, the fact that a majority still conceal their identities suggests the industry’s spotlight is shining more on diversity’s shadows than its true empowerment.

Industry Leadership and Workforce Composition

Women hold 44% of all jobs in the entertainment industry but only 15% in executive roles
Only 14% of executive producers in entertainment are women, despite women making up nearly half of all industry workers
Over 50% of industry executives agree that diversity initiatives are crucial for long-term business success

Industry Leadership and Workforce Composition Interpretation

While women constitute nearly half of entertainment industry workers, their underrepresentation in executive and production roles highlights a stark gap—and a critical opportunity—for genuine diversity to drive long-term success.

Representation and Diversity in Media

In 2022, women made up only 20% of directors in major Hollywood films
Only 9% of directors at major studios are women
In 2023, 26% of all awards nominations in major categories went to women
Only 11% of film scripts feature diverse lead characters
The top 100 box office films of 2022 featured only 17% of characters from underrepresented groups
Female directors are more likely to cast women in leading roles; 70% of films directed by women feature female leads compared to 20% directed by men
The number of women writers in Hollywood increased by 10% between 2019 and 2023
The number of female writers in sci-fi and fantasy TV shows increased by 20% from 2019 to 2023
Only 10% of major streaming platform content creators are women
Around 18% of characters with disabilities in films are portrayed by actors with disabilities
Women of color occupy only 9% of high-paying roles in Hollywood
72% of industry executives agree that diversity improves creativity in entertainment
In the music industry, women make up only 22% of producers
The number of productions with diverse casts increased by 25% from 2019 to 2023
65% of viewers believe entertainment should showcase more diverse stories and characters
Women directors are twice as likely to include diverse characters in their films compared to male directors
People of color are 30% more likely to work behind the scenes in roles such as writers, editors, and producers than in leading roles
The average age of leading characters in Hollywood films has increased by 3 years over the past decade, indicating more mature representation
The percentage of women writing for television increased from 25% in 2019 to 35% in 2023
80% of viewers support laws requiring more diverse casting in film and television
The percentage of LGBTQ+ characters in top-grossing films rose to 11% in 2023 from 8% in 2019
Women of color held about 16% of all executive positions in entertainment companies in 2023, up from 8% in 2019
Despite growth, only 10% of awards nominations in major categories went to women of color in 2023

Representation and Diversity in Media Interpretation

Despite notable progress in diversity strides, with women now earning 26% of awards nominations and women of color doubling their executive roles, the persistent underrepresentation—especially behind the camera and in lead roles—reminds us that equitable representation in Hollywood remains a long script yet to be fully rewritten.