GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Health Industry Statistics

Healthcare diversity gaps perpetuate disparities, affecting outcomes and equity significantly.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Women make up approximately 78% of the healthcare workforce but only 27% of leadership positions

Statistic 2

The representation of women in leadership roles in health industry is around 25%, below the gender parity benchmark

Statistic 3

Patients from racial and ethnic minority groups are 2.4 times more likely to receive lower-quality health care

Statistic 4

Nearly 30% of transgender individuals report being refused health care due to their gender identity

Statistic 5

Only about 10% of clinical trial participants are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, which limits generalizability of results

Statistic 6

Hospital staff with language barriers are associated with increased errors and poorer patient outcomes, especially among non-English speakers

Statistic 7

Black patients are 2.7 times more likely to experience maternal mortality than white patients, underlining disparities in maternal health

Statistic 8

Hispanic women have a pregnancy-related mortality rate 3 times higher than white women, indicating significant racial disparities

Statistic 9

Native Americans face disproportionate health disparities, with a life expectancy nearly 5 years lower than the national average

Statistic 10

People with disabilities have reduced access to healthcare, with 1 in 4 reporting unmet needs for care

Statistic 11

Underrepresented minorities are less likely to have health insurance coverage, with coverage rates of approximately 80% compared to over 90% among White populations

Statistic 12

Racial and ethnic health disparities lead to an estimated loss of over $93 billion annually in the U.S. healthcare system due to worse health outcomes and inefficient care

Statistic 13

Black women are more likely to experience forced sterilization and biased treatment during reproductive care, spotlighting systemic inequities

Statistic 14

Asian Americans experience higher rates of certain cancers, yet are less likely to be screened or take preventive measures, indicating a screening disparity

Statistic 15

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are less likely to receive routine preventive health care compared to heterosexual adults

Statistic 16

LGBTQ+ individuals are 1.8 times more likely to delay or avoid medical care due to fear of discrimination

Statistic 17

Only 13% of healthcare professionals worldwide are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups

Statistic 18

Hispanic/Latino Americans are underrepresented in health-related academic fields, comprising 7% of healthcare workers while representing 18% of the U.S. population

Statistic 19

Only 4% of surgeons are women, despite women making up over 50% of medical students

Statistic 20

Approximately 22% of healthcare staff belong to racial/ethnic minorities, but they make up 40% of the patients served, indicating an access gap

Statistic 21

Only 5% of CEOs in health care are from minority backgrounds, despite minorities comprising nearly 40% of the U.S. population

Statistic 22

The percentage of Black medical students has increased from 5% in 2000 to about 7.5% in recent years but still remains underrepresentative

Statistic 23

Only 3% of senior health care executives are from Arab-American backgrounds, despite the community’s significant population share

Statistic 24

Healthcare workplaces with diversity initiatives reported up to a 19% higher employee engagement score, indicating positive business impacts

Statistic 25

LGBTQ+ healthcare providers are underrepresented, making up only about 2-3% of providers despite constituting 4.5% of the US population

Statistic 26

Only 12% of healthcare executives report actively measuring diversity and inclusion efforts, indicating room for improvement in accountability

Statistic 27

The percentage of healthcare providers identifying as LGBTQ+ in the U.S. remains below 5%, highlighting underrepresentation in medical workforce

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Key Highlights

Only 13% of healthcare professionals worldwide are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
Patients from racial and ethnic minority groups are 2.4 times more likely to receive lower-quality health care
Women make up approximately 78% of the healthcare workforce but only 27% of leadership positions
Hispanic/Latino Americans are underrepresented in health-related academic fields, comprising 7% of healthcare workers while representing 18% of the U.S. population
Only 4% of surgeons are women, despite women making up over 50% of medical students
Approximately 22% of healthcare staff belong to racial/ethnic minorities, but they make up 40% of the patients served, indicating an access gap
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are less likely to receive routine preventive health care compared to heterosexual adults
Nearly 30% of transgender individuals report being refused health care due to their gender identity
Only about 10% of clinical trial participants are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, which limits generalizability of results
Hospital staff with language barriers are associated with increased errors and poorer patient outcomes, especially among non-English speakers
Black patients are 2.7 times more likely to experience maternal mortality than white patients, underlining disparities in maternal health
Hispanic women have a pregnancy-related mortality rate 3 times higher than white women, indicating significant racial disparities
Only 5% of CEOs in health care are from minority backgrounds, despite minorities comprising nearly 40% of the U.S. population

Despite making up nearly 40% of the U.S. population, underrepresented racial, ethnic, and gender groups still face significant disparities and minimal representation in the healthcare industry, revealing a critical need for inclusive reforms to improve equity and outcomes for all.

Gender Diversity and Leadership

Women make up approximately 78% of the healthcare workforce but only 27% of leadership positions
The representation of women in leadership roles in health industry is around 25%, below the gender parity benchmark

Gender Diversity and Leadership Interpretation

Despite constituting nearly four-fifths of healthcare workers, women remain sharply underrepresented in leadership, highlighting that the health industry’s commitment to diversity and equity still has a long way to go beyond just counting noses.

Health Disparities and Inequities

Patients from racial and ethnic minority groups are 2.4 times more likely to receive lower-quality health care
Nearly 30% of transgender individuals report being refused health care due to their gender identity
Only about 10% of clinical trial participants are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, which limits generalizability of results
Hospital staff with language barriers are associated with increased errors and poorer patient outcomes, especially among non-English speakers
Black patients are 2.7 times more likely to experience maternal mortality than white patients, underlining disparities in maternal health
Hispanic women have a pregnancy-related mortality rate 3 times higher than white women, indicating significant racial disparities
Native Americans face disproportionate health disparities, with a life expectancy nearly 5 years lower than the national average
People with disabilities have reduced access to healthcare, with 1 in 4 reporting unmet needs for care
Underrepresented minorities are less likely to have health insurance coverage, with coverage rates of approximately 80% compared to over 90% among White populations
Racial and ethnic health disparities lead to an estimated loss of over $93 billion annually in the U.S. healthcare system due to worse health outcomes and inefficient care
Black women are more likely to experience forced sterilization and biased treatment during reproductive care, spotlighting systemic inequities
Asian Americans experience higher rates of certain cancers, yet are less likely to be screened or take preventive measures, indicating a screening disparity

Health Disparities and Inequities Interpretation

These stark statistics reveal that despite advances, our health system remains unevenly quilted, with marginalized communities bearing the most holes—highlighting an urgent need for true inclusion to turn health equity into a tangible reality.

LGBTQ+ Health and Inclusion

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are less likely to receive routine preventive health care compared to heterosexual adults
LGBTQ+ individuals are 1.8 times more likely to delay or avoid medical care due to fear of discrimination

LGBTQ+ Health and Inclusion Interpretation

These statistics expose a troubling reality: LGBTQ+ individuals, fearing discrimination, are often forced to choose between their health and dignity, highlighting an urgent need to foster truly inclusive healthcare environments.

Representation in Healthcare Workforce

Only 13% of healthcare professionals worldwide are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
Hispanic/Latino Americans are underrepresented in health-related academic fields, comprising 7% of healthcare workers while representing 18% of the U.S. population
Only 4% of surgeons are women, despite women making up over 50% of medical students
Approximately 22% of healthcare staff belong to racial/ethnic minorities, but they make up 40% of the patients served, indicating an access gap
Only 5% of CEOs in health care are from minority backgrounds, despite minorities comprising nearly 40% of the U.S. population
The percentage of Black medical students has increased from 5% in 2000 to about 7.5% in recent years but still remains underrepresentative
Only 3% of senior health care executives are from Arab-American backgrounds, despite the community’s significant population share
Healthcare workplaces with diversity initiatives reported up to a 19% higher employee engagement score, indicating positive business impacts
LGBTQ+ healthcare providers are underrepresented, making up only about 2-3% of providers despite constituting 4.5% of the US population
Only 12% of healthcare executives report actively measuring diversity and inclusion efforts, indicating room for improvement in accountability
The percentage of healthcare providers identifying as LGBTQ+ in the U.S. remains below 5%, highlighting underrepresentation in medical workforce

Representation in Healthcare Workforce Interpretation

Despite representing nearly 40% of the U.S. population, minorities constitute only a small fraction of healthcare professionals and leadership, underscoring that equity-focused diversity efforts in health remain a work in progress rather than a reflection of the communities served.