GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Medical Device Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts innovation, performance, and patient outcomes in medical devices industry.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Human bias has been identified as a significant barrier in the design and testing of medical devices

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50% of employees from minority backgrounds leave their roles in the medical device industry within three years due to lack of inclusive culture

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70% of women in the medical device sector have experienced gender bias or microaggressions at work

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55% of medical device companies have integrated diversity considerations into their supply chain practices

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Only 16% of leadership roles in the medical device industry are held by women

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About 60% of medical device professionals feel that their organizations are making progress towards DEI goals

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The percentage of medical device patents filed by women has increased by 15% over the last decade

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55% of medical device employees report encountering bias or discrimination at work

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Ethnic minorities comprise only about 20% of leadership roles in global medical device companies

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The median pay gap between men and women in the medical device industry is approximately 12%

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Only 10% of medical device companies have a Chief Diversity Officer

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65% of medical device companies confirm DEI is part of their corporate strategy

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Women in medical device leadership roles report 30% higher job satisfaction when their organization has active DEI initiatives

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35% of medical device startups founded by women have global reach within five years, compared to 20% for male-led startups

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78% of medical device companies report difficulty attracting diverse talent

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50% of minority employees in medical device companies report feeling they have equal opportunity for advancement

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68% of female medical device professionals express desire for more leadership development programs tailored to women

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Companies with inclusive cultures in medical device industry report a 15% higher rate of employee retention

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The percentage of women holding senior management roles in the medical device industry has increased by 10% over the last five years

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Minority representation on medical device boards has grown by 18% in the past decade

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58% of medical device employees believe their organization could do more to promote DEI

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Approximately 40% of medical device innovation teams are intentionally diverse

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63% of hiring managers in the medical device industry prioritize candidates with experience in multicultural environments

Statistic 24

The global medical device industry anticipates a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% driven in part by diverse teams

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80% of minority medical device professionals feel recognized and valued in their organizations

Statistic 26

Senior leaders' diversity correlates with higher patient trust levels, according to surveys in the healthcare sector

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Companies with higher diversity levels are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially

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45% of respondents in a survey believe that lack of diversity affects innovation in the medical device industry

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Female-led medical device startups are 2.5 times more likely to focus on underserved markets

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Companies with diverse executive teams see a 19% increase in revenue compared to less diverse companies

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47% of medical device executives believe that DEI initiatives enhance team performance

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25% of medical device R&D budgets are allocated to diverse or inclusive product development initiatives

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60% of medical device organizations believe that DEI efforts improve patient-centered innovation

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44% of medical device companies believe DEI initiatives directly improve product development quality

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65% of healthcare providers see diversity in medical device design as essential for improving patient compliance

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62% of medical device startups prioritize hiring diverse teams to foster innovation

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Only 15% of medical device companies conduct DEI impact assessments annually

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Companies that actively promote DEI are 1.8 times more likely to launch innovative products

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30% of medical device clinical trials lack representation of women and minorities

Statistic 40

The percentage of minority representatives in clinical trials for medical devices is below 25%

Statistic 41

80% of medical device companies have initiated DEI programs since 2020

Statistic 42

Diversity in clinical trial participation correlates with better health outcomes for underserved populations

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20% of medical device clinical trial participants are from minority groups, below the proportion of minorities in the general population

Statistic 44

Only 22% of medical device companies have publicly reported diversity metrics

Statistic 45

The number of medical device products designed specifically for underserved populations has increased by 22% over the past five years

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42% of clinical trial sites in medical device studies are located in underserved regions

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The proportion of medical devices designed with accessibility features for disabled users has increased by 30% over five years

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Inclusion of diverse age groups in medical device clinical trials has increased by 25% over the past decade

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70% of medical device companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place

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40% of medical device companies do not have clear DEI metrics or benchmarks

Statistic 51

Training on unconscious bias has been implemented in 52% of medical device organizations

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50% of patients from underserved communities report better satisfaction with devices that consider cultural and linguistic diversity

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Medical device companies with structured DEI training programs report a 20% greater employee engagement level

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Ethnic minorities make up approximately 25% of employees in the medical device sector

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Only 12% of medical device R&D teams are composed of women

Statistic 56

Women constitute approximately 30% of the medical device workforce

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Key Highlights

Only 16% of leadership roles in the medical device industry are held by women
Ethnic minorities make up approximately 25% of employees in the medical device sector
Companies with higher diversity levels are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
Only 12% of medical device R&D teams are composed of women
70% of medical device companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place
45% of respondents in a survey believe that lack of diversity affects innovation in the medical device industry
About 60% of medical device professionals feel that their organizations are making progress towards DEI goals
Female-led medical device startups are 2.5 times more likely to focus on underserved markets
30% of medical device clinical trials lack representation of women and minorities
Companies with diverse executive teams see a 19% increase in revenue compared to less diverse companies
The percentage of medical device patents filed by women has increased by 15% over the last decade
55% of medical device employees report encountering bias or discrimination at work
40% of medical device companies do not have clear DEI metrics or benchmarks

Despite only 16% of leadership roles in the medical device industry being held by women and ethnic minorities comprising just 20%, companies emphasizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are outperforming their competitors by up to 35% and forging innovation that better serves diverse populations worldwide.

Challenges, Barriers, and Trends in Diversity Implementation

Human bias has been identified as a significant barrier in the design and testing of medical devices
50% of employees from minority backgrounds leave their roles in the medical device industry within three years due to lack of inclusive culture
70% of women in the medical device sector have experienced gender bias or microaggressions at work
55% of medical device companies have integrated diversity considerations into their supply chain practices

Challenges, Barriers, and Trends in Diversity Implementation Interpretation

Despite some strides in embedding diversity into supply chains, the persistent human biases and alarming attrition rates among minorities and women reveal that the medical device industry still has a long way to go before inclusive culture becomes more than just a check-box.

Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership and Workforce Demographics

Only 16% of leadership roles in the medical device industry are held by women
About 60% of medical device professionals feel that their organizations are making progress towards DEI goals
The percentage of medical device patents filed by women has increased by 15% over the last decade
55% of medical device employees report encountering bias or discrimination at work
Ethnic minorities comprise only about 20% of leadership roles in global medical device companies
The median pay gap between men and women in the medical device industry is approximately 12%
Only 10% of medical device companies have a Chief Diversity Officer
65% of medical device companies confirm DEI is part of their corporate strategy
Women in medical device leadership roles report 30% higher job satisfaction when their organization has active DEI initiatives
35% of medical device startups founded by women have global reach within five years, compared to 20% for male-led startups
78% of medical device companies report difficulty attracting diverse talent
50% of minority employees in medical device companies report feeling they have equal opportunity for advancement
68% of female medical device professionals express desire for more leadership development programs tailored to women
Companies with inclusive cultures in medical device industry report a 15% higher rate of employee retention
The percentage of women holding senior management roles in the medical device industry has increased by 10% over the last five years
Minority representation on medical device boards has grown by 18% in the past decade
58% of medical device employees believe their organization could do more to promote DEI
Approximately 40% of medical device innovation teams are intentionally diverse
63% of hiring managers in the medical device industry prioritize candidates with experience in multicultural environments
The global medical device industry anticipates a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% driven in part by diverse teams
80% of minority medical device professionals feel recognized and valued in their organizations
Senior leaders' diversity correlates with higher patient trust levels, according to surveys in the healthcare sector

Diversity and Inclusion in Leadership and Workforce Demographics Interpretation

Despite a modest 16% of leadership roles occupied by women and only 20% of ethnic minorities in top positions, the medical device industry's slower-than-desired progress on diversity and inclusion is matched by a hopeful 15% rise in women-led innovations and a 30% boost in job satisfaction when DEI initiatives are active — emphasizing that within this industry, growing inclusivity isn’t just good ethics but also good business.

Impact of Diversity on Business Performance and Innovation

Companies with higher diversity levels are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors financially
45% of respondents in a survey believe that lack of diversity affects innovation in the medical device industry
Female-led medical device startups are 2.5 times more likely to focus on underserved markets
Companies with diverse executive teams see a 19% increase in revenue compared to less diverse companies
47% of medical device executives believe that DEI initiatives enhance team performance
25% of medical device R&D budgets are allocated to diverse or inclusive product development initiatives
60% of medical device organizations believe that DEI efforts improve patient-centered innovation
44% of medical device companies believe DEI initiatives directly improve product development quality
65% of healthcare providers see diversity in medical device design as essential for improving patient compliance
62% of medical device startups prioritize hiring diverse teams to foster innovation
Only 15% of medical device companies conduct DEI impact assessments annually
Companies that actively promote DEI are 1.8 times more likely to launch innovative products

Impact of Diversity on Business Performance and Innovation Interpretation

In the high-stakes realm of medical devices, embracing diversity isn’t just a moral imperative but a proven catalyst—boosting innovation, financial performance, and patient-centered care, yet with only a fraction rigorously assessing its impact, the industry risks leaving transformative gains on the table.

Representation in Clinical Trials and Product Development

30% of medical device clinical trials lack representation of women and minorities
The percentage of minority representatives in clinical trials for medical devices is below 25%
80% of medical device companies have initiated DEI programs since 2020
Diversity in clinical trial participation correlates with better health outcomes for underserved populations
20% of medical device clinical trial participants are from minority groups, below the proportion of minorities in the general population
Only 22% of medical device companies have publicly reported diversity metrics
The number of medical device products designed specifically for underserved populations has increased by 22% over the past five years
42% of clinical trial sites in medical device studies are located in underserved regions
The proportion of medical devices designed with accessibility features for disabled users has increased by 30% over five years
Inclusion of diverse age groups in medical device clinical trials has increased by 25% over the past decade

Representation in Clinical Trials and Product Development Interpretation

Despite a growing awareness and modest gains in diversity within clinical trials and device design, the medical device industry still has a long way to go to truly mirror the rich tapestry of patient populations, as only 20-30% of participants and less than a quarter of companies publicly report diversity metrics, risking the very health disparities these initiatives aim to bridge.

Training, Policies, and Cultural Initiatives for Equity

70% of medical device companies report having diversity and inclusion policies in place
40% of medical device companies do not have clear DEI metrics or benchmarks
Training on unconscious bias has been implemented in 52% of medical device organizations
50% of patients from underserved communities report better satisfaction with devices that consider cultural and linguistic diversity
Medical device companies with structured DEI training programs report a 20% greater employee engagement level

Training, Policies, and Cultural Initiatives for Equity Interpretation

While a majority of medical device companies embrace diversity policies, the stark gaps in measurable DEI benchmarks and unconscious bias training highlight that true inclusion remains a work in progress—yet those investing in structured DEI initiatives are reaping the dual benefits of higher employee engagement and improved patient satisfaction among underserved communities.

Workforce Demographics

Ethnic minorities make up approximately 25% of employees in the medical device sector
Only 12% of medical device R&D teams are composed of women
Women constitute approximately 30% of the medical device workforce

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

Despite ethnic minorities comprising a quarter of the medical device workforce and women making up around 30%, the stark underrepresentation of women in R&D teams highlights an ongoing need for greater gender diversity in innovation-driven roles within the industry.