Age, sex, numbers… the DREES tells us more about the profile of French health professionals, many of whom have been on the front line since the start of the Covid-19 health crisis.
While the idea of their compulsory vaccination against Covid-19 is controversial, the DREES has updated data on the demographics of French healthcare professionals.
“The data presented in an interactive application are produced from statistical files compiled each year by the DREES from the Shared Directory of Health Professionals (RPPS) and the Adeli Directory”, say the experts. “They describe the healthcare professionals who are active on January 1, and the data concerns the workforce of healthcare professionals between 2012 and 2021”, explains the Dres.
Nurses
So, what is the new face of those who care for us on a daily basis? As of January 1, 2021, France had 764,000 nurses (+2.7% compared to 2020), one of the most in-demand health professions since the start of the Covid-19 crisis. The network of the territory is also progressing for this profession, since there are today in France 1,136 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants, against 1,109 in 2020. The average age of French nurses is 45.7 years. Unsurprisingly, 86.6% of people practicing this profession are women.
Doctors
France also had 228,000 doctors on January 1, 2021, i.e. a stable workforce since 2020. Medical density was also stable over the period: it stood at 339 doctors available per 100,000 inhabitants in 2020 and in 2021. In 2021, physicians are on average 50.7 years old, and nearly half (47.9%) are now women, a trend that has been increasing for many years now. Salaried exercise is increasingly popular with doctors: in 2012, 51.4% of them had only liberal activities, while they are only 44.1% in 2021.
Midwives
Regarding midwives, the profession remains predominantly female, with 22,900 women practicing this profession, against only… 641 men. The profession is of particular interest to young people, since the average age of midwives is only 41.7 years, and only 36.3 years for midmen.
Psychologists
Psychologists, also in high demand since the start of the pandemic, are also mostly women (67,198, compared to 10,999 men). The average age for this occupation is between 45 and 49 years old.
Dentists
One of the most equal health professions is that of dentists, who in France have 22,877 practitioners aged 49 on average, and 20,257 slightly younger female practitioners (average age: 43.6 years).
