Women Doctors Outnumber Men for the First Time in UK History

For the first time in history, the number of female doctors in the UK has surpassed that of male doctors, marking a major shift in the medical profession. According to the General Medical Council (GMC), 164,440 women are now registered with a licence to practise, slightly exceeding the 164,195 men on the register.

A Historic Milestone

More than 150 years ago, when the GMC first opened its register in 1859, there were almost no female doctors. The numbers remained low for decades, only beginning to rise around the turn of the 20th century, with a significant acceleration from the 1970s onwards. Now, after years of steady progress, women officially make up 50.04% of the UK’s medical workforce.

One of the biggest contributors to this shift is the increase in female medical students. Since 2018/19, more women than men have been enrolling in medical schools across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

A Nation-by-Nation Breakdown

The distribution of female doctors still varies across the UK:

• Scotland and Northern Ireland already have more women than men working as doctors.

• England and Wales have fewer female doctors in comparison but are seeing a steady increase.

  
  

Women now make up 57.7% of the UK’s general practitioners (GPs), with some medical specialities attracting more female doctors than others.

Where Women Thrive – and Where They Are Underrepresented

• Most female doctors are found in obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics—fields traditionally associated with women’s health and child care.

• Fewer women work in surgery, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine, indicating that some specialties remain male-dominated.

  
  

Challenges in the Workplace

While this milestone is worth celebrating, women in medicine still face barriers to career progression, leadership roles, and workplace inclusion.

Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen, chairwoman of the GMC, acknowledges the significance of this change but stresses that more must be done to create supportive and inclusive workplaces.

“Women training for careers in medicine continue to face challenges that must be acknowledged and tackled. And for those women already working as doctors, there is still work to do to ensure they have access to progression opportunities, including leadership roles.”

Discrimination remains a pressing issue. Data from the GMC’s training survey found that:

• 9% of female doctors reported experiencing unwelcome sexual comments or advances that caused embarrassment, distress, or offence.

• In contrast, only 4% of male doctors reported similar experiences.

  
  

Calls for Retention and Support

Dr Latifa Patel, chairwoman of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) representative body, sees this as a "significant milestone" but warns that more needs to be done to retain female doctors in the NHS.

“Retaining women doctors in the workplace, in the NHS, and happy and fulfilled in their roles, must be a priority.”

Professor Scarlett McNally, president of the Medical Women's Federation and a surgeon, echoed this sentiment, calling the shift "a huge change that should be celebrated."

The Future of Women in Medicine

As the medical profession continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure that women are supported, valued, and given equal opportunities to advance in their careers. The growing representation of women in medicine is not just a win for gender equality, but a shift that will ultimately benefit patients and the healthcare system as a whole.