The physiotherapist masseur market in France

The global market for masseur-physiotherapist services is enjoying sustained growth, estimated at +6.9% CAGR to 2031, with projected revenues reaching $75.9 billion in 2033, compared with $19.9 billion in 2022. This structural leap is driven by two factors: longer life expectancy and the explosion in chronic pathologies. In parallel, the global physiotherapy equipment market is following a similar trajectory, with annual growth of +6.40%, and sales expected to reach $27.74 billion in 2028, dominated by North America.

Europe is today the leading regional driver, with an uneven but growing density of healthcare professionals. While Germany dominates in absolute numbers, Belgium and Denmark boast the highest densities of MKs, with over 280 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with 151 in France. However, the national dynamic is robust: the number of physiotherapists registered with the Ordre has increased by +13.6% since 2018, and is expected to grow by +36% by 2040, to reach 133,000 professionals.

Demand for physiotherapy care is driven by powerful structural factors: demographic aging, with the number of people aged 75 and over expected to double by 2070 (from 6.3% to 13.7% of the population), and the rise in long-term illnesses (ALD), which will affect 13 million French people in 2025 (+23.4% since 2017). ALD patients alone account for 50% of the procedures performed by MKs, and 10% of them consult an MK every day.

In terms of perception, physiotherapists enjoy an image of trust and competence: 92% of French people have confidence in them in 2024, compared with 53% in 2012. This development is taking place against a backdrop in which 66% of French people consider homecare to be more convenient, and 71% more comfortable.

The structure of the offer is also evolving. In 2024, 85% of MKs will be self-employed, with a high proportion of young people (25-29), and an average net salary of €2,500 for self-employed professionals, compared with €1,600 for salaried employees. The number of women in the profession is increasing (52.2% in 2024, forecast at 54% in 2040), and the average age is 41.3.

The market is attracting more and more foreign graduates, mainly from Belgium and Spain, with growth 6 times faster than that of French graduates between 2018 and 2022. Today, almost 17,000 French physiotherapists have graduated abroad.

Finally, the ecosystem of private players is becoming more structured: leaders such as Doctolib (sales 2022: 217 M€, ARR >300 M€, growth +35%/year) or Kinvent Physio (sales 2023: 7 M€, growth +80%, ambition 70 M€ by 2029) are driving the market towards greater digitalization, innovation and export.