The number of doctors declaring a disability to the regulator has risen sharply since 2021, according to the GMC’s Workforce report 2025, highlighting both improved disclosure and a continuing gap between the medical workforce and the wider population.  

The report states that 10,614 doctors had a declared disability in 2021. By 2024, this had increased by 6,837 (+64%) to 17,451 doctors, representing 5% of all licensed doctors.  

The GMC notes this remains far below the proportion of the UK workingage population who declare a disability, cited as 23% using official sources.  

Disability reporting varies by age: The report says higher proportions of younger doctors have a declared disability. In 2024, the highest rate was 12% among doctors aged 23. The report’s age profile indicates that disclosure is much more common earlier in careers than later, potentially reflecting changes in workplace culture, diagnosis patterns, confidence in disclosure, or the composition of new entrants to medicine.  

Variation by PMQ and training stage: The report also highlights a major difference by where doctors qualified: 

• UK PMQ doctors: 9% declared a disability in 2024 

• NonUK PMQ doctors: 2% declared a disability in 2024  

Among UK graduates, younger doctors reported at higher rates than older doctors: 13% of UK PMQ doctors under 35 declared a disability, compared with 6% of UK graduates over 35.  

By register group, doctors in training had the highest proportion reporting a disability: 

• Doctors in training: 9% 

• Foundation stages: 15% 

• GPs: 4% 

• Specialist register: 4% 

• Neither register, not in training: 5%  

The most commonly reported disability type was a learning disability (such as dyslexia). In 2024, 6,049 doctors declared a learning disability, an increase of 70% from 2021.  

Why it matters: These data points have direct implications for retention and workforce wellbeing. If reporting is rising among trainees and foundation doctors, leaders may need to ensure training environments and assessments are designed with appropriate support, adjustments and psychological safety. The gap between UK and nonUK disclosure rates also raises questions about cultural and institutional factors affecting whether doctors feel able to disclose disability, especially in a workforce where internationally qualified doctors make up a substantial share of new entrants and service provision.