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Radiology Unlocked:
The Global Radiologist Report 2025
Read the results of our global survey of over 700 Radiologists working across 50 countries, delving into the challenges and opportunities they see within the sector.
Radiology is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, with radiologists acting as the health sector’s unseen heroes.
They’re involved in around 80% of patient episodes (The Royal College of Radiologists, 2021), from the emergency room right through to routine and elective care. Radiology is also a specialism that is undergoing significant pressure and transformation, with the volumes of CT, MRI and X-Ray scans steadily growing faster than the radiologist workforce that is required to interpret those studies (RSNA, 2022).
To better understand how these pressures are impacting radiology, we went directly to those on the frontlines of diagnostic medicine. Our comprehensive survey of over 700 Consultant Radiologists from 50 countries reveals their firsthand insights on the critical pressures facing the field, their strategies for managing rising demand, their attitudes to advancing technologies, and their hopes and recommendations for the future of their profession.
This report lays out the key findings of the survey, exploring the impact of teleradiology, the demands of overnight work, the potential of Artifical Intelligence (AI) and the future of the radiology profession. By capturing the perspectives of radiologists worldwide, the research aims to highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing radiology, and propose solutions to enhance both patient care.
Radiology Unlocked: The Global Radiologist Report 2025
Burnout, workforce shortages and night shifts are all impacting wellbeing and patient care, but radiologists see solutions in increased recruitment and training, outsourcing, AI and better understanding of the profession itself.
Key concerns: Radiology under pressure
When asked to identify the most pressing challenges, over half (53%) of the radiologists we surveyed identified radiologist burnout as their top concern, followed by workforce shortages (49%) and brain drain – the exodus of locally-trained clinicians (40%).
These challenges are putting immense pressure on radiologists, leading to increased patient wait times and a growing demand for innovative solutions.
Nightmares on the night shift: The impact of overnight working
88% of radiologists say that they have worked night shifts at some point in their careers, with over a third (36%) still regularly required to do so.
There is a strong consensus that frequent night shifts are unsustainable, with nearly half (47%) stating that night shifts reduce diagnostic accuracy, with an additional 63% of radiologists perceiving overnight work as having a negative impact on their performance and well-being.
AI adoption and awareness
While the majority of radiologists agree that AI shows promise, uptake and attitudes varied widely. Many radiologists are not yet regularly using AI with 57% of respondents stating they do not use it routinely in their roles. However, the majority see AI as a valuable tool to support, not replace, human expertise.The benefits of teleradiology
An overwhelming 98% of radiologists recognise the benefits of teleradiology, with nearly three-quarters citing its ability to help in-house teams’ clear backlogs (73%) and reduce workload pressures (72%) as its most valued strengths.
Teleradiology careers were also broadly recognised as offering several advantages, including increased flexibility in work hours (71%) and location (60%) and the opportunity to report from overseas, while still supporting domestic hospitals and patients (48%).
